Report from the Board of Trustees

December 2003

Isn’t it amazing? We asked for $10,000 for the ministerial search fund and we exceeded that amount. So now we are in the process of setting our intentions for the coming year. The board members will meet with their chosen teams, along with Rev. Barclay, to set intentions for the year 2004. This will be conducted with thoughtful consideration and prayer.

Reverend Barclay has introduced us to the 12-step visioning process that has been used by several Unity churches over the last few years. The premise is that our collective consciousness can create results in our lives that are beyond the scope of each of us as individuals. Each team may choose from any of these steps to work with their selected ministries:

1. Asking—center in prayer and ask—what is ours to do as a ministry?
2. Review vision/mission of ministry team and focus upon key elements in prayer.
3. Releasing—let go of all thoughts, assumptions, etc. regarding the mission and function of the ministry to allow God ideas to unfold.
4. Affirm attributes—what attributes demonstrated by the ministry would allow for greatest expression of its mission?
5. Contributing—what is each individual willing to offer? What is the ministry willing to offer the church community?
6. Focusing—arrive at one clear question for discernment.
7. Take that one question into silence. Articulate answers without judgment/rejection.
8. Converging—group similar responses together, are there common themes?
9. Expanding—use imagination to explore and play with each concept.
10. Reflect on the expanded concepts. Create a statement that supports action, moving the group consciousness forward to full expression. Is it good for all, awesome enough for God? If not, be still once more and complete the process again.
11. Anchoring—is there an image, symbol, affirmation, etc. that expresses the essence of the concept?
12. Implementing—who will do what when?

Thank you God!

Gail Lewin, Secretary
board@unityofappleton.org