bMS 1013

Unitarian Universalist Association. Women and Religion Committee. Records, 1977-1989

Summary Information

Call Number: bMS 1013
Title: Unitarian Universalist Association. Women and Religion Committee. Records, 1977-1989
Repository: Harvard Divinity School Library, Harvard Divinity School,
45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-1911
Quantity: 6 boxes, (5.35 cu. ft.)

Administrative Information:

HOLLIS Number:009202747
Acquisition Information: Records donated by the Unitarian Universalist Association, 2003
Access: There are no restrictions on access to this collection. 

Historical Information:

In 1977, a "Women and Religion" resolution was passed by the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). This resolution, endorsed by the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation, encouraged all Unitarian Universalists to examine the religious roots of sexism in their denomination, particularly in regard to sexist language. In 1978, UUA President Paul Carnes established the UUA Women and Religion Committee, and appointed Leslie Westbrook as minister for it. The two major goals of the committee were to develop educational materials concerning women and religion, and to focus on women in leadership in the UUA. In 1980 this committee also worked with the UUA Affirmative Action Advisory Committee to survey the experiences of women ministers and theological students, and to design and recommend an affirmative action program for the UUA. The Women and Religion Committee also worked with district branches of the committee from UU congregations from across the nation, and sponsored a number of conferences and convocations which brought UU women together.  The committee also made efforts to be in dialogue with women from other denominations in order to compare and contrast their experiences as women in their respective denominations. The committee developed a program for identifying sexism in congregations, originally called "Checking Our Balance," and later called "A Sexism Audit for Unitarian Universalist Congregations." The Women and Religion Committee was disbanded in 1995 due to the fact that women were no longer a minority in the UUA in either membership or the ministry.  The library also has another collection of material from the UUA Women and Religion Committee, bMS 1022 .

Scope and Content:

The records of the Unitarian Universalist Women and Religion Committee are divided into six series: Series I. Administrative records (includes surveys and questionnaires, correspondence, minutes of meetings, and reports); Series II. Records of conferences and convocations; Series III. District records; Series IV. Material from other denominations; Series V. Resources, (includes pamphlets, programs, sermons, material for worship services, and documentation from the sexism audit, originally called "Checking Our Balance"); Series VI. Audiovisual material. 

Box List:

(bMS 1013 is the collection number. The number after the slash is the box number, and the number in parentheses is the folder number.)


Series I. Administrative Records. Budgets, Correspondence, Memos and Minutes 1977-1990

