Unity Spirit in action

James Trapp, our president and CEO sent the following to Reverend Jim Lee, the Chair of the Board of Trustees and to all of the members of the Board:

 “After extensive prayer and spiritual discernment, I have decided to resign as president and CEO of Unity Worldwide Ministries effective August 31, 2012.

Under the guidance of Spirit and after conferring with my family, it has become clear that it is time to answer the call to move forward and to step into the next phase of our lives and avail ourselves of opportunities that have been presented to us.  

It has been a wonderful adventure to be of service to you and Unity Worldwide Ministries.

I am confident that the best days of the Unity movement as well as Unity Worldwide Ministries lie before us.”

While we reluctantly accept James’ resignation, the Board is poised to move forward with a comprehensive transition plan that will assure Unity Worldwide Ministries continues to fulfill its Divine Purpose. James will be working with our Board and will do all he can to assist in making the transition a smooth and successful one.

The steps of the Board include the following:

1.  Employ Reverend Donna Johnson as the temporary CEO for a period of approximately 18 months while the Board develops a Search Team to help identify Unity Worldwide Ministries’ next CEO. Donna is uniquely qualified to serve as temporary CEO during this time of transition as she has:

• Served as a Unity Worldwide Ministries Board member for five (5) years, and as the second vice chair of the Board and most recently as first vice chair of the Board.
• Served as a member of the joint Integration Team with Unity School representatives.
• Served 16 successful years as a field minister including the past 13 years as the senior minister at Unity of Fairfax in Northern Virginia which has been a participant in the Transformation Experience Pilot Program and the Unity Identity Program (branding).
• Served on the Admissions Team, Church Growth and Development Team, Gifts and Grants Team and the Future Trends Team.

2.   Because of her close involvement with Unity Worldwide Ministries as a Board member and vice chair, Donna is prepared to immediately step in and assume the temporary CEO position.

3.  Having a temporary CEO in place will give the Board the time needed to appoint a well qualified Search Team and to develop a process to select the next CEO. As the Board prepares to select the next CEO, it will enroll a broad base of Unity Worldwide Ministries’ stakeholders – ministers, licensed Unity teachers and Unity lay members – to be on the Search Team.

4.  The board has re-configured itself in the following ways:

• Donna has resigned as first vice chair of the Board.
• Reverend Julie Armour, current second vice chair, has assumed the role of first vice chair.

Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Board of Trustees wants to assure you that our number one priority is to be good stewards of our financial resources and maintain a balanced budget so that we can effectively move forward with our vision and mission.

In addition, the Unity Worldwide Ministries’ staff is fully committed to fulfilling our mission as well as serving and partnering with you in the highest possible way.

We request that you hold this process in prayer and support Unity Worldwide Ministries’ next phase of growth and development.

Finally, we as a Board honor the visionary and strategic work that Reverend James Trapp has provided during the past 6 and a half years. Join us in supporting James and his family as they embrace their exciting future.

Let us all affirm and know the Truth as we move to our next highest good: “God’s got this!”

In the Spirit of Unity,

Jim Lee
Chair of the Board
Board of Trustees of Unity Worldwide Ministries

The Unity Worldwide Ministries Board of Trustees is moving into a new era of financial accountability. One of our first steps in building an improved system of accountability is to respond through the Unity Worldwide Ministries’ blog to a series of questions posed by Rev. Cherie Larkin, chairperson of the Finance and Budget Ministry Team. The following are our responses:

Regarding the Conference-approved budget that was prepared by a special “Reinvention Team” that met in May 2011:

The Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Board is committed to being in alignment with this budget and to finishing the fiscal year in the black. Here are the steps that have been taken so far in this regard:

• Significant cost reductions in spending on the Transformation Experience
• Contact magazine has been converted to on-line distribution only.
• Benefits for family members of staff have been eliminated.
• Staff reductions – thus far the reductions have mostly been due to attrition impacting two and one-half positions.

The net savings from these changes has been $435,755.

There are still some further steps to reduce costs that must be taken and that will be on the Board’s agenda for its May meeting. There are a few aspects of the budget that have not been implemented and relate to expense reductions in the area of personnel; there have been some employment changes due to attrition. We are seeking to balance the budget while minimizing the impact to job loss and services to our membership. We do not feel there needs to be an alternate fiscal plan at this time.

This is what is yet to be done:

• First priority – To build our reserves back up to the equivalent of one month’s expenses, $200,000.
• Second priority – To use the 90/10% income ratio to pay off our line of credit (90% for operating expenses, 10% for debt repayment).
• Third priority – To use the same 90/10% ratio, apply 10% of income toward building reserves back up to an equivalent of three month’s reserves, $600,000. During this third phase, we may begin to release the moratorium on spending to replace, repair or upgrade equipment as determined necessary.

Other Questions:

When will the line of credit ($211,828) be paid off if the Reinvention Team’s recommendation is not implemented?

Consistent with the goal recommended by this team, we are targeting the point where Unity Worldwide Ministries’ expenses are 90% of our revenue so that the remaining 10% can be used to pay off the line of credit. On March 31, 2012, we made a payment of $110,000 on our line of credit. The current balance is $103,145. With payments of $10-15,000 per month, it would be paid within a year.

When will we have the minimum reserve amount of $500,000 accumulated if we do not implement the Reinvention Team’s recommendation? (The reserve balance as of 9/30/11 is $62,835.)

The reserve balance, as of February 29, 2012 (and after deducting the above line of credit) is $169,001. At this point, we can’t commit to a precise date when the reserves will be back up to $500,000. That is definitely a priority of our Board and we will seek to achieve that goal after the line of credit is paid off with the same 90/10% ratio.

Has the Board changed the Unity Worldwide Ministries’ policy under which restricted or designated funds can be released and used for operations?

Absolutely not.

Given the current stream of income, have you identified “essential” services and established criteria for expenditures for both “essential” and “non-essential” services?

 Yes, the CEO, in consultation with our Board and member ministries, has evaluated services and listened to input from the field to make decisions about what services should be maintained and where reductions in spending can be made. At this point, nearly all “non-essential” services have been reduced or eliminated.

There are some services that relate to our being an association, some services that relate to our mission, and then underlying services necessary to support the overall operations such as communications. Funding is also being provided for the two key strategic initiatives that have been called for by our membership, leadership development and the Unity Identity Program.

 There is currently a temporary spending moratorium for all but “fixed” services and that which is now in place.

The board of trustees of Unity Worldwide Ministries feels it is imperative to keep our members well informed. We look at it as an investment into our future. Informing our members builds trust, and trust builds support. We thank the Finance and Budget Ministry Team for asking the “right” questions.

On March 13, 2012 James Trapp, Jim Lee and John Strickland met with Ambassador Andrew Young to present to him the 2012 Light of God Expressing Society Award. This award is given to the individual whose contributions are compatible with the teachings of Jesus the Christ and has benefited humanity and enhanced the spiritual quality of life through service, speaking, writing, leadership, human relations or world peace.  Ambassador Young was a top aide to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement, was involved in its inception, and served as vice-president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Board of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-Violent Social Change.

Ambassador Andrew Young is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He has published two books, A Way Out of No Way, and An Easy Burden. His awards include the Presidential Medal of Freedom and many honorary degrees. He served three terms in the U.S. Congress from the 5^th District of Georgia. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter named him Ambassador to the United Nations. He served two terms as Mayor of Atlanta and was co-chairman of the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996. Ambassador Young also served as President of the National Council of Churches, Chairman of Goodworks International and as a member of the Boards of Directors of numerous organizations and businesses including Delta Airlines, Argus, Host Marriott Corporation, Archer Daniels Midland, Cox Communication and Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Ambassador Young will not be able to join us for our 2012 Unity People’s Convention, “Pulled by A Vision,” in Detroit to receive this award. James had the privilege and opportunity to present the award to him at the Peace Chapel at Historic Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA. The recorded presentation will be shown at conference. Thank you James, Jim and John for taking your time out of your busy schedules to make this happen!

The Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Board of Trustees is moving into a new era of financial accountability. One of our first steps in building an improved system of accountability is to respond through the Unity Worldwide Ministries’ blog to a series of questions posed from the field. The following are our responses:

Please explain who is reviewing, monitoring and/or guiding the fiscal affairs of Unity Worldwide Ministries.

This is an on-going process with interrelated responsibilities between the chair of the Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Finance and Budget (F&B) ministry team, our Board chairs, our chief executive officer (CEO) and the financial accountability officer (FAO) and staff, each having an important role.

