The Women and Religion movement officially began in 1977, with the passage of the Women and Religion Resolution at the Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA) annual General Assembly. However, the real beginnings of the movement are to be found earlier. In the mid-1970's, there was a growing concern that the male biases of religion remained unexamined and unchanged. In 1975, the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) sponsored the International Women's Year Conference. Unitarian Universalists Lucile Schuck-Longview and Dr. Rita Taubenfeld developed a resolution at the conference. That same year the IARF passed the resolution calling for Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women.
Many women across the continent shared the concerns expressed in this resolution, which served as the catalyst for the development of the Unitarian Universalist Women & Religion Resolution. Longview and several other women drafted a tentative resolution which was circulated to many others for their comments and concerns. In 1977, the Women and Religion Resolution was submitted by 548 members of 57 active societies, and passed unanimously at the UUA's General Assembly. The dual focus of the resolution was to urge the UUA to look at the religious roots of sexism, and to encourage all Unitarian Universalists to examine the extent to which religious beliefs influence sex-role stereotypes in interpersonal behavior within families and friendships and in the workplace.
The Women and Religion Resolution established the Women and Religion Committee - first appointed by the President and later by the UUA Board of Trustees - which is charged with overseeing the implementation of the resolution. Committee members were originally chosen from constituencies of the UUA at large, as well as from the following organizations: Liberal Religious Educators' Association (LREDA), Ministerial Sisterhood Unitarian Universalist (MSUU; dissolved 2006), the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA), and the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation (UUWF). The committee values and actively seeks diversity of race, gender-orientation, and age. In addition to establishing the continental Committee, the UUA committed itself in 1978 to providing staff support for the committee's work - for a while in the form of a UUA staff liaison who could make available to the committee other resources at UUA headquarters.
District Women and Religion Committees and Task Forces began to form as early as 1977. They were the first to develop recommendations for the implementation of the Women and Religion Resolution. These district organizations operate in diverse ways, and they tend to define themselves according to the particular interests and perceived needs of women in their district. Some of their activities include conducting retreats, conferences, and workshops; developing women's rituals; and publishing newsletters on issues of concern to Unitarian Universalist women.
In 1979, the first continental Women and Religion conference for district leadership was convened in Grailville, Ohio. Out of this conference came a movement to revise what would subsequently be called the UUA Principles and Purposes. A number of conferees felt that the proposed Purposes did not affirm women's experience as much as they did men's, and that they lacked a respect for the totality of life and for the earth.
These women presented a draft of revisions to their districts. In 1981, two separate drafts submitted by districts appeared on the General Assembly agenda. After many years of intense debate, broad congregational involvement, and high drama, a new statement of Purposes and Principles was adopted in 1985. They reflect the influence of women in the rejection of hierarchy and in the embracing of a sense of connectedness and respect for the totality of life.
Several gatherings and convocations have taken place over the years, some to encourage more inter-district communication, and some to strengthen the ties among such organizations as Women and Religion, UUWF, LREDA, and MSUU. At one such gathering, the joint conference on Feminist Theology held in East Lansing, Michigan, in 1980, the Women and Religion Committee presented Checking Our Balance: Auditing Concepts, Values, and Language, a process guide for congregational use. Cleansing Our Temple is the 1991 revision of that program.
In 1987, at the urging of the Continental Women and Religion Committee, the UUA underwent a Sexism Audit by an independent consulting firm. A Sexism Audit Monitoring Committee was charged with overseeing the recommendations of this assessment. The recommendations of the audit directed the Continental Women and Religion Committee to revise Checking Our Balance, to review the expectations for ministers and ministers' roles, and to begin the process of developing and articulating visions of a gender inclusive denominational association.
In January of 1989, after many years of discussion and at the recommendation of the Continental Women and Religion Committee, the first male member of the committee was appointed. This appointment represented the Committee's desire, first, to reflect the gender inclusion that it upholds and, generally, to bring men into the process of identifying and eliminating sexism. In 1994, "The Shared Ministry Sourcebook", edited by Barbara Child and published by the UUA was the Committee's last official body of work.
The work of changing institutions must be carried on at all levels. It is our hope that each district and local organization will tell its own story, and help keep alive the spirit of Women and Religion.
[As of] 2003, Unitarian Universalist Women and Religion (UUW&R) ... formally affiliated with the UUA with an emphasis on district programming. Programs inspired by the Women and Religion movement through the years are "Cakes For the Queen of Heaven", "Rise Up and Call Her Name", "Our Whole Lives", "Gender Justice", the Safe Congregations and the Welcoming Congregations programs and the soon to be published "Unraveling the Gender Knot". Rituals the W&R movement originated are The Water Ritual and sharing joys and concerns. The Sixth Source of UU Sources of Inspiration came from our movement: "Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions, which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature".
The [2003] UUW&R continues the November Gatherings for leadership across the continent. All who are actively involved with district programming are welcome to join the new fiscal year's Core Committee by attending the November Gathering and making decisions for the coming year's action plan and budget. The Core Committee is made up of volunteers with Co-conveners, chosen for two year, staggered terms. It employs consensual decision making. How power is used is the Core Committee's underlying concern.
