Conversation with Unity Leaders January 13, 2016

1. Conversation with Unity Leaders January 13, 2016 Developing Unity’s New Ministerial Education Experience • If you’re having technical issues call (800) 644-9070

2. Today’s Agenda • Opening Prayer • Our Development Process • Your Feedback from First Survey • Our Present Proposals • Our Present Key Questions • Closing Prayer • Follow-up with survey and one-on-one calls

3. Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

4. Guidelines for Discussion • The call will last 90 minutes. • To accommodate everyone’s ability to participate, we’ve set up guidelines for this call. • Questions and comments will be taken in the order received. Press *6 to get in line to share. • Please state your name before speaking. • There will be a two-minute time limit for each speaker. This sound will be audible at the end of the time limit. • Please use respectful language and speak only for yourself.

5. Introductions • Our presenters today will be: • David Ridge -Co-lead of the Ministerial Curriculum Sub-team • Lauri Boyd - team member of the Ministerial Curriculum Sub-team

6. Our Development Process UWM Board of Trustees Unity’s New Education Program • Designated Teams • Objectives • Supporting Teams • Ministerial Curriculum • Recommendation • Establish Program Education that is High Quality Accessible Affordable Sustainable Recommended Education Program • Technology • Credentialing • HR • Fund Raising • Finance • Youth and Family • Transition • SEE • Education Task Team Core • Program • Consultants • Ministerial • Curriculum • Ministerial • Curriculum UI Curriculum Standards & Rubrics Team- & Field-Defined Skills Best Practices – Learning Mgmt Systems Best Practices – Other Credentialing Paths Hidden Curriculum

7. Survey Results • Quantitative Results • Unique Multiple Choice • Any/All Multiple Choice • Qualitative Results • Counting of Word Usage – Open-ended questions

8. Survey Results – Skills • What skills do you consider most important in your ministry work today? • Communications / 27 • Interpersonal Skills / 21 • Administration / 16 • Homiletics, Speaking / 15 • Finance / 14 • Self-Awareness / 14 • Counseling / 13 • Teaching / 11 • Pastoral Skills / 9 • Prayer, Meditation / 9

9. Survey Results – Skills • What area(s) of ministry did you feel inadequately prepared for when you arrived in your first ministry? Ministry Administration Ministry Financing Ministry Marketing

10. Survey Results – Skills • If you were to hire an associate minister, what skills would you look for in the applicant? • Teaching / 22 • Interpersonal Skills / 19 • Administrative Skills / 17 • Pastoral Skills / 17 • Grounding in Unity Principles / 14 • Technology/Media / 12 • Self-Awareness / 11

11. Survey Results – Skills • With an awareness of emerging trends, what skills do you think are and will be important for ministry? • Technology/Social Media Skills / 33 • Innovation, Skills to Develop Alternative Services, Ministry / 26 • Knowledge of World Religions, Interfaith • Dialog / 19 • Community Outreach / 14 • Marketing / 10 • Social Action/Advocacy / 7 • Reaching Younger People, Spiritual but not Religious / 6

12. Survey Results – Continuing Education • What categories of courses would you like to take for your own continuing education? Ministry Administration Honing Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence Other Sacred Scriptures Ministry Financing Ministry Marketing

13. Our Recommendations to date

14. Existing Classes (mostly) Unchanged • About two thirds of existing courses carried forward with few changes or only recommended adjustments. • These include: • The Writings of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore • Advanced Metaphysics • Bible History and Interpretation • World Religions • Pastoral Counseling • Homiletics

15. MinistryAdministrationSkills • Recommendation – create series of courses for: • Ministry Structure & Administration • Ministry Staff Management and Volunteer Development • Ministry Board and Governance • Ministry Financial Management • Ministry Fund-Raising • Ministry Marketing

16. Hidden Curriculum – a Definition • Develop skills of emotional & spiritual intelligence • Experiential self-discovery • Community bonding • Spiritual growth • Facilitated by • Life challenges • Interaction within community of peers • Guidance from trained mentors

17. Hidden Curriculum • Based on your experience, what would be the most effective way of providing the “hidden curriculum”? Internship Intensive Mentoring On-site Residential

18. Bonding Experiences • Orientation intensive • Class Discussions • Class Projects • Intensives • Internships • Licensing and Ordination week • Regional Conferences and National Unity Convention

19. Hands-on Experience • Based on your experience, what’s the most effective way of providing hands-on ministry experience? Internship Intensive Mentoring On-site Residential

20. Internship Length How long should a ministry-focused internship be?

21. Recommended Program Structure • 3 year program culminating in a Master of Divinity degree and eligibility for ordination • 1st and 2nd Years • 4x 10-week academic terms per year • face-to-face intensives • 3rd Year • 16-week ministry internship • two 9-week internships -- might include prison, YFM, CPO in a local hospital, prayer/Silent Unity, second ministry (Easter), etc. • face-to-face intensives • possibly ending with a 10-week academic term

22. Internships • Students would have the opportunity for: • Giving a message on a Sunday or weekday service • Leading a meditation • Teaching a class • Leading an outreach project • Working with Volunteers • Participating in board meetings • Participating in Youth and Family Ministry • And on…

23. Key Question - Mentoring Training • Challenge: Ensure the Ministry Internship experience provides enough structure and broad experience for the student. • Suggestion: Create a Mentoring training that would be required of any minister hosting an intern.

24. Key Question - Entry Points • Recommendation: having Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall academic terms • Should we designate one term as the only “starting point” for the academic year? • Provides a consistent support group with which to bond • Has the potential to provide a deeper experience of the hidden curriculum • Or should we support Rolling Admissions, allowing students to begin at two or more entry points during year? • Provides enrollment flexibility students have requested • Provides a different cohort experience

25. Key Question – Location of Intensives • Face to face intensives can be held anywhere • If you were a ministerial student, where would you prefer they be held? • at Unity Village or UWM Headquarters? • at regional locations, perhaps rotating regions? • other?

26. Feedback, Please… • We want to follow-up with you if you have other questions or comments – please key into the chat window your name, ministry & the best phone number to reach you. If you are calling in, or you wish to keep that information private, you can email your name, ministry & best contact phone number to Marti@unity.org. • We are publishing a survey as soon as this call is over. Please respond ASAP. It will be open until • Midnight, Mon, Jan 18th • Check your email for the link to survey. • Your responses will provide vital input to our ministerial curriculum design.

27. Open Discussion *6 to enter the line to share

28. Future Dialogues • Presentation & Discussion at January meetings • Call: in mid-to-late February (check The Path) • Your added feedback + further development efforts … Targeted Completion: Mar 31, 2016 • With Board review & approval to follow. • Presentation at the • 2016 People’s Convention, Jun 13-17, 2016

29. Thank You! • … for being with us today … • … for your feedback … • … for your support … • … for your prayers … • Closing Prayer