There are critical distinctions between the role of the staff, the role of the Board and ministry teams. The CFO as a staff position has the responsibility of (1) managing the financial operations in the office, (2) being certain that systems and procedures for financial accountability are followed, (3) verifying that all reporting is accurate and that the audits are completed, and (4) insuring that we are functioning within generally accepted accounting principles. Due to the complex nature of our accounting system and the importance to maintain trust in our financial accountability, these functions are something that no one else outside of the office can fulfill.

The CEO has the responsibility of being certain the CFO fulfills the duties of that position as outlined in the CFO job description. The CEO is also a member of the Board and thus participates in policy-making decisions. Additionally, the CEO is the leader of our organization. The Board relies on Rev. James Trapp for spiritual leadership and executive leadership to guide the direction of our work.

The Board has the responsibility of holding the CEO accountable to mutually-agreed upon expectations, and also supporting the CEO to be successful. The Board needs to insure that the CEO has the support necessary to be successful in this position. The Board is accountable to its membership and has the responsibility to set policy that guides the organization to fulfill its mission. Part of that accountability is to oversee the finances, based on the reports that are provided to us, and make or direct the CEO to make adjustments where necessary to meet our financial goals.

The role of the Finance and Budget team is to develop the proposed budget each year, based upon direction from the Board and CEO, and to advise the Board as requested on how to keep the budget balanced. The team also is to provide an independent and objective review of Unity Worldwide Ministries’ finances.

The roles of the CEO and the newly established board financial accountability officer are to facilitate the communication and education that is necessary so that all of the above can happen effectively.

How will the financial partners work together to bring focus, clarity, awareness and insights for better decision and policy making?

This will be a collaborative process. The system will need to evolve over time as we become clearer on what is needed. The two key elements that stand out as most needed at this time are communication and education, both with the Board and with our membership-at-large. For example, a number of ideas are being discussed about how to better communicate about Unity Worldwide Ministries’ finances at the annual Unity Peoples’ Convention.

Initial steps have included having the chair of the Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Finance and Budget ministry team participate on bridge line calls with our Board chairs, our chief executive officer and the financial accountability officer from time to time. The FAO will communicate with the chair of the F&B team and the chief financial officer at least twice per month.

A revision of financial statements used to report to the Board is another item that is being worked on. In addition, a portion of our Board meeting time at the January meetings this year was dedicated to developing our next steps for this financial vision. The Board is committed to operating within the conference-approved budget.

When the 2012 conference team met two years ago to begin planning for this year’s convention, the usual question of location was raised. The conference team gets many requests from our regions asking for the convention to be held in their particular location. This year was a new experience. The Great Lakes regional leaders were so passionate about having it in Detroit that they created a petition with over 100 signatures. We received their request and unanimously agreed the Great lakes Region was due and Detroit was the ideal backdrop for our upcoming experience.

Not only is Detroit beautiful, but it is a city that is ripe for Unity’s vibration and message of hope, renewal and empowerment. As we prepare for this convention, let us visualize our prayers and presence permeating “the ethers,” as Charles Fillmore would say. Let us affirm that the lives of Detroit residents whom we touch will be uplifted and prospered by Spirit in a way that is lasting.

This year, the convention held June 11-15 will be at the beautiful Marriott Renaissance Hotel based in the Renaissance Centre on the riverfront of downtown Detroit. The Renaissance Centre itself is upscale, and the area offers many attractions within walking distance of the hotel. But we don’t plan to stay at the hotel the entire time! Tuesday morning, we will come together for a prayer breakfast aboard the Detroit Princess, and Rev. Michael Moran will be our prayer guide as we cruise the Detroit River.

This year’s theme  “Pulled By A Vision,” sets the tone for a week of inspiration and renewal with keynotes Jean Houston, Barbara Marx Hubbard, KEM (Universal Motown Records), Beena Sharma (former presenter Dr. Barry Johnson’s partner in the study of organizational polarity and paradox), a returning favorite, Cindy Wigglesworth and our Chair of the Board of Trustees, Rev. Jim Lee.

Now is the time to register, the early rate of $420.00 will expire March 15. Make plans now to join friends and colleagues for our annual Unity People’s Convention. For more information and to register, visit www.unity.org/convention.

