Dear Unity North Family, 

I'm happy to announce that the Trustees, Staff and congregation of Unity North have manifested a Temporary Minister to aid us during our transitional process. Rev. Stephanie Seigh, the head of Peacemaking and Transitional services for the Association of Unity Churches, has recently returned to the Temporary Minister pool after a financially mandated job reduction. As she was previously set to serve as our consultant during this process, it feels divinely appointed that she has been guided back to ministry at a most opportune time for Unity North. Please hold in your prayers Stephanie, husband Ken and pets as they come to be a part of this powerful church and she assumes the Temporay Minster role April 1st.

Namaste',  Steve Bentley

President, Board of Trustees

BIO
Rev. Stephanie M. Seigh is Director of Peacemaking and Transitional Services for the Association of Unity Churches International. She is an ordained Interfaith Minister, and obtained a B.S. in biology from The Pennsylvania State University.
 
Stephanie is a Professional Certified Coach through the Academy for Coaching Excellence in Sacramento, CA having studied with Dr. Maria Nemeth, author of The Energy of Money and Mastering Life’s Energies, and is accredited through the International Coaching Federation. As a coach, Stephanie specializes in working with and empowering leaders to reach new levels of clarity and effectiveness in their chosen fields, and to support those leaders in truly enjoying their work.
 
Before accepting the national role of Director of Peacemaking, Stephanie was the Spiritual Leader of Unity of Lehigh Valley in Emmaus, PA and was a regular consultant with various Unity ministries throughout the east coast. She specializes in church growth and revitalization, and in facilitating joyful and effective leadership. Past posts include being the Spiritual Leader of The Spiritual Center of Gettysburg, an Interfaith community, and upon graduation from The New Seminary, was the Assistant Minister at Unity Church of Harrisburg, PA. She served for a year as the Interim Senior Minister for the Interfaith Fellowship in New York City, and was a dean and presenter at the One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, also in New York City.

Where are we headed?

During our transition, the Unity North Board of Trustees has entrusted spiritual leadership duties with the Revs. Gregg Carlson, Richard Burdick, and Annette Mize. The board plans to hire a transitional minister in April and will begin the search for a new senior minister after the transitional minister is in place. For more information, see below .

Plans for Unity North during the transition

Unity North Family:

In the spirit of transparency, the Board of Trustees wanted to update our spiritual family with our plans during this time of transition.

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the board participated in an all-day retreat facilitated by the Rev. Stephanie Seigh, a representative from the Unity Association who helps churches go through leadership transitions. The board plans to invite the Rev. Seigh to return in early 2010 to continue the transition process in a full-day workshop. The workshop, which will be open to all Unity North congregants, aims to help us identify how we want to move forward as a community. It will conclude with a powerful healing ceremony. Before the Rev. Seigh returns, our associate minister, the Rev. Richard Burdick, will lead a multi-week class on the “I of the Storm,” open to anyone who would like to be involved in this transition process.

The board plans to hire a transitional minister to lead the church on a temporary basis, while we search for a permanent spiritual leader. We plan for this transitional minister to lead our church for a limited period. The Unity Association is unsure when a transitional minister will become available. Therefore, the board has entrusted spiritual leadership duties to our three ministers, the Rev. Burdick, the Rev. Annette Mize, and the Rev. Gregg Carlson. Unity North will also seek other speakers to lead our services, both upstairs and downstairs, starting in January.

As for day-to-day duties previously handled by the Senior Minister, the board has temporarily vested those responsibilities with the Rev. Carlson, who already serves as Director of Church Operations. After a new minister is hired, the board will return Gregg to his previous job description.

Your Board strives to be as available and transparent as possible, especially during this time of transition. We welcome any and all input from our spiritual family and encourage an open channel of respectful, loving communication. As we hear one another, love one another, and behold the presence of God in one another, our spiritual family grows ever stronger and more vibrant. We thank you all for joining us in holding a vision of growth, healing, and prosperity as we move through and emerge from this time of transition.

With much love,
Unity North Board of Trustees

November 16, 2009

Board Resolution regarding leadership of Unity North

After weeks of private deliberation, the following resolution was drafted after Rev. Nancy asked the board to tell the congregation about their plans to not renew her contract.

WHERAS, the Unity North Board of Trustees holds a bold vision of spiritual, physical & financial growth for Unity North Atlanta,

The role of the Senior Minister is critical in holding and leading us into that vision by providing inspiring spiritual leadership and by effectively, efficiently managing staff and operations of the church,

A lack of confidence has developed within the board regarding the ability and performance of Rev Nancy Worth in providing inspiring leadership and effective management of staff and operations, and

A notable level of congregant dissatisfaction, reduced participation, and reduced giving has become apparent to the board and has been specifically tied by many of these congregants to their perceptions of the senior minister,

Be it, therefore, resolved

That the board shall not renew its contract with Rev Nancy Worth when that contract expires on March 31, 2010

That this intent be made known first to Rev Nancy Worth privately so that an arrangement can be developed jointly with her regarding the remainder of the contract period,

That the President of the Board is empowered and directed to present this intention of the board to Rev Worth and to develop with her a mutually agreeable plan for her service during the remaining period of the contract and for the communication of this plan to the congregation. This terms of this plan shall be submitted to the board in full for final approval.