UUW&R's Mission Statement: Unitarian Universalist Women and Religion is dedicated to freeing ourselves, others and the Earth from traditional, historical and contemporary oppressive and patriarchial systems.
We continue to work together to implement the 1977 UUA Women and Religion Resolution.
*Most of this text is directly from the "Cleansing Our Temple" Resource A.
-- Helen Popenoe, 2003
Rosemary Matson continues the story in her W&R Memoir.
In 2007, the UUA decided to dis-affiliate all the Affiliated Organizations and discontinue the work of the UUA staff member assigned to manage those relationships. Many organizations did not survive, such as the UU Men's group. UUW&R struggled, both the Continental organization and the District Women and Religion groups. There were 13 of the original 19 groups at that time. In 2024 there is only one group, Pacific Central District Women and Religion, that is a direct continuation of one of the original groups. There are other survivors. Some grew out of the W&R group, or merged with a District UUWF Chapter, or re-formed as independent UU women's groups.
Continental UUW&R was decimated in 2009 when the co-convenors both moved on to other work at the same time, leaving a gap that became difficult to fill. Annual meetings became sporadic, and fundraising was curtailed and slowly disappeared. Once the revised Cakes for the Queen of Heaven curriculum was published, and an online Store created to keep those available, the Store became the sole means of support for the group. UUWR has developed and expanded this resource, becoming the Publisher for the classic curricula (Cakes, Rise Up, Gender Knot, and Women of Wisdom), and several books, booklets, and CDs. With the store and website technology available, making sure classic and newer resources are available and promoted became one main focus. Another is networking with the remaining UU women's groups and retreats. And maintaining Archives and the Herstory of our movement.
We've also created a vibrant and resource-full presence in the Exhibit Hall at General Assembly.
-- Gretchen Ohmann 2024
Resource B
Women and Religion Resolution
Passed unanimously by the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association in June, 1977.
WHEREAS, a principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association is to “affirm, defend, and promote the supreme worth and dignity of every human personality, and the use of the democratic method in human relationships”; and
WHEREAS, great strides have been taken to affirm this principle within our denomination; and
WHEREAS, some models of human relationships arising from religious myths, historical materials, and other teachings still create and perpetuate attitudes that cause women everywhere to be overlooked and undervalued; and
WHEREAS, children, youth and adults internalize and act on these cultural models, thereby tending to limit their sense of self-worth and dignity;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1977 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association calls upon all Unitarian Universalists to examine carefully their own religious beliefs and the extent to which these beliefs influence sex-role stereotypes within their own families; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly urges the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Association to encourage the Unitarian Universalist Association administrative officers and staff, the religious leaders within societies, the Unitarian Universalist theological schools, the directors of related organizations, and the planners of seminars and conferences, to make every effort to: (a) put traditional assumptions and language in perspective and (b) avoid sexist assumptions and language in the future.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly urges the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association to send copies of this resolution to other denominations examining sexism inherent in religious literature and institutions and to the International Association of Liberal Religious Women and the IARF; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly requests the Unitarian Universalist Association (a) to join with those who are encouraging others in the society to examine the relationship between religious and cultural attitudes toward women and (b) to send a representative and resource materials to associations appropriate to furthering the above goals; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the General Assembly requests the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association to report annually on progress in implementing this resolution.
Implementation of Women and Religion Resolution
Passed by the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association in June, 1980.
WHEREAS, the Unitarian Universalist Association passed a resolution titled “Women and Religion” at the 1977 General Assembly and a related resolution titled “Battered Women” at the 1979 General Assembly; and
WHEREAS, these resolutions, in part, urge all Unitarian Universalists to examine their religious beliefs and the extent to which these beliefs influence sex-role stereotypes; and
WHEREAS, avoiding sexist assumptions and sexist language is a long-term undertaking during which the deep-seated patriarchal nature of our religious traditions must be examined and new ways of perceiving the nature of women and men and of relationships between them must be developed;
BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1980 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association urges all societies to provide opportunities for members to participate in activities that bring into focus the sexist nature of our religious heritage and also the emerging ideological understandings that value women and men as full beings; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this General Assembly urges the Unitarian Universalist Association administrative staff, in association with lay members and clergy, to develop and provide: (a) materials to help societies eradicate the longstanding sexist assumptions and language forms and usages diminishing women whether in worship or in other church settings and (b) a procedure for evaluation of the progress made toward incorporation of concepts, values, and linguistic forms that are free of sex bias; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: That this General Assembly calls on the Board of Trustees of this Association to urge all societies to: (a) use the evaluation procedure when provided and (b) recognize and celebrate women’s experience in the quest for religious identity.
Other Women’s Rights Resolutions
Texts of resolutions are available in the Women’s rights section of your congregation’s copy of Resolutions and Resources: A Social Responsibility Handbook. See also related resolutions under Human Rights/Economic Justice; Human Rights/Equal Opportunity; Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals; Population; and Youth. The word “Board” in parentheses indicates a resolution passed by the UUA Board of Trustees.