This year we have ample space for exhibitors. If you have products or services that will be of benefit to Unity ministries, please plan to join us. It’s a great networking and promotional opportunity for only $375 for the entire week. Space is limited and is assigned on a first come first serve basis (you must register by April 1; to register, visit www.unity.org/convention).

We look forward to seeing you in Detroit!

We thank all of our member ministries for tithing and sharing your financial support with Unity Worldwide Ministries. It is through your generosity that we can report a very positive financial position. We are stabilizing our financial status and moving forward with the restructuring of Unity Worldwide Ministries.

Young Bae, our chief financial officer, presented the financial statements for the four months of the new fiscal year beginning October 1, 2011, and ending January 31, 2012. The good news is we are operating in the black with income exceeding expenses. Our actual tithe income exceeded the budget. The actual income from tithes was $682,984 compared to the budget of $651,213 resulting in an increase of $31,771. The total cash balance as of January 31, 2012, is $808,955. Building our cash reserves is our first priority. As our reserves increase, we will begin to pay our line of credit. Our financial base is strengthening. 

As we stabilize our finances, we are continuing to restructure Unity Worldwide Ministries. We are streamlining the way we conduct business, working closely with our regional organizations and our ministry team structure. Most importantly, this year we will be reviewing our priorities and asking the question, “What are the unique services only Unity Worldwide Ministries can bring to our world?” 

We invite all of our ministries to join us as we create a new way of being. Your caring and sharing so generously brings light to our world. May the peace, power and presence of God continue to bless you and your ministries.

During our January meetings, J. Clif Christopher, author of Not your Parent’s Offering Plate, presented a cutting-edge stewardship workshop. Although the workshop was about stewardship, his theory is based on raising ministry, not just money. With a delightful sense of humor, Clif shared the pearls of wisdom of good stewardship.

It all starts with a vision of transforming lives and creating a world that works for all. Clif shared a quote from Peter F. Drucker, “A business has discharged its task when the customer buys the product, pays for it, and is satisfied with it. Government has discharged its function when it policies are effective. The ‘non-profit’ institution neither supplies goods or services nor controls. Its ‘product’ is a cured patient, a child that learns, a young man or woman grown into a self-respecting adult, a changed human life altogether.”

To know what works, sometimes we have to begin with what doesn’t work. Have you ever heard the phrase or even heard yourself say, “We have always done it this way”? Then it’s time to challenge the status quo. According to Clif, here’s what doesn’t work:  

How to Decrease Funding

• Believe that members are giving the best they can
• Put financial people in charge of controlling the funds to keep the church solvent
• Send everyone a copy of the budget
• Put giving statistics in the bulletin and/or newsletter each week
• Believe that giving is between the giver and God
• Keep giving records secret from the minister and the board
• Discuss finances at one set time each year
• Encourage support for the institutional center
• Designate little for the vision/mission of the spiritual center
• Speak often of “loyalty and obligation”
• Mail out statements no more than once a quarter and only to pledgers
• Do not discuss concrete giving to members until the annual pledge campaign so as not to discourage them
• Discourage planned giving so members don’t think you are eager for them to die or you don’t want to hurt annual giving
• Have one pledge campaign each year

Clif offered the question, “If one group’s goal is a balanced budget while another group’s goal is to change and save lives, who do you think I want to support?” Spiritual leaders must be equipped to tell many compelling stories about changed lives at depth. Spiritual leaders must be authentic. Spiritual leaders must, by their actions, exemplify a life of Unity principles. With this as our foundation, here is why people give:

Why People Do Give

• Belief in the vision and mission
• Regard for staff leadership
• Fiscal responsibility
• Instead of just cutting our budget, could we review how well we are changing lives?

Clif shared that there are two messages we use to raise funds for our Spiritual Centers.

1.  We need money NOW!
2. We have a story to tell to the nations.

We choose.

Lynne McTaggert, in her book The Bond, teaches us that we were born to give–that we have a natural propensity to give of ourselves in order to experience connection with others. As givers, we know it makes us happy when our gifts are received with gratitude and appreciation. As receivers, it warms and expands our hearts when gifts are given freely and with love.

 Right now, our home office staff are working diligently with less than optimal conditions. Their faith and dedication often has them working beyond regular hours in order to produce the products and services we rely on in the field. Many of us–ministries, credentialed leaders, and lay people–give financial gifts, but there are specific opportunities beyond our regular giving that can make a substantial difference to the employees at Unity Worldwide Ministries.

