The Annual Meetings this year felt really heartening. We were in a new venue, The Hayes in Derbyshire, which is a not-for-profit Christian centre rather than a more corporate conference hotel, and I do think that changed the feel of the weekend. There was a more spiritual atmosphere: lovely grounds, a lake and a labyrinth for walking and meditation, and a chapel on site. We did have a few teething problems with room bookings, which is inevitable when you try somewhere new, but people were very good-natured about it, and I think everyone could see that we were doing our best. The weekend itself wound together worship, business and fellowship, with Sarah Corbett as keynote speaker and Daniel Costley as the Anniversary preacher.

One of the highlights for me was hosting a newcomers’ reception for about twenty of our newcomers. That felt inspiring and really needed. Among the newcomers were people from the Foundation Worship Studies group, who had worked together online and were meeting in person for the first time to much excitement. Sarah Corbett really inspired us with her gentle approach to “craftivism”, and Daniel Costley and Jane Blackall led an Anniversary Service that felt deeply inclusive, grounded in what unites us, and, wonderfully, also made space for a telling of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. The Anniversary Service included time to welcome 6 new Ministers onto the GA Roll, and a time to hold in our hearts the nine ministers who we have lost this year, a poignant moment of shared grief and gratitude for their service.

Another uplifting moment was the Unitarian College workshop, all of us training for ministry and newly
qualified ministers were on stage while the names of all the congregations that have supported us were
read out – Ipswich got a mention of course. Other workshops included a brilliant Satsang hosted by the
Hindu Connections group, an in-person gathering for the monthly online Facilitators Network, meetings for the Safeguarding Network, Earth Spirit Network, and Social Justice Network. GA Staff held a number of
workshops including Rory Castle Jones’ workshop exploring ways to strengthen ministry and leadership
and our new Communications Officer Pamela Welsh presenting her strategy, vision and top tips for
congregations.

Professor Geoff Levermore ended his time as President and the Bradleys took over – Revs. Jean and
Alex Bradley becoming joint Presidents with Jo O’Sullivan as Vice-President. In terms of the formal
business, the motions included one that would allow our Chief Officer to issue timely public statements on current events within agreed safeguards; one that named protest as a fundamental Unitarian spiritual
practice and challenged recent restrictions on protest; and an emergency motion calling for peace, respect for international law, and humanitarian aid in the Middle East. So, there was significant and serious business too, as there always is and overall, it was a weekend of real warmth, substance, and meaningful connection.

Lizzie Kingston Harrison