American Unitarian Conference™

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JOINT STATEMENT

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION AND AMERICAN UNITARIAN CONFERENCE
Boston, MA and Alexandria, VA. The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the American Unitarian Conference announced today that they have agreed to a settlement of the lawsuit filed by the UUA in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, VA. The American Unitarian Conference was incorporated as the American Unitarian Association ("AUA") in September, 2000. In the lawsuit, the UUA asserted ownership of the American Unitarian Association name and mark. The AUA also claimed lawful ownership of the AUA name. Given the uncertainties and costs of litigation, the parties have agreed to settle the lawsuit.

As part of the settlement agreement, the AUA has agreed to modify its name to the American Unitarian Conference.

"Our goal is to promote traditional Unitarianism. That tradition holds that faith in God, freedom, reason and tolerance should be central to the religious experience. We reached the conclusion that going forward under a new name would better enable us to achieve our goals than devoting resources to continuing litigation," said Davd R. Burton, President of the American
Unitarian Conference.

"I am pleased that the case has been resolved and I will operate on the assumption that this dispute was among persons of good faith. It was never our intention to oppose the right of the American Unitarian Conference group to exist, only to protect and preserve our historic name and mark. The Unitarian Universalist tradition is broad enough and deep enough to hold many
religious points of view," said the Rev. William G. Sinkford, President of the UUA.

"We look forward to a constructive and cordial working relationship with the new leadership at the UUA," said Burton.

For more information, contact:
John Hurley, Unitarian Universalist Association. 617-742-2100
Davd R. Burton, President, American Unitarian Conference. 703-548-5868


American Unitarian Conference™
6806 Springfield Dr.
Mason Neck, VA 22079
info@americanunitarian.org
Ph: 810-714-6087

© 2000 American Unitarian Conference™