 At our most recent on-site board meeting, employees met with the board of trustees for Unity Worldwide Ministries. From that meeting, we have assembled a wish list for our home office staff. These are non-funded items they have indicated would make a big difference in their ability to produce quality work with greater ease and joy. See if any of them speak to you, and if so, contact the home office for information about how to give your gift.

Rev. Mary Masters, Financial Accountability Officer

The Role of the Financial Accountability Officer (FAO)

Rev. Mary Masters, member of the board of trustees, has stepped into the new position of financial accountability officer for Unity Worldwide Ministries. Rev. Masters has a master’s degree in Managerial Communications from Northwestern University. In her career prior to ministry, she was an assistant commissioner for the Big Ten Conference where her responsibilities included administrative and financial oversight of intercollegiate athletic events in 23 sports, and communication/media relations services.

The board of trustees of Unity Worldwide Ministries created this temporary position in October 2011, to serve as a bridge pending consideration of amending the bylaws to establish the board position of treasurer. The overall purpose of this position is to assist the board in having a good understanding of Unity Worldwide Ministries’ financial affairs so that it can make informed decisions. The financial accountability officer (FAO) will do this by presenting the financial reports, prepared by the CFO, at regular board meetings and by facilitating communication with the CFO and Finance and Budget Ministry Team. A job description for the board treasurer position will be developed.

The FAO position is appointed by the board chair to serve a one-year term and may be re-appointed to serve multiple terms at the chair’s discretion. Preferably a person should serve for 3 years as board FAO/treasurer and in their second year begin the process of training a successor (similar to the training we now do for the chair of the board). This allows time for the person in this position to become knowledgeable about Unity Worldwide Ministries’ finances and serve effectively. The position is accountable to the board chair to fulfill the duties as described above. It is understood that the board needs to have some flexibility to make adjustments according to what best serves the needs of the organization for clarity and understanding.

The chair of the Finance and Budget Team and the CFO should be available to participate in every board meeting to provide professional input and consultation. As a regular member of the board, the FAO can be alert to the possible financial implications of all agenda items. When this occurs, the FAO can request that the CFO and/or the Finance and Budget Team provide financial analysis and advice.

The Unity Worldwide Ministries Board of Trustees is moving into a new era of financial accountability. Financial accountability is based on the principle of financial stewardship where the steward is charged with exercising care and management of the owner’s possessions. The purpose of this document is to describe the system of accountability that is being put in place and will continue to evolve as needed. It is our belief that a system of accountability is one where there are clear explanations of financial activity and this information is detailed, recorded and reported to the organization’s stakeholders. An effective system of accountability builds trust and inspires support for the organization.

 Overview:

The Unity Worldwide Ministries Board of Trustees has responsibility for overseeing the fiscal affairs of Unity Worldwide Ministries. The roles of the CEO (Chief Executive Officer), CFO (Chief Financial Officer), Board FAO (Financial Accountability Officer) and Finance and Budget Team are to serve in an advisory capacity to the Board with the shared goal of creating the fiscal health and prosperity of Unity Worldwide Ministries. 

Core Values of This New Vision: The following core values are the governing principles that serve as the foundation of our working relationships.

Prosperity Consciousness “We affirm that God is our Source. We go first to prayer in all things and seek to bring to our work the prosperity principles upon which our Unity movement is based.”

Financial Solvency “We live within our means and seek to build and maintain the recommended reserves for prudent financial solvency (3 months operating expenses).”

Integrity “We operate with integrity in following through on our statements and decisions. If there is a reason (such as new information or understanding) that warrants re-consideration of a decision, then that is clearly communicated.”

 Stewardship “We prioritize spending based upon the board’s discernment of the needs and wants of our member organizations and that which we discern is in the overall best interest of Unity Worldwide Ministries. The board listens to the voice of its membership through many channels to help with this discernment process.

Respect “We communicate in a manner that expresses respect for all concerned. We understand that there will be times that we disagree. We respect our differences of opinion and continue to work toward building trust in our relationships.”

Communication “We communicate about the financial affairs of Unity Worldwide Ministries in an open, direct and transparent manner. We accept that communication is a two-way street. It is important to communicate when something is not being understood and to pursue what works for all involved.”

 Stay tuned: Next week we will present the new role of the Financial Accountability Officer for Unity Worldwide Ministries.