1963: Reform of Abortion Statutes
1968: Abortion
1969: Support for Ministers Involved In Counseling Services for Problem Pregnancies
1970: Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women
1973: Abortion
1975: For the Right to Abortion
1976: Older Women
1977: Abortion
1977: Equal Rights Amendment
1977: ERA Emergency Action
1978: Abortion: Right to Choose
1978: UUA Meetings and Non-ERA Ratified States
1979: Battered Women Resolution
1980: A Religious Statement on Abortion: A Call to Commitment
1981: United Nations Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
1982: Non-ERA States (Board)
1983: Equal Rights Amendment
1985: Resolution on Abortion Clinic Bombings (Board)
1986: National March for Women’s Lives (Board)
1987: Ending Gender-Based Wage Discrimination
1987: Right to Choose
Women and Religion Chronology
1975. Mexico City, Mexico.
International Women’s Year Conference. The International Association for Religious Freedom’s official observers Lucile Schuck Longview and Dr. Rita Taubenfeld develop resolution, Equal Rights and Opportunities for Women. Concern about how unexamined male-biased religious assumptions affect women surfaces.
1975. Montreal, Canada.
International Association of Liberal Religious Women (IALRW). Lucile Schuck Longview brings the proposed resolution, which is revised and strengthened by English/lrish delegation.
1975. Montreal, Canada.
The IARF passes the same resolution.
1977, January through March. Lexington, MA.
The Unitarian Universalist Women and Religion resolution is developed.
1977, April. Chicago, IL.
The Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation (UUWF) passes the resolution Religion and Human Dignity at their Biennial Convention .
1977, June. Ithaca, NY.
The General Assembly passes the Women and Religion resolution, endorsed by the UUWF.
1977. Continent-wide.
District Women and Religion Task Forces and Committees begin to form, addressing sexism throughout the denomination.
1978. Oxford, England.
IALRW passes the Women, Religion and Human Dignity resolution.
1978. Boston, MA.
UUA President Paul Carnes establishes the UUA Women and Religion Committee, appoints Leslie Westbrook Minister for Women and Religion, and asks district representatives for guidelines for implementation.
1979. Loveland, OH.
First Continental UUA Women and Religion Conference (Granville) is held for district leadership. The Conference begins consideration of and urges update of the UUA Principles and Purposes.
1979. East Lansing, MI.
General Assembly. The Battered Women resolution is passed, drawing the connection between religious myths and women’s oppression.
1980. Albuquerque, NM.
General Assembly passes the Implementation of Women and Religion resolution.
1980. East Lansing, Ml.
Continental Women and Religion Convocation on Feminist Theology is co-sponsored by LREDA, MSUU, UUWF, and UUA. Checking Our Balance: Auditing Concepts, Values, and Language is introduced to participants.
1980. Copenhagen, Denmark.
United Nations Mid-Decade Conference on International Women’s Year. IARF Board issues the statement “Challenging Patriarchal Vision.”
1981. Philadelphia, PA.
UUA President Eugene Pickett announces to the General Assembly his administration’s commitment to increasing the numbers of professional women on UUA staff. The study process begins for the revision of the UUA Principles and Purposes.
1982. Joseph Priestley District.
Introduction of Matrix, an occasional newsletter published by the District Women and Religion Committees on a rotating basis.
1984/1985. Columbus, OH, and Atlanta, GA.
General Assembly adopts new version of the Principles and Purposes, a revision effort begun by the Women and Religion Committee to help make the statements more inclusive.
1984. Boston, MA.
A new staff position is established in the UUA Social Responsibility Department which includes responsibility for Women and Religion concerns.
1984. Albuquerque, NM.
Women and Religion Convocation is cosponsored by LREDA, MSUU, UUWF and UUA.
1984. Boston, MA.
A new, inclusive-language hymnal is launched.
1985. Redwood City, CA.
Continental Women and Religion Committee meets in retreat with District Women and Religion Chairs to evaluate implementation efforts and plan future activities.
1986. Boston, MA.
Cakes for the Queen or Heaven, a new adult education curriculum, is introduced in order to encourage explorations in feminist theology.
1987. Boston, MA.
The UUA undertakes a sexism audit.
1987. Boston, MA.
The first joint meeting of the Women and Religion Committee and the UUWF board is held to help foster a closer working relationship.
1987. Little Rock, AR.
General Assembly and UUWF Biennial Convention celebrate the tenth anniversary of the 1977 Women and Religion Resolution. UUA President William Schulz announces that the UUA has met its goal of 50% women staff members.
1987. Boston, MA.
Necia Harkless of Lexington, KY, is appointed to the Women and Religion Committee, the first African American woman to hold the position.
1988. Boston, MA.
The first male member of the Women and Religion Committee is appointed: the Reverend Jack Mendelsohn of Bedford, MA.
1988. Boston, MA.
The UUA sexism audit is completed, and the UUA Board of Trustees adopts its recommendations and appoints a monitoring committee to report periodically on implementation.
1988. Framingham, MA.
The Continental Women and Religion Committee meets with representatives from district Women and Religion Committees and Task Forces to begin the process of envisioning a gender-inclusive UUA.
Additional resources:
District and Regional Herstories
Congregational Herstories