bMS 1013/6 (1) Affirmative Action for Women in Ministry: UUA Advisory Committee, two reports, 1979-1980
bMS 1013/6 (2) Affirmative Action: Questionnaire, male ministers
bMS 1013/6 (3) Affirmative Action: Questionnaire, female theological students
bMS 1013/6 (4) Affirmative Action: Questionnaire, from theological students
bMS 1013/6 (5) Affirmative Action: Summary of female minister questionnaires
bMS 1013/6 (6) Affirmative Action: Questionnaire, theological students
bMS 1013/6 (7) Affirmative Action: Questionnaire, theological students
bMS 1013/6 (8) Affirmative Action: Questionnaire, theological students
bMS 1013/6 (9) Affirmative Action: Questionnaire, theological students
bMS 1013/6 (10) Affirmative Action: Women ministers: follow-up about questionnaire
bMS 1013/6 (11) Affirmative Action: Questionnaire: women ministers
bMS 1013/1 (1-2) Addresses/Mailing Lists
bMS 1013/1 (3) Budget 1981-1982 (includes statement of goals)
bMS 1013/1 (4) Budget 1982-1983
bMS 1013/1 (5) Budget 1983-1984
bMS 1013/1 (6) Budget 1984-1985
bMS 1013/1 (7) Budget 1985-1986
bMS 1013/1 (8) Budget 1986-1987
bMS 1013/1 (9) Budget 1987-1988
bMS 1013/1 (10) Budget 1988-1989
bMS 1013/1 (11) Committee Members 1983-1988
bMS 1013/1 (12-13) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1974-1980
bMS 1013/1 (14-20) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1981-1982
bMS 1013/1 (21-25) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1983
bMS 1013/1 (26-28) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1984
bMS 1013/1 (29-30) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1985
bMS 1013/1 (31) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1986
bMS 1013/1 (32) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1987
bMS 1013/1 (33) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1988
bMS 1013/1 (34) Correspondence, Agendas, Reports 1989
bMS 1013/1 (35) Minutes of Meetings 1979-1980
bMS 1013/1 (36) Minutes of Meetings 1980 (Pre-convocation)
bMS 1013/1 (37) Minutes of Meetings 1981
bMS 1013/1 (38) Minutes of Meetings 1982
bMS 1013/1 (39) Minutes of Meetings 1983
bMS 1013/1 (40) Minutes of Meetings 1984
bMS 1013/2 (1) Minutes of Meetings 1985
bMS 1013/2 (2) Meeting Agendas 1986
bMS 1013/2 (3) Minutes of Meetings 1986
bMS 1013/2 (4) Minutes of Meetings 1987
bMS 1013/2 (5) Minutes of Meetings 1988
bMS 1013/2 (6) Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Annual Report of the President 1977-1988
bMS 1013/2 (7) UUA Board of Trustees Correspondence 1972-1988
bMS 1013/2 (8) UUA Board of Trustees: Reports To (1980s) (1)
bMS 1013/2 (9) UUA Board of Trustees: Reports To (1980s) (2)
bMS 1013/2 (10) UUA Board of Trustees: Reports From 1982-1984
bMS 1013/2 (11) UUA Political Candidate Election Material and Interviews with UUA Presidential Candidates for Moderator 1984-1985
bMS 1013/2 (12) UUA "Purposes and Principles" re-examined c. 1982

Series II. Conferences, Convocation, General Assembly, Etc.
Conferences:

bMS 1013/2 (13) "Women and Religion Conference," Grailville, OH 1979
bMS 1013/2 (14) "Women as Influenced by Theology," Copenhagen, 1980
bMS 1013/2 (15) "Women, Change and the Church," Indianapolis 1981
bMS 1013/2 (16) "Creating New Lives," Joseph Priestly District Women and Religion Conference 1981
bMS 1013/2 (17) "Women's Gathering at the Mountain," Highlands, NC 1987
bMS 1013/2 (18) "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven," Seminar in Feminist Theology
bMS 1013/2 (19) Women's Leadership Institute 1988
bMS 1013/2 (20) "Womenspirit Gathering," 1988 (1)
bMS 1013/2 (21) "Womenspirit Gathering," 1988 (2)
bMS 1013/2 (22) Women and Religion Convenor's Gathering, November 1988, Framingham, MA
Convocations:

bMS 1013/3 (23) Convocation,1979, Proposal
bMS 1013/3 (24) Convocation, 1979-1980, Proposal Meeting
bMS 1013/3 (25) Convocation, 1979-1980, Publicity Plans
bMS 1013/3 (26) Convocation, 1980-1981, Budget
bMS 1013/2 (27) Convocation, Coalition Task Force, 1980
bMS 1013/2 (28) Convocation, 1980, Evaluations
bMS 1013/2 (29) Covocation, 1980, Independent Study Committee
bMS 1013/2 (30) Convocation, 1980, Pamphlets/Brochures
bMS 1013/2 (31) Convocation, 1980, Planning/Speakers (1)
bMS 1013/2 (32) Convocation, 1980, Planning/Speakers (2)
bMS 1013/2 (33) Convocation, 1980, Planning/Speakers (3)
bMS 1013/2 (34) Convocation, 1980, Presidential Report
bMS 1013/2 (35) Convocation, 1980, Registration and Resources
bMS 1013/2 (36) Convocation, 1980, Speeches
bMS 1013/2 (37) Convocation, 1980, Speeches to Edit
bMS 1013/2 (38) Convocation, 1980, Travel Subsidies/Budget Letter to District
bMS 1013/2 (39) Convocation 1982
bMS 1013/2 (40) Convocation, 1984, Correspondence/Planning(1)
bMS 1013/2 (41) Convocation, 1984, Correspondence/Planning(2)
bMS 1013/2 (42) Convocation, 1984, Evaluations
bMS 1013/3 (1) Convocation, 1984, Planning Committee
bMS 1013/3 (2) Convocation, 1984 Planning/Speakers
bMS 1013/3 (3) Convocation, 1990, Lake Geneva
General Assemblies
1977-1988
bMS 1013/3 (4) General Assembly Resolutions 1977-1985 (includes background material)
bMS 1013/3 (5) General Assembly 1981
bMS 1013/3 (6) General Assembly 1982
bMS 1013/3 (7) General Assembly 1983, Vancouver, Canada
bMS 1013/3 (8) General Assembly 1984, Columbus, OH
bMS 1013/3 (9) General Assembly 1985, Atlanta, GA
bMS 1013/3 (10) General Assembly Resolution 1985
bMS 1013/3 (11) General Assembly 1986, Rochester, NY
bMS 1013/3 (12) General Assembly 1987, Little Rock, AK
bMS 1013/3 (13) General Assembly 1988

Series III: District Records

bMS 1013/3 (14) District Chairs' Meeting, Vancouver 1983
bMS 1013/3 (15) District Chairs' Gathering, Redwood City, October 11-13, 1985
bMS 1013/3 (16) District Liaisons, Chairs Correspondence 1979-1989
bMS 1013/3 (17) District Liaisons and Contacts 1983
bMS 1013/3 (18) District Network 1988-1990
bMS 1013/3 (19) District President Correspondence with Women and Religion Committee, 1978-1985
Individual Districts:

bMS 1013/3 (20) Central Massachusetts 1986
bMS 1013/3 (21) Central Midwest District 1985-1986
bMS 1013/3 (22) Florida 1986
bMS 1013/3 (23) Joseph Priestly District (DE, MD, NJ, PA)
bMS 1013/3 (24) "Reaching Sideways: Joseph Priestly District Women and Religion Committee," 1982-1988
bMS 1013/3 (25) Massachusetts Bay 1977-1986
bMS 1013/3 (26) Michigan 1985-1988
bMS 1013/3 (27) Mountain Desert District 1986
bMS 1013/3 (28) New Hampshire/Vermont 1984-1988
bMS 1013/3 (29) Northeast 1984-1988
bMS 1013/3 (30) Ohio-Meadville 1986-1987
bMS 1013/3 (31) Ohio Valley
bMS 1013/3 (32) Pacific Central District 1977-1989 (1)
bMS 1013/3 (33) Pacific Central District 1977-1989 (2)
bMS 1013/3 (34) Pacific Northwest 1984-1989
bMS 1013/3 35) Pacific Southwest 1983-1988
bMS 1013/3 (36) Prairie Star District 1982-1989
bMS 1013/3 (37) Southwest 1982-1989
bMS 1013/3 (38) St. Lawrence District 1979-1986
bMS 1013/3 (39) Western Canada District

Series IV: Material from Other Denominations

bMS 1013/3 (40) Baptist newsletter Watchword 1987-1988
bMS 1013/3 (41) Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1987-1988
bMS 1013/3 (42) Church of the Brethren, Washington, DC, Women's Caucus
bMS 1013/3 (43) Lutheran 1984-1988
bMS 1013/3 (44) Presbyterian COWAC (Council on Women and the Church) 1973-1987
bMS 1013/3 (45) Religious Society of Friends
bMS 1013/3 (46) United Church of Christ (UCC) Common Lot Newsletter 1982-1984
bMS 1013/3 (47) UCC Coordinating Center for Women (CCW)
bMS 1013/3 (48) UCC Social Policy
bMS 1013/3 (49) Other Denominations/Organizations 1988 
 
