[Fuusm-l] UUA President Resigns

[Kat Hawbaker]

On March 30, UUA President Peter Morales announced his resignation three months ahead of the end of his term. Rev. Morales made the decision, effective April 1, in response to ongoing controversy over the lack of diversity in UUA’s hiring practices. The recent hiring of Rev. Andy Burnette, a white man, to lead the Southern Region of the UUA provoked outcry <https://www.uuworld.org/articles/critics-challenge-uua-hiring-practices> from UU religious professionals, who pointed out that Christina Rivera, a qualified woman of color, was passed over for the position. In a March 27 letter to UUA staff <http://www.uuworld.org/sites/live-new.uuworld.org/files/morales_staff_diversity_controversy_20170327.pdf>, Rev. Morales expressed concern over the issue and pointed out that progress has been made in recent years. Rev. Morales also pushed back against critics of the decision, stating, “I wish we were seeing more humility and less self-righteousness, more thoughtfulness and less hysteria.” Several individuals and UUA professional groups, including UU ministers of color, published responses <https://www.uuworld.org/articles/developments-2017-04-01> through email and social media, prompting an apology from Rev. Morales in his resignation letter <https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/officers/president/letter-march-30-2017>. “Unfortunately, a note I sent to UUA staff a few days ago made matters worse. In my hasty effort I created more hurt for those already hurting…I am deeply sorry,” Morales wrote. He noted that the decision to resign was his own. 

The UUA Board of Trustees can appoint an interim president until the June election, and UUA’s chief operating officer Rev. Harlan Limpert will continue to serve as head of staff. Following Rev. Morales’ resignation, the UUA Leadership Council announced plans <https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/officers/president/letter-uua-leadership-council> to hold an immediate internal review of hiring practices and the ways in which the institution advantages white people. “We acknowledge that it is past time for us to examine more deeply than we ever have the patterns of institutional racism that are embedded in our practices of leadership, including hiring…We will be examining our own hearts, listening humbly, and partnering with other leaders in our faith to find our way forward.”  

Source: UUA.org <https://www.uuworld.org/department/uu-news>




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