Motions are statements or calls to action that are proposed by congregations, districts, recognised societies or Full Members. Up to four ordinary motions can be voted on during each Annual Meeting, along with various administrative motions. Once accepted by the General Assembly, motions will be included in the documentation available before the Annual Meetings. Motions will then be officially proposed during one of the business meetings, followed by a time for debate, and then voted on by delegates.

The deadline for motion submissions is 29 January 2026. Motions submitted by this date will be circulated to members at least 30 days before the Annual Meetings, giving everyone time to read and consider them properly.

Who can submit a motion?

You can submit a motion if you are:

  • A congregation, regional association, or affiliated society (supported by a majority of your governing body, with a signed minute as evidence)
  • One of at least 12 individual full members of the General Assembly acting together
  • The Executive Committee (on its own authority)

If you’re not sure whether you meet these criteria, our chief officer Liz Slade can advise.

What makes a good motion?

Motions work best when they’re clear, focused and action-oriented. They might be about policy, social justice issues, spiritual matters, or changes to how the Unitarian movement operates. Think about what you want to say and why it matters to the wider Assembly.

Some things to bear in mind:

  • Motions for law reform or on public policy should, where possible, take account of different legal jurisdictions (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different laws).
  • A background paper explaining the context and reasoning behind your motion makes it much easier for delegates to understand and discuss it properly.
  • Subject lines that clearly state what you’re proposing help people quickly grasp what you’re asking for.

How to submit

Send your motion to Liz Slade at eslade@unitarian.org.uk with:

  • The motion itself, in writing
  • The names of a proposer and a seconder
  • Ideally, a background paper of a few paragraphs explaining the context

The Steering Committee is there to help. If you’re unsure how to phrase something or want feedback before you submit, Liz can point you towards support. The Steering Committee can also help if similar motions need combining, or suggest helpful clarifying amendments.

If you’d like help crafting a strong motion, join us for our Motions Workshop with the Annual Meetings Steering Committee next Thursday, online.

When: Thursday 15 January, 6.30pm

Where: Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89550682877?pwd=Jhz0ysKGbYoJbXPHingN4V5DSgbBZB.1

Meeting ID: 895 5068 2877

Passcode: 378874

Emergency motions

Something urgent has come up since the deadline? You can still submit an emergency motion if it’s about an issue of public concern that has arisen since the closure date for ordinary motions. These follow the same process but are submitted as early as possible, either before or during the Annual Meetings. The meeting will need to vote to admit it to the agenda (a two-thirds majority is required).

Motions Documents

All of the documents surrounding proposed motions can be found here:

For more information about the motions process, you can have a look at the motions that were passed in 2024, and our current Standing Orders.