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Vision: A world powerfully transformed through the growing movement of shared spiritual awakening.
Mission: Advancing the movement of spiritual awakening and transformation
through Unity, a positive path for spiritual living.
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Table of Contents
(Click on item below or scroll down.)
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Membership Matters
Tidbits You Will Find Handy
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Better Together: Sign Up for Next Round of Focus Groups! Your input in the first round of focus groups was invaluable in helping us create a draft purpose statement and areas of priorities. Please visit the Better Together webpage to see the Updates from the UWM Board (May 22, 2020), John Wimberly’s report to the Board, and more. While there, sign up to give us feedback on the purpose and priorities in the next round of focus groups. Thank you to all who have contributed to this project so far. We look forward to hearing more from you!
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Loaves & Fishes Fund Update. We are excited to share with you some financial figures, all as of May 27, 2020, for our Loaves & Fishes Fund. This fund assists ministries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with grants of up to $2,000. We received 11 complete applications and $21,500 was disbursed to ministries in the U.S., Dominican Republic, and Nigeria. Four more applications (from the U.S., Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico) will be considered on June 3. We are awaiting more information for seven other applications (from the U.S., Puerto Rico, Columbia, Nigeria, and South Africa). Please use the link above to read the qualifications and to apply. You can click on the Donate button of our website to contribute to this fund. Thank you all for your generosity in supporting our Unity ministries!
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Scam Alert. We previously made you aware of a scam using Unity’s name in connection with property rental. We’ve recently been notified of another instance, this time originating in Canada. The information was sent via email. The scammers mention being accepted into a program by Unity as a reason for their property being available for rent and link to information on our website. If you see any postings or receive any emails mentioning Unity related to rental properties, please know it is a scam. If you happen to see or receive anything related to this scam, please notify David Vest, Chief Financial Officer, Unity World Headquarters, at VestDR@unityonline.org. Thank you!
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Staff Celebrations
Good News from the Central Office
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Chris Gannan Appointed to Blackboard Community Leadership Circle (CLC). Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute (UWSI) is delighted to announce that Chris Gannan, UWSI Registrar, has been appointed to the Blackboard CLC. The Blackboard CLC is a small, governance board positioned to lead and influence community initiatives. Members of the CLC are selected by an internal committee comprised of Blackboard leaders from various functions of the business. Congratulations, Chris!
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Carrie Kenyon Is Now a Certified Transition Specialist. Rev. Carrie Kenyon, Member Services Coordinator, is now a UWM Certified Transition Specialist. Carrie has completed all the education requirements in this program. Congratulations, Carrie! Check out our Certified Transition Specialist or Ministry Consultant Programs. Our UWM staff members Rev. Doug Duerr and Rev. Cynthia Vermillion-Foster are also Certified Transition Specialists.
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Education
Educating Unity Leaders in Spiritual Principles
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Graduation and Ordination: Save the Date! You’re invited to attend on June 15, 2020, the graduation ceremony for Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute at 1:30 p.m. (CT), followed by the ordination ceremony for Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute, the Field Program, Unity Urban Ministerial School, and International Ministerial Program at 3:30 p.m. (CT). We hope you can join us virtually for these ceremonies. We will provide the links in the June 11, 2020, issue of The Path and on our UWM Facebook page, so please look for that. We are looking forward to celebrating our graduates and ordinands for completing their studies. This is a year we will all remember!
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Spiritual Explorers: The Power of Wonder. Many spiritual seekers spend years being stuck while distracted by chasing more information and living in their intellect instead of their heart. What if we were to reclaim our power of wonder so that we can explore the unlimited within our dreams and challenges? Led by Ev G. Godina, this course will be held June 18, 2020, 6:30-8 p.m. (CT). Get more information and register here.
