This will be our first conference in the western United States, and many of you may be wondering what a UCA conference is like.
A UCA conference combines opportunities for networking with both academic and practical sessions. Most academic presentations are paired with a workshop occurring at the same time, giving attendees a meaningful choice. One person may love exploring deep theological questions, while another may be eager to meet other unitarian homeschoolers. By offering both kinds of sessions, we make room for a variety of interests.
Our workshops are practical, discussion-oriented sessions—not lectures. They give participants opportunities to share experiences, explore ideas, and learn from one another.
The academic presentations are selected through a blind review process. These high-quality, informative papers contribute to unitarian Christian thought and scholarship. Each presentation includes time for audience questions, and the presentations are recorded and released so they can continue supporting the movement for years to come. You can watch presentations from previous conferences on the UCA YouTube channel.
A UCA conference is a networking and educational conference, not a corporate worship gathering. That distinction is intentional. With attendees coming from many different traditions and backgrounds, we choose to maximize the time for making connections rather than reproducing church services. We schedule long breaks between sessions, meals together, and some open time in the afternoons.
Some of the best conference experiences begin when people discover others who share their interests, want to collaborate on a project, have faced similar circumstances, or live nearby and would like to begin something new in their area. For an isolated unitarian Christian, it can be a breath of exhilarating fresh air simply to sit with others and talk openly about your faith.
If you have been thinking about attending, we would love to meet you. Learn more and register for UCA 2026 in Tempe, Arizona.
We are also accepting ideas for practical and helpful workshops. Past subjects have included raising children, organizing local and online groups, using resources such as the Revised English Version, dealing with grief, creating content, and getting started with biblical Greek.
If you have a workshop idea, email conference@unitarianchristianalliance.org. Mark Cain is organizing the workshops for the 2026 Arizona conference.