Series V: Resources

bMS 1013/4 (1) Bibliography: Women and Religion
bMS 1013/4 (2) "Challenging Patriarchal Vision" Statement, International Association for Religious Freedom
bMS 1013/4 (3) Checking Our Balance, budget, 1980
bMS 1013/4 (4) Checking Our Balance, 1980-1981
bMS 1013/4 (5) Checking Our Balance, 1980-1981
bMS 1013/4 (6) Sexism audit, background material, 1986-1988
bMS 1013/4 (7) Sexism audit, background material, 1986-1988
bMS 1013/4 (8) Sexism audit: A Report to the Unitarian Universalist Association, Jan. 1988, Ibis Consulting Group, Inc.
bMS 1013/4 (9) An implementation plan to address the issues identified in the sexism audit of the Unitarian Universalist Association, Ibis Consulting Group, 
March, 1988
bMS 1013/4 (10) A Sexism Assessment for Unitarian Universalist Congregations, November, 1988, (a revision of "Checking Our Balance" originally developed by Catharina Jas and the Women and Religion Committee)
bMS 1013/4 (11) A Sexism Assessment for Unitarian Universalist Congregations, 1989 (a revision of "Checking Our Balance")
bMS 1013/4 (12) A Sexism Assessment for Unitarian Universalist Congregations, background material to the 1989 revision
bMS 1013/4 (13) "Famous Unitarian Universalist Women" Script by Henry Van Dyke
bMS 1013/4 (14) Feminist Theology Resources (1)
bMS 1013/4 (15) Feminist Theology Resources (2)
bMS 1013/4 (16) Feminist Theology in the UUA (Reformation by Resolution) by Lucile Schuck, "Outsider by Intention," 1980
bMS 1013/4 (17) General Area Survey and Growth Strategy
bMS 1013/4 (18) General Synod Equal Rights Amendment 1972-1987
bMS 1013/4 (19) Inclusive Language
bMS 1013/4 (20) Joint Theological Schools Committee 1985-1986
bMS 1013/4 (21) Matrix Newsletter Resources 1983-1988
bMS 1013/4 (22) Matrix Newsletter Background 1987
bMS 1013/4 (23) Ministerial Fellowship Committee 1984
bMS 1013/4 (24) Pamphlets
bMS 1013/4 (25) Pamphlets: Religion, Women, and Justice
bMS 1013/4 (26) Unitarian and Universalist Women's History 1988 by Dorothy May Emerson
bMS 1013/4 (27) Universalist and Unitarian Women in History 1983
bMS 1013/4 (28) Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation (UUWF) and Women and Religion Committee 1978-1979
bMS 1013/4 (29) UUWF 1988-1989
bMS 1013/4 (30) UU World Newspaper 1983
bMS 1013/4 (31) UU World Clippings
bMS 1013/4 (32) "Women and Religion" Guides for Sponsoring Conferences by the Women and Religion Committee 1977-1979
bMS 1013/4 (33) Women in Ministry, information 1980-1984
bMS 1013/4 (34) Women and Religion Sunday 1988-1989
bMS 1013/5 (1-3) Women (miscellaneous resources: articles, newsletters, etc.)
bMS 1013/5 (4-5) Worship Packets
bMS 1013/5 (6-7) Worship Plays
bMS 1013/5 8-9) Worship Resources
bMS 1013/5 (10) Worship Services 1979-1986

Series VI: Audiovisual Material

bMS 1013/5 (11) Photographs (unidentified)
bMS 1013/5 (12) Sexism in the Bible Forum (audiocassette) (December 1977)
bMS 1013/5 (13) Sexism in the Bible Forum (audiocassette) (December 1977)
bMS 1013/5 (14) "Eve Reconsidered" Slide Presentation
bMS 1013/5 (15) Service: June 26, 1984 (audiocassette)
bMS 1013/5 (16) Tape (unidentified)
bMS 1013/5 (17) Tape (unidentified)
bMS 1013/5 (18) UUA Women's Conference
 

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