Revised Constitution & Updated By-Laws – May 2012

As per the Fireside Chat on Sunday, May 6 2012 – you can view the Revised Constitution here: Constitution May 2012

You can also view a copy of the updated By-Laws here: Unity By-Laws Revised May 6, 2012

For comments and suggestions on either the Constitution or By-Laws, please email: admin@unityofvancouver.org

The next Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, June 24, 2012.

 

Daffodils & Dialogue – March 2009

On Sunday March 8th, Reverend Kathryn Anderson and the Unity Board of Directors, led by president Bob Gault, hosted “Daffodils & Dialogue.” Following the very successful “Fireside Chat” held this past Autumn the Board hosted another opportunity for the Board members and the Unity members to come together and discuss developments within our growing community of spirit.

48 members of the Unity family came together to share information and discuss developments in our community over the past 4 months. The love, care and commitment demonstrated by our members to the unfolding vision here at Unity of Vancouver was heart warming and inspiring.

Board Vice-President Mary Toth gave us an update on developments at Unity (see below) using her Integral Model overlay.

It is the intention of the Board to host meetings like this on a quarterly basis where the members of our community have an opportunity to share the successes and learn about the plans for the future. It is the goal of the Board to bring transparency in all our deliberations and activities so that members are kept informed and up to date.

Report from Mary Toth, Vice President

Over the last year or so the board has been working with a holistic plan for the church growth. Our intentions are organized into four areas so we can track our progress and avoid blind spots. At these membership meetings I share the basic overview of our progress in those four areas so you’re in the loop and have an opportunity to participate and ask questions.

I’ll start by sharing what has been happening in each area and we’ll field questions at the end.

Consciousness

This area is about the internal perceptions of every individual in the congregation; it is about our own consciousness.

Our intention is to unfold our divine potential through realizing our oneness with God and each other.

  • Weekly services, meditations and classes are designed to raise individual consciousness.
  • As are special events like the Burning Bowl and workshops like the Visioning one last month.
  • Prayer Chaplains play a key role in raising the consciousness in our spiritual community. The deep, committed training and service the prayer chaplains undertake not only raises their individual consciousness, the sacred space they hold for people when the pray helps everyone. We’ll be hearing from Shirley Thompson, the coordinator of that team in a few minutes.

Cultural Identity

This area is about who we think we are, how we see ourselves as a group, and how we relate to each other.

Our intention in this area is to grow from a cultural identity embedded in our history to one that embraces a new, more collaborative vision.

  • We are definitely deepening as a spiritual community.
  • We are owning a new vision of Unity of Vancouver as a church that is building on our rich teaching tradition and deeply grounded in prayer.
  • Classes continue to become more interactive and experiential so participants connect with each other.
  • There are more ways for members to be part of the collaboration. e.g., dialogues like this happen quarterly so we hear your thoughts and ideas and feedback.
  • Also self governing teams are forming to vision and be accountable for various areas in things like the aesthetics of the church, landscape, etc.
  • Through our participation in services, classes, volunteering on a team and social events like the coffeehouses, potlucks, coffee hour, etc., we are more and more becoming a community who learns, works and has fun together.

Social System

This quadrant addresses how people are ministered to and by whom.

Our intention in this area is to create space for and nurture emerging leaders and offer diverse programs for creative people on spiritual paths.

  • We’re growing our leadership base while keeping it rooted in consciousness.
  • The new Circle structure that is being developed will allow members to contribute in more meaningful ways. The circles are self governing volunteer teams that vision and take accountability for specific areas of the church. Consider if you’d like to get involved in one of these areas.
  • They include:
    • Building and Aesthetics
    • Environment
    • Landscape
    • Hospitality
    • Sunday School
    • Prayer Chaplains
  • Two board positions are coming open in June. Give some prayerful consideration to that and if there is a leader in the church you’d like to nominate. Serving on the board is very rewarding and it requires great commitment and willingness to do work. The bylaws state specific requirements like being a member for minimum two consecutive years. Talk to one of us you want more info on the requirements and if you know someone you think is ready to take that step.
  • Programs for people on spiritual paths:
    • Rev. Kathryn is designing services and classes to meet the needs of people at various stages along their spiritual journeys.
    • Thursday night classes marketed to the larger community. It’s a great entry point for people unfamiliar with Unity.
    • Something like the Lenten Creative Process can be done year after year and each person works with a project based on where they are on their individual spiritual path.
    • We had two Saturday workshops in January. One led by me, one by Roy Prevost.
    • Service opportunities also vary. Someone newer may feel more comfortable gardening or coming to a work party but someone who has been a long time member, has done deep work in consciousness and is very experienced in Unity teachings may feel ready to serve in Sunday School, on the board or as a chaplain.
  • We’re going to continue developing pathways so people have options that meet them where they are in relation to the church.

Organizational Structure

This quadrant includes all the tangible things that we can see or touch. That includes number of people who attend each week, the financials, the building itself, etc.

Our intention in this area is to create structures to support a growing, thriving church.

Technology

  • Website has progressed. We now have podcasts available!
  • Facebook group to chat online about the Lenten Creative process.
  • I invite you to share it with friends and family around the world.
  • Monthly emails going out with affirmations and coming events to 300+ people.
  • There is a sign up sheet here.

Rental Initiative:

  • Downstairs has been redecorated and we have a new Wall of Blessings.
  • Attendance is now over 100 per week consistently.
  • We’re in the process of creating job descriptions and accountabilities for every role in the church. We have completed ones for the minister, and board positions. Just starting on staff. Volunteer roles will be done by the end of the year.

Finances:

  • We switched accounting systems so the financial reports are more understandable and usable.
  • We’re now comparing year over year and for the first year we have a budget for 2009.
  • Good news and bad news about our financial progress. (bad news is that our net income for 2008 was -$15,000. good news is that it is a 32,000 improvement from 2007). We’re taking significant steps in the right direction.
  • We have a budget for 2009 that sees us breaking even for 2009.
  • Just for perspective… that the gap can be met if just 15 or 20 new people join the church and give $20 per week. Or if 100 regular members give just $3 more per week.
  • We need to address the gap and we are doing so by raising consciousness, offering diverse programs, starting to use the internet, etc., as I’ve been describing here.
  • We, the board, don’t manifest this alone. Unity of Vancouver is a co-creation.
  • Be part of the growing prosperity consciousness at Unity: work on your own prosperity consciousness, hold the church in prayer, bring a couple of friends to church (service or class), give some serious thought to tithing a per centage of your income, join in some of the other initiatives that are building energy in the church.

Your creative energy is important! We are co creating this church so I just ask you to notice how you feel called to participate and talk to one of us about it.

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