Church History

Unity Church of Christianity Appleton, Wisconsin

1983

• Area residents with an interest in Unity gather together for the first time to explore possibilities of forming a group.
• Reverend Clark, of Unity West in Wauwatosa, leads Tuesday night Unity groups at the Unitarian Universalist church in Appleton, until he moves out of state.
• Core group of Unity followers move the meetings to the Appleton YMCA and are led by Licensed Unity teachers from Oshkosh, Madison, or by someone within the group.

1986

• The group receives the support of the Rev. David Travis and Elaine Travis, L.U.T., of the Unity Christian Fellowship in Sheboygan to conduct worship services in Appleton.
• The group becomes a formal outreach service of the Sheboygan church and is officially affiliated with the Association of Unity Churches (AUC) under its expansion program.
• A Board of Directors is elected.

1989

• David and Elaine Travis move to Kenosha, WI, a city over 100 miles away, and commute to Appleton from there.

1990

• In September, the Travises resign, travel distance proves to be too great.
• Judith Overcash, L.U.T., moves from Florida to Appleton, and serves as Spiritual Leader.
• Unity Church of Fox Valley, as it is now called, becomes a church with its own charter and bylaws.
• Sunday School begins.

1992

• Judith Overcash moves back to Florida.
• Roger Klemp, a church member studying to be a L.U.T., becomes the Spiritual Leader.

1993

• Roger resigns to pursue other studies.
• Guest ministers, Licensed Teachers, and members of the church conduct services.
• Sunday School continues and Youth of Unity (Y.O.U.) begins.

1994

• Board of Directors appoints an expansion committee to plan a strategy for growth, with the ultimate goal of hiring a full time minister. Support is received from the AUC Expansion Department, and an association with the Sheboygan church is reestablished.
• In May, the committee submits an ambitious expansion plan that establishes an organizational infrastructure of committees, requires that speakers be ordained ministers or Licensed Unity Teachers, and continues emphasis on youth education. The church membership approves the plan and renames the church “Unity Church of Christianity” to emphasize its Christian association. A special budget is established to support the plan, and is fully funded by September.
• A roster of speakers from churches throughout the upper Midwest is carefully selected.
• A new marketing plan includes monthly newsletter and weekly ads in the Appleton newspaper.

1995-96

• Summer services are held throughout the summer.
• The support of the church operations and expansion activities continues to be supported by the love offerings of the congregation; special fund raising is not required.
• Invited speakers continue to present the Sunday worship services.
• Rev. Toni Boehm, from Unity School for Religious Studies, meets with the Board in 11/96 and encourages them to move forward with a minister search.

1997-98

• A minister search committee is put together and establishes desired characteristics for the church's first minister. An advertisement is crafted and submitted to the AUