GA 2005 Hometown Press Release
Note to GA 2005 Delegates: This press release template  is designed to help you inform your hometown media outlets about the recently-completed UUA General Assembly. The release may be customized by adding unique details about your local congregation in the sections marked in italics. Or, if you wish to send the release in a generic form, just delete the sections in italics before distributing.
Thank you for sharing the Good News about Unitarian Universalism!
Unitarian Universalists Conclude Annual Meeting
Local Delegates Return Home
(June 27, 2005 – Fort Worth, TX) Today the annual General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association concluded a five-day meeting in Fort Worth, Texas. Nearly 4,000 attendees from across the nation gathered to worship, elect officers, vote on resolutions and witness on behalf of their liberal faith. [Insert information about local congregation and delegates here.]
The national delegation re-elected the Rev. William G. Sinkford to a second four-year term as president of the UUA and endorsed current moderator Gini Courter for a first full term.
On Saturday the General Assembly delegates passed a Statement of Conscience advocating sweeping reforms of the US criminal justice system with a special focus on mandatory prison sentences. The full text of the resolution may be found online at www.uua.org/csw.
Delegates hosted a public protest against the death penalty outside the convention center, where clergy and activists from Texas addressed the crowd and shared moving personal stories about their experiences as victims of violent crime and as advocates for inmates on death row. In his invocation, the Rev. Sinkford prayed, “ May we all, together, find a path which does not place us in the role of ultimate judgment and may we together create a system that protects the citizens without taking more lives.”
Sunday morning's service attracted 2787 worshippers, and the offering raised $42,000 for three Fort Worth relief agencies. The worship service and other major programs were broadcast over the worldwide web and attracted an international audience with viewers from as far away as Adelaide, Australia. Many videotaped programs may be found online at www.uua.org/ga/ga05.
On Monday the Assembly voted to endorse six Actions of Immediate Witness, official statements on social justice issues. The Actions included calls to end crimes against humanity in Darfur and to cease all US-sponsored torture. Four other Actions offered official support for the following efforts: the United Farm Worker's boycott of Gallo Wines, the Millenium Development Goal of ending extreme poverty, a fair trial for Dr. Sami Al-Arian, and defending the freedom of the airwaves. Full texts of all the AIWs can be found at www.uua.org/csw.
[include quotes and any relevant details from your local angle.]
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal, creedless faith with roots in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Three of the first six United States presidents were Unitarians, and for more than two centuries Unitarians and Universalists have served in prominent roles in the government, judiciary, and ministry. The two traditions consolidated in 1961 to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. For more information about this unique religious community, please visit www.uua.org or visit [add your local congregation's name, address and website].
Contact:
UUA National Headquarters:
John Hurley
Director of Information
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 01208
617-948-6131
jhurley@uua.org
[ include local contact person for your congregation ]
| 