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Spiritual Explorers: Relationships and the 9 Enneagram Types with Michael Naylor. In this self-paced online course, discover deeper intimacy, compassion, and self-awareness. Through understanding the protective habits of your Enneagram type, you expand your capacity to develop deeper intimacy in your relationships. Enroll now in the self-paced course, and you will have access to join Michael Naylor for a bonus free, live, online Q&A session about Relationships and the 9 Enneagram Types on June 17, 2020, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (CT).
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SEE in the Field Week, July 19–25, 2020. Learn from great teachers in the Unity movement at Unity of Houston, Texas. Our theme is “Evolving Consciousness,” presented by special guest teachers and authors Revs. Drs. Gary and Jane Simmons. Choose from 12 Spiritual Education and Enrichment (SEE) credit courses. We will conclude with a one-day workshop on The Q Process with Gary and Jane. Discounted hotel rates and early bird registration available. Register at unityhouston.org/see. We are planning to offer classes online in the event that our campus is still closed due to COVID-19.
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Leadership Development
Training Unity Leaders in Effective Leadership
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UWM Consultant Training. UWM’s consultant education program has been around for several decades and continues to be on the leading edge of training to meet the challenges occurring in the faith-based system with a central focus of adaptive leadership. Our certification program has been under the direction of Rev. Doug Duerr, Ministry Leadership Coordinator, since 2017. Currently, there are 18 active consultants and 11 enrolled in our program. The folks at Interim Ministry Network and Mediation Skills Training Institute partner in our education curriculum. The next vetting cycle occurs late in 2020 with the next training cycle in 2021. For more information, connect with Rev. Doug.
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Using Social Media for Fundraising. In this webinar taught by Rev. Kelly Isola, you will learn the beginnings of how to use social media to build relationships and to counter some of the assumed implications of technology in building relationships and fundraising. This webinar is offered twice: June 9, 2020, 1:30-3 p.m. (CT), with registration due by June 7, and June 11, 2020, 7-8:30 p.m. (CT), with registration due by June 9. (This class is worth 1.5 CEUs.) The suggested love offering is $35.
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Webinar: Uplevel the Engagement of Your Online Course. Increase engagement of your online course with this innovative tool, TalentLMS. This free tool allows learners to access course content, engage asynchronously in discussions, complete readings, and turn in assignments. With prework accomplished, the live session can focus on a deeper exploration of the content’s meaning to the learner and how it will be applied. Taught by Rev. Diane Venzera, M.Ed., this webinar will be held June 16, 2020, 1:30-3 p.m. (CT). Register by June 14, 2020. (This class is worth 1.5 CEUs.)
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Webinar: Building Teams, Embodying Oneness. Healthy, coherent teamwork is an essential component for ministry success. This three-week training led by Rev. Cynthia Vermillion-Foster helps to build effective teams and develops practices that support collaboration and creative thinking. These practices support you in coming together in community and living in Oneness. Live sessions are held on July 14, 21, and 28, 2020, 2-4 p.m. (CT). Registration through UWSI is open from June 28 through July 10, 2020. Participation is limited to 50.
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Our New Virtual Adventures for YFM Are Available! Each youth and family ministry (YFM) children’s lesson has been created using a PowerPoint format that can easily be shared through Zoom or other video conferencing systems. The lessons include a story shared from YouTube, as well as simple community-building and engagement activities. Feel free to download the PowerPoints, links, and instructions to use as is, or add your own creativity to each one.
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Prayer Chaplain Trainers Workshop/Course Now Offered Online. Light & Love Ministries is now offering the Prayer Chaplain Trainer’s course in an online format. This is a five-week course with a required weekly live Zoom session facilitated by Light & Love Ministries Trainers. SEE (Spiritual Education and Enrichment) credits and CEUs are available. The next course starts on July 6, 2020. For more information, visit LightandLoveMinistries.org or call 602-843-8360.
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Connection Space Recording: Navigating. The recording for Navigating an Unclear Future Together is now posted on the Connection Space webpage. You can also find it on our YouTube page. Check the Connection Space for a schedule of upcoming calls and for the archive of past, richly informative calls.