Be it also resolved that the board expresses its sincere appreciation to Rev Nancy for her contributions and accomplishments during her five years of service to Unity North and encourages there to be a celebration of her service to Unity North, in a manner agreeable to her.

Signed:

Unity North Board of Trustees

Unanimously Approved

Oct. 27, 2009

Board Resolution: Co-Creating a Church of Sacred Service

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of Unity North values the contributions of its staff and recognizes that they constantly do work beyond the limits of their salary and schedules. The Board appreciates all of their efforts and acknowledges that they cannot possibly do all the work needed to run a church of this size.  The Board further appreciates that the staff as part of their work is already co-creating the ministry of the church with many Unity North congregants in Sacred Service. 

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of Unity North acknowledges that the church attracts an incredibly talented group of people who wish to help the church prosper and grow. The Board welcomes the Sacred Service contributions of any congregant with specific or general talents that will help the church more fully achieve its mission to “teach and model practical spirituality for personal transformation and service to others.”

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees understands the offering of personal time and service is an important aspect of tithing. Providing opportunities for congregants to give of their time moves the heart closer to Spirit. One that serves and gives time to God leaves little room to concentrate on daily worries or self.

Be it Resolved that the Board of Trustees of Unity North encourages the staff to expand their ministry with congregant volunteers in Sacred Service, taking advantage of their unique expertise in various areas. The Board envisions an expanding culture of Sacred Service that empowers the church to accomplish greater ministry opportunities.  This emphasis on welcoming expanded use of volunteers in Sacred Service will increase the effective ministry of the church staff, save church funds and to create a sense of ownership and participation from the congregants.

Be it further Resolved that the Board of Trustees states clearly that the expanded use of volunteers in Sacred Service for various ministry tasks is not a shift toward cutting church staff or reducing staff hours. The Board simply wishes to embrace the creative talents and skills of its congregants and create an environment where members of the church can feel they are part of making Unity North a thriving spiritual community.

Signed:  

Unity North Board of Trustees

August 25, 2009

Regarding Unity North's tithing expenditures

The Unity North Board of Trustees held an Executive Session on Thursday Aug. 20, to discuss the church's current tithing policy.  Unity North is a tithing church, sending 10 percent of its revenue toward spiritual enrichment. Several congregants and board members were recently concerned that some of the spending set aside for tithes was inappropriate.  

As a result of the meeting, the board revisited the policy regarding tithes that was adopted by the Board of Trustees in February 2006 (see below). The board agreed that the current tithe account expenditures adhered to this policy. However, the board also agreed that some of the expenditures in the tithe account appeared to stretch the limits of justifiable tithe spending.  

To help narrow and monitor future categorization of tithe expenses, the board instructed the church staff to provide a monthly account to the board of each tithe expenditure. The board may also revisit the official tithe policy.  

As further clarification, please also be aware that we do not tithe to need. We tithe to where we see God’s work being done; to where we are spiritually fed; to where great work is being done; where we get inspired; where we get uplifted; to things, people, organizations where our heart soars … or as Edwene Gaines says: “You know you’re being spiritually fed when you feel your heart sing” … Tithing to need is charity. What you tithe to - you get more of.  You’re feeding it with your energy and attracting that to you. 

The Board of Trustees welcomes input from our spiritual family on the direction of future tithes and on any other matter of concern. This board has set an intention to be a transparent board that communicates clearly to the congregation to whom we are accountable. 

In that vein of accountability and transparency, we also ask the congregation to please express your concerns openly to the Board so that we may address concerns quickly, thereby resulting in a well-informed, representation of our spiritual family.  We will soon add a link to Unity North's Web site entitled, “Communications To/From Your Board of Trustees.” This will include a blog so that in the future, important issues, such as this, may be communicated freely and acted upon quickly. 

POLICY FOR TITHING (Adopted by the Board of Trustees on 2/28/06) 

Tithe: The tithe is paid on the gross income of the ministry. The ministry tithe is 10%. An example of how the tithe may be disbursed is as follows:

• Association of Unity Churches
• Regional Conference (SUMI) & Sub-Region (UMMAS)
• Unity (includes Silent Unity and Unity Institute – MEP, SEE)
• Spiritual Enrichment Fund *
• Local Unity Churches
• Community Outreach
• Other, as determined by the Minister(s) – with suggestions from the Board of Trustees and congregation

* Spiritual Enrichment is study, education, conferences, etc. that spiritually enrich the Ministers, members of our Board of Trustees, Staff, or key lay leaders so that they come back to Unity North Atlanta and spiritually feed our congregation.

   Money from this fund may be used for things such as:

• Ministers’ conferences, continuing education, Association of Unity Churches committee/board work, spiritual renewal.
• Staff renewal and development.
• Board renewal and development.
• YOU scholarships; church support for rallies and conferences (currently travel & sponsor registration – this may change this year to church support of 1/3 of the expenses with 1/3 from the youth/parents and 1/3 from YOU fundraising efforts).
• Training for our key lay leaders heading up ministries such as: Chaplains, Small Groups.