The purpose of this team is to search out qualified active leaders who are committed to the mission, vision, goals, values, and beliefs of Unity Worldwide Ministries. This team is empowered to select and vet candidates for election to the UWM Board of Trustees and for election to the Leadership, Recruitment, & Development Team.
The following are the guidelines of this team as stated in the UWM Bylaws, Article X, Ministry Teams, Section 1. Leadership, Recruitment, & Development Team.
A. Members. The members of the LRDT shall include two past members of the board, two licensed Unity teachers, two ordained Unity ministers, and one lay person and one member at large. No two members of the LRDT may be active in the same Unity ministry and no member of the LRDT shall be an employee of Unity Worldwide Ministries or of Unity World Headquarters at Unity Village. Members of the LRDT are not barred from themselves becoming nominees for the board.
B. Selection. All LRDT members from each of the categories listed above shall be elected by the delegates present and voting at the annual business meeting. At least two nominations shall be made by the LRDT for each position to be filled by the delegates present and voting. Nominations shall be in order from the floor and a plurality shall be sufficient for election.
C. Term of Office. LRDT members shall serve a term of four years or until their successors are elected and may not serve more than two terms consecutively. After a one-year absence from the LRDT, a person is eligible for reelection.
D. Vacancies. Vacancies in the membership of the LRDT shall be filled by the board for the remainder of the unexpired term. Serving more than half of the unexpired term of another member shall constitute a full term of office.
E. Qualifications. The membership of the LRDT should be broadly representative of the Unity Movement. Members of the LRDT should be selected from diverse backgrounds with consideration of gender and cultural differences. No member of the board shall be eligible to serve as a member of the LRDT. To be eligible for election as a member of the LRDT, a person must be:
- A licensed or ordained Unity minister or licensed Unity teacher with five (5) years of field service or a lay person active in a Unity ministry for at least five (5) years. If no candidate with five (5) years’ experience is available, then candidates with a minimum of three (3) years’ experience may be considered, although five (5) years or more are strongly preferred. The board may approve the candidates with less than five (5) years’ experience if in the best interest of the Unity Movement.
- A regular financial supporter of Unity Worldwide Ministries or of a participating member ministry that is financially supportive of Unity Worldwide Ministries.
- One with demonstrated ability to support Unity Principles.
- One who supports the policies, bylaws, and ethical codes of Unity Worldwide Ministries.
- One who has the available time, freedom, willingness, and financial resources to attend the meetings of the LRDT.
F. Duties and Responsibilities. The LRDT shall envision the ideal board and characteristics of an ideal board and shall select annually a slate of nominees for open positions on the board and for open positions on the LRDT using procedures provided for in the policies of the board.
As stated in the Unity Worldwide Ministries Policy Manual, II. Unity Worldwide Ministries Leadership, A. Board of Trustees, 4. Minimum Qualifications for Board Members.
Minimum Qualifications for Board Members
a. Ministers
(1) Commitment and loyalty to Unity Worldwide Ministries and its programs by past demonstration of:
- Involvement in ministry teamwork.
- Regular attendance at regional conventions.
- Regular attendance at annual conventions.
- Regular financial support of Unity Worldwide Ministries.
- Support for its policies, bylaws, and ethics.
(2) Proven successful experience in field ministry, preferably for a minimum of five (5) years.
(3) Continued expression of diplomacy and tact.
(4) Demonstrates leadership qualities.
(5) Proven ability to evaluate a situation objectively and represent the majority consensus of their constituency rather than a personal point of view.
(6) Ability to maintain an even temperament during stressful situations.
(7) Proven in successful interpersonal relationship.
(8) Demonstrated ability to support principle objectively.
(9) Personally have the available time, freedom, willingness, and the support of their ministry to carry out the responsibilities of the position.
(10) Shall not come from a ministry that has a minister, licensed teacher, or lay person already serving on the UWM Board of Trustees.
(11) Special skills or knowledge identified by the UWM Board as needed.
b. Licensed Teacher Representative
(1) Have been serving as an active licensed Unity teacher for a minimum of five (5) years and have their continuing education unit [CEU] credits up to date.
(2) Have the written recommendation of his/her present minister and acknowledgement by the local board of trustees [Note: One letter, two signatures]. If there is no minister presently active in their local church a letter of recommendation by the board of trustees will suffice.
(3) Be totally committed to the role and services provided by licensed Unity teachers. Supportive of both the minister and ministry by using time, talent, and tithing to assist in growing the Unity ministry. A candidate for the board of trustees shall not be currently seeking ordination as a Unity minister [e.g., not enrolled in either the Field Path Program, applying for entrance into or enrolled in either Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute or the Unity Urban Ministerial School], and will not serve as a spiritual leader of a congregation during his/her term on the board.
(4) Come from a ministry that tithes regularly to Unity Worldwide Ministries [UWM], or personally tithes to UWM.
(5) Have time and financial resources to attend the regular board of trustee’s meetings, annual UWM convention, and other task force duties as assigned.
(6) Shall not come from a ministry that has a minister, licensed teacher, or lay person already serving on the UWM Board of Trustees.
(7) Special skills or knowledge identified by the UWM Board as needed.
c. Layperson Representative
(1) Have been serving in an active leadership role in a Unity ministry for a minimum of five [5] years.
(2) Have the written recommendation of his/her present minister and acknowledgement by the local ministry board of trustees [Note: one letter, two signatures]. If there is no minister presently active in their local church a letter of recommendation by the board of trustees will suffice.
(3) Be totally committed to the vision, mission, and goals of their Unity ministry. Supportive of both the minister and ministry by using time, talent, and tithing, to assist in growing the Unity ministry.
(4) A candidate for the board of trustees shall not be currently seeking ordination as a Unity minister [e.g., not enrolled in either the Field Path Program, applying for entrance into or enrolled in either Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute or the Unity Urban Ministerial School] and will not serve as a spiritual leader of a congregation during his/her term on the board.
(5) Come from a ministry that tithes regularly to Unity Worldwide Ministries [UWM] or personally tithes to UWM.
(6) Have time and financial resources to attend the regular board of trustee’s meetings, annual UWM convention, and other task force duties as assigned.
(7) Shall not come from a ministry that has a minister, or licensed teacher, or another layperson serving on the UWM Board of Trustees.
(8) Special skills or knowledge identified by the UWM Board as needed.
Chair – Ellen Fannin, Lay Person
Barbara Thorp, LUT Position
Deni Ralston, LUT Position
Rev. Jackie Hawkins, Minister Position
Rev. Lisa Davis, Minister Position
Rev. Karen Tudor, Former Board Member Position
Rev. Toni Fish, Former Board Member Position
Rev. Linda McLeod, Member at Large
If you would like to submit the name of a candidate to possibly serve on either the Leadership, Recruitment, & Development Team [LRDT] or as a UWM Board of Trustees member please contact Ellen Fannin.