Unity Reimagined: Frequently Asked Questions
Credentialed Unity leaders have a close relationship with UWM and UWH, and we expect you will have specific questions about the integration of the two organizations. We have tried to anticipate some of them here. You may send your own questions at the bottom of this page and also read questions submitted from the field.
Q. What will the reimagined Unity look like?
A. The operations of UWM will be absorbed into UWH, creating one organization for the whole movement, called Unity. We are returning to our roots as the single organization originally founded by the Fillmores and ending the division of the past 60 years.
Q. What will UWH offer to ministries?
A. Training, programs, resources, marketing, and more.
Q. Whose idea was this?
A. The initial suggestion to consolidate functions came from Rev. Valerie Mansfield in her role as chair of the UWM board. It was fleshed out by a task force team of six, comprising board chairs, vice chairs, and CEOs from both organizations. The staff leaders of both orgs are also involved.
Q. Does this reorganization include Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute?
A. Yes. An expert will be hired to look at the overall structure and operations of the seminary, evaluate the curriculum etc. The person hired will be someone who has managed multiple successful in-person and online seminaries. The schedule and path for current students will be kept in mind.
Q. What will happen to the staff at UWM?
A. UWM is currently reevaluating its operations to explore opportunities for improvement and efficiency. As certain functions transition to UWH, the goal is for the staff responsible for these functions to transition along with them. Over time, we will assess any redundancies in roles or activities. If duplication is identified, our first priority will be to explore alternative opportunities within UWH for affected employees. While we strive to retain as many team members as possible, some workforce adjustments may be necessary. In such cases, impacted employees will be provided with a fair and compassionate severance package to support a smooth and respectful transition.
Q. Why not keep the membership model?
A. It doesn’t appear to be effective and equitable for the different types and sizes of ministries we have today. Since it was established in the mid-1960s, new models have emerged that are being explored.
Q. How will our voices be heard?
A. This section of the unity.org website will serve as a portal for questions and answers as well as updates on plans. Going forward, UWH might consider, as an example, increasing the number of ministers on its board, although seven of the 10 UWH board members are church leaders now.
Q. Won’t this become a top-down model?
A. No. We are currently exploring a shared resources model—sharing data, branding strategies and language, and more. Our goal is to move away from thinking of Unity as two organizations, or “us and them.” We envision a holistic movement that grows together. Imagine celebrating on a Sunday morning what we are doing as a movement in addition to the successes of individual ministries.
Q. Will Jim Blake be directly in charge of ministries?
A. Jim will be accountable, but an executive level position will be created, filled, and added to the UWH executive team. This person will be a Unity minister operating as point person for the ministries and will be directly in charge, reporting to Jim and the UWH board.
Q. Will our branding and identity be changing as a part of the new model?
A. Not anytime soon. Our current brand identity is strong and well-established in the market. Changing it now would come with significant financial costs for UWH and individual ministries. (Think of all the places the Unity logo and branding language appear!) UWH is experiencing substantial growth, particularly in social media and our publications, and brand recognition continues to strengthen. Given this momentum, maintaining consistency and the trust we’ve built with our audience seems like the most prudent path forward. Looking ahead, once our integration is successfully implemented and has had time to take root, we will be in a much stronger position to evaluate the need for a rebrand.
Q. What happens to our 501(c)(3) designations under UWM?
A. UWM will remain a legal entity to preserve the non-profit designation that serves as an umbrella for many ministries and will be transferred to the UWH portfolio of holding companies.
Q. What happens to our Empower 403b retirement accounts?
A. Retirement accounts will remain intact and the relationship with Empower transferred to UWH.
Q. Why will it take two years?
A. This is a two-track effort. One is the migration of functions, including education, into the UWH structure. The other is to identify and implement a new operating model for our movement. Both will take time.
Q. Will UWH act as a clearinghouse for churches seeking ministers and ministers seeking jobs?
A. We will evaluate and determine whether this is best done in-house or by an outside organization that might help us. What if it were a clearinghouse for all New Thought?
Q. Will UWH keep the transitional minister program?
A. TBD
Q. Will UWH provide conflict resolution for churches?
A. UWM is working on plan for this before the program migrates to UWH.
Q. Will UWH keep member services?
A. Yes and it may look a little different, in the new model. Please know that serving and growing ministries is one of, if not THE major focus of the new model.
Q. Will our credentials from UWM still be good?
A. Yes.
Q. Will UWH keep EarthCare? NextGen?
A. Very likely in some form, although it may look a little different in the context of a new model. It’s important to note that NextGen is now a Unity expansion ministry, and the future direction of this program will be mapped out and determined by the leaders and members of that team. As it relates to the new model, this new expression of NextGen also lends itself to the Partner Programs that are being developed. Partner Programs will be programs within the new model that are developed in collaboration and partnership with HQ and offered to the entire field. In the coming months, UWM will continue to work with all the teams individually to discuss and determine what will be the best fit moving forward.
Q. Will the Ethics Statement still be in effect?
A. The current statement may be modified, but a statement of ethics will still be in effect.
Q. Will UWH provide services to youth programs?
A. Yes, and here again, we might have an opportunity to join with other branches of New Thought—maybe an annual convention for all youth.
Q. What about international ministries?
A. A new team of employees will be formed in the new model that will combine the international ministries' work done by UWM today with the work UWH does internationally with Daily Word and Silent Unity affiliates. This new team will create one comprehensive, international program that can be enhanced and expanded as we grow. It will have its own strategic plan each year with goals and objectives related to all our international activities. There will be a formal process established to allow for regular, consistent, direct input from the international ministries into this new team for inclusion in each year’s strategic plan.
Q. Who is overseeing this?
A. Both the UWH and UWM boards have signed a letter of intent to pursue this acquisition. Individual board members are listed on the UWH website and the UWM website.