About the Course
This online course will explore the history of Unitarian Universalist Prophetic Witness since the Merger of the Unitarian and Universalist movements in 1961, as expressed in action and voted on by the annual Unitarian Universalist General Assembly. It will combine historical investigation of social justice actions and witness with deep analysis of Unitarian Universalist polity and how congregations transform affirmation into action. Students will trace the moral arc from 1961 issues like desegregation, disarmament, reproductive rights, migrant farmworkers, House UnAmerican Activities and Capital Punishment to those of the present, including Islamophobia, gun control and Black Lives Matter.
Rev. Dr. Meg Richardson

Rev. Dr. Meg Richardson
Rev. Dr. Meg Richardson joined the faculty of Starr King in 2014 as Visiting Assistant Professor of Unitarian Universalist History. Dr. Richardson, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School and Durham University, has studied our living tradition in both the United States and Great Britain, and was mentored by scholars including Conrad Wright, James Luther Adams and Sheridan Gilley. Dr. Richardson teaches UU History and Polity.
Who Would Benefit From Taking This Course?
Anyone interested in the history of social justice initiatives in the Unitarian Universalist movement, including UU seminarians attending non-UU schools (this course will help you meet the requirements of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee), lay leaders, congregants, and even practicing ministers who want more historical context for justice work.
Next Steps
As a prospective student exploring Starr King, you can take a class as a special student before you are fully enrolled. If you successfully complete the class and decide to enroll in one of our certificate or degree programs, this special student course will transfer. We also allow special students from the general population and those studying in degree programs at other theological schools, so that they may get more UU-specific training for MFC requirements. Spots for special students are limited and on an as-available basis. To register for this course, click the button below.