The Unitarian Universalist Association is currently undertaking what we call a Study Action Issue – Every congregation is being asked to study the issue of abolition for three years leading up to a vote on a statement of conscience on the issue at the 2028 General Assembly.
You can learn more about the Study Action Issue on Abolition here.
The study action issue views abolition as the term is currently used in human rights and justice circles. The Study Action Issue says “Abolition is a holistic approach to systemic social change that includes, but is not limited to: the abolition of slavery; replacing systems and cultures of violence, coercion and control with transformative justice and relational practices; and dismantling the prison-industrial complex as we now know it. It requires the transformation of our society and the replacement of theologies of retributive justice and violence.”
Rev. Tony is offering a book group and a discussion series as ways to explore the issue of abolition in more depth. You can learn more about each of these opportunities and register to participate below. Contact Rev. Tony Lorenzen for more information or with questions.
Abolition Book Group with Rev. Tony
1st Tuesdays of the month, February through May 2026 at 6:30 – 8 pm on Zoom
Register here
- FEBRUARY 3, 2026 – Hospicing Modernity by Vanessa Machado de Oliveria
- MARCH 3, 2026 – Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care by Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes
- APRIL 7, 2026 – We Will Not Cancel Us (And Other Dreams of Restorative Justice) by adrienne maree brown (AK Press, 2020)
- MAY 3, 2026 – On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World Danya Ruttenberg (Beacon Press, 2022)
Read and discuss books related to the UUA Study Action Issue on the topic of Abolition with Rev. Tony Lorenzen as he guides us through four books in four months, each book related in some way to the topic of abolition with abolition being defined as a holistic approach to systemic social change that includes, but is not limited to: the abolition of slavery; replacing systems and cultures of violence, coercion and control with transformative justice and relational practices; and dismantling the prison-industrial complex as we now know it. Book discussions are the first Tuesday of the month, Feb. through May 2026, from 6:30 – 8pm on Zoom. Register for one book or all four. If there are fewer than five registrations for a session 24 hours before the starting time, the session will be cancelled and registrants will be notified.
Abolition and…. A Discussion series with Rev. Tony Lorenzen
Register here
The topics for the discussions are:
February – Abolition and Immigration Justice
March – Abolition and LGBTQ
April – Abolition and Palestine
May – Abolition and Poverty
This discussion series offers two different opportunities to discuss each topic. One on first Mondays of the Month, February through May, 2026, at noon at the Cottage at UUCD (also open to Zoom participants ) and the other option following Sunday services on Feb. 8, March 15, April 12, and May 17. Please fill out the registration form at the link above and select all discussions you plan to attend. If less than 5 people are registered for a discussion by the day before the session, that session will be cancelled and those registered notified.