UU World is the official magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). It is a periodical that covers news, ideas, spiritual reflections, and stories related to Unitarian Universalism and the broader liberal religious movement.
History and Publication
UU World descends from a lineage of Unitarian and Universalist publications dating back two centuries. The Universalist Magazine was founded in 1819, and the Unitarian Christian Register was founded in 1821. The modern UU World began in March 1970 as a monthly newspaper called Unitarian Universalist World, launched by UUA President Rev. Robert N. West. In January 1987, under UUA President Rev. William F. Schulz, it became a magazine titled The World. It was renamed UU World in September 2000 under editor Tom Stites and UUA President John Buehrens, in part because six other U.S. publications were named World.
As of 2020, the magazine celebrated its 50th anniversary as a membership periodical.
Format and Content
The print magazine is currently published twice a year (spring/summer and fall/winter). The website (uuworld.org) offers free access to print content along with online-only articles, video, expanded news coverage, and audio recordings of selected articles. A digital edition for tablets and browsers is also available.
Content typically includes:
- News coverage of Unitarian Universalist congregations and initiatives
- Ideas and theological reflections
- Spiritual essays and faith journey narratives
- Coverage of social justice work, climate action, and community outreach
- UUA General Assembly coverage
- Columns from the UUA President and the Editor
Subscription and Distribution
Members of UUA congregations in the United States receive a print subscription as a benefit of membership, supported by their congregation's contribution to the UUA's Annual Program Fund. Paid subscriptions are also available for non-members; domestic subscriptions are US$20 per year (as of current pricing), with international subscriptions available at US$33 per year.
Publisher
UU World is produced by the UUA's Periodicals Office, located at 24 Farnsworth Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