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Special Services Manual Digital Download. This is the standard text from the Special Services Manual in Word format. It’s handy for when you want to fill in the name for and print just one service for a funeral or wedding, without carrying a whole book. Note: This was formerly provided on CD. Now it is a direct download. See also a related item: Special Services Manual with White Binder.
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Connect
Providing Resources and Opportunities for Unity Leaders
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Transitions
Rev. Michael Maday (ordained 1984) made his transition May 18, 2020. He served churches in Pontiac and Flint, Michigan; and Columbia, Missouri. He was the senior book editor of Unity Books for many years, an adjunct professor at Unity Institute, and, most recently, a prayer associate at Silent Unity. Condolences can be sent to Rev. Alden Studebaker who will forward them to Michael’s family. Thank you, Michael, for your consistent, thoughtful service to Unity.
Rev. Elsie Harnisch entered into rest on May 21, 2020. Elsie led the Unity in Prayer (telephone) ministry that was part of Unity of Buffalo, New York, from 1983-1990. After being ordained in 1989, she started her own ministry in the area, Unity Center of Light. Notes to the family may be sent in care of her brother, Joseph and Gail Harnisch, 1540 D’Angelo Drive, North Tonawanda, NY 14120.
Open Positions
Unity Worldwide Ministries, Unity Village, Missouri, has an opening for a full-time operations director.
Unity of St. Petersburg, Florida, has an opening for a full-time minister.
Celebrations
Rev. Betty Martin-Lewis is the latest candidate to complete UWM’s certified consultant program. Congratulations, Betty! For a discussion, information, or to apply for UWM’s certified consultant program, contact Rev. Doug Duerr. The next application, interview, and vetting season will open in late 2020 for the following calendar year. The next season of courses begin in 2021.
The ministerial Class of 2000 is having a Zoom reunion on June 15, 2020, at 5 p.m. (CT). If you are one of us, check out and join our Ministerial Class of 2000—20th Reunion Facebook group. Please send your contact info to Rev. Aliza Bloom at revalizabloom@gmail.com to receive the Zoom link for the party. Congratulations, Class of 2000!
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 A listing of all current openings for ministers and ministry personnel can be found at UnityWorldwideMinistries.org/openings. No login is needed. Send questions/comments about ministry employment to Carrie Kenyon or Diane Pletcher. Ministry staffing, status changes, and transitions are available online.
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IYOU Event Goes Virtual! The Indie team is hard at work creating a virtual event based on our 2020 IYOU Event: “Illluminate.” Our focus statement is: To create an inclusive community of love and support where people are inspired to learn and grow spiritually and experience an understanding of their endless potential. Registration is now open for the online event occurring July 9–12, 2020! Join us for a week of deepening spiritual practice and connection with YOUers from around the county!
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Unity World Headquarters
at Unity Village
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To Use for Pride Month. Worthy: LGBTQ Stories of Overcoming Rejection and Religion to Find Truth is a lively and beautiful booklet with powerful stories from the Unity LGBTQ community. These stories of healing have endings that are not simply happy but full of gratitude and love. Order any booklet in bulk from Customer Care by calling 816-251-3571 or emailing wholesaleaccts@unityonline.org.
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Finding Peace in Tough Times. The new booklet The Comfort of Prayer is perfectly timed for all of us whose work and home lives are in upheaval. Focusing on affirmative prayer, legendary Unity authors share the power of prayer to change us and all aspects of our lives. Use for talks or distribute in your community. Request your copy today from Customer Care by calling 816-251-3571 or emailing wholesaleaccts@unityonline.org.
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 Don’t Forget! Be sure you are signed up to receive Postcards from the Village. The monthly email is packed with updates for Unity ministers and LUTs, from the Unity World Headquarters Executive Team. Request Postcards from the Village for complete and timely updates: postcards@unityonline.org.
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