How we work
OUR OBJECT
The Object of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is “to promote a free and inquiring religion through the worship of God and the celebration of life; the service of humanity and respect for all creation; and the upholding of the liberal Christian tradition.”
OUR COMMUNITY
Our congregations are autonomous, democratic organisations, led by the members. Each elects its own leadership annually and decide their own vision and plans. The culture and ethos of each congregation is unique, while belonging to our larger family. Some congregations are led by a minister appointed by the congregation, and others are led directly by the community.
As well as individual congregations, there are District Associations that connect and support congregations in a local region, and many societies, from the Peace Fellowship and the Earth Spirit Network to the Women’s Group and the Music Society – plus many more. You can find a full list of our Districts and Societies here.
Leadership & Governance
The Unitarian movement is a democratic, grass-roots organisation. Our central hub is the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, a registered charity, whose Executive Committee is elected by members. The movement makes collective decisions at our Annual Meetings, where each congregation sends its delegates.
Each year at the Annual Meetings, congregations and societies are invited to submit Motions for consideration and approval by the delegates. Only four motions will be put to a vote each year. You can read about most recent motions passed here.
For an historical view, you can read a synopsis of the resolutions we have passed from 1929 to 2022. These show the issues that our community has stood up for since the General Assembly’s inception in 1929.
Read more about our governance in our Object and Constitution, and find out about recent activities in our Annual Report.
You can find our complaints policy here.
The General Assembly is funded by a mixture of membership payments from congregations, donations, grants, and income from our investments. Find out more about how you can support our work.
Liz Slade, Chief Officer
Chief Officer
Our Chief Officer, Liz Slade, works with the Executive Committee and leads the staff team. She joined us in March 2019 after a senior career in the healthcare industry. Originally from Dorset, Liz joined our New Unity congregation in north London, starting her on a spiritual journey which led her through leadership in the Sunday Assembly movement to leading pilgrimages treating works of literature as sacred texts, before becoming our Chief Officer. She is excited by the role that Unitarians can play in bringing a cultural shift to make it easy for everyone to participate in a spiritually healthy community, and sees this as a necessary part of creating a society that is more equal and in balance with the natural world.
Meet the rest of the General Assembly staff team here.
Presidential Team
The Presidential team travel the length and breadth of the UK (in person and via Zoom!), connecting with our congregations and sharing their vision for the future. They also represents us at official events like Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph and on official bodies. The President and Vice President are elected annually, serving a 12 month term.
Our new Joint Presidents are Revs Alex and Jean Bradley, and our Vice President is Jo O’Sullivan.
Executive Committee
Our Executive Committee (EC) is elected directly by our members. Their work is open and transparent. You can read the minutes from their meetings in our Resources section.
The EC has elections every year, with members on different terms so that the slate is refreshed regularly.
Our Executive Committee:
John Bates
Sarah Benfield
John Bates is a retired Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School, with forty years’ experience in business and education. He joined Cambridge Unitarians in 1991 and later was a member of Islington Unitarians. John became Chair of New Unity when it was formed in 2015, before stepping down in 2022.
Sarah Benfield lives in Berkshire and is a retired solicitor specialising in family law. She is a member of Reading Unitarian fellowship. The daughter of a Unitarian minister, Sarah has been involved in the denomination all of her life, including in Sheffield, Reading, and as Chair of the Send A Child To Hucklow charity which helps children from deprived areas experience the natural world. Sarah enjoys travelling with her family, volunteering in her local park and as a National Trust guide, singing in a choir and dance exercise classes..
Zac Baker lives in Cwmbran, South Wales. A graduate of Swansea University in Biochemistry and Genetics, he currently works in cardiac device clinical trials. Encouraged by the openness of the Unitarians to all people and ideas, he joined Swansea Unitarians in 2019 and has since become involved both at the district and national level in Wales. He has particular interest in ensuring the Unitarian movement evolves with the needs of today and continues to provide its unique approach to faith and community for those who seek it.
Stephanie Bisby is half-time minister with Doncaster Unitarians, and serves on the Inquirer Board as well as the committees of the Unitarian Renewal Group, Ministerial Fellowship and Sheffield District Association. She is a published novelist (under her maiden name of Stephanie Cage) and a poet. When not leading worship in Doncaster and elsewhere, Stephanie likes to procrastinate on her latest book by reading in a wide range of genres, visiting the theatre and walking by the sea. She grew up playing classical piano and, encouraged by her very musical congregation, has recently started learning the baritone ukulele.
Arek Malecki serves as the minister at the Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel in Leicester since 2023. Originally from Poland, Arek grew up in the Roman Catholic Church. He first came across Unitarianism through an online quiz and instantly recognised himself in what he read, realising he had been a Unitarian all his life without knowing it. In 2014 he joined Mill Hill Chapel in Leeds, later becoming a lay worship leader and rite of passage celebrant before training for ministry and leaving his corporate career in the public transport sector. He graduated from the Unitarian College and the Luther King Centre for Theology and Ministry.
By night, Arek is a qualified group exercise instructor who loves teaching gym classes. He considers movement and embodiment to be expressions of spiritual practice. And, he’s a self-confessed Bible nerd.
Joe Calvert and Rev Winnie Gordon were co-opted as EC members in the July 2025 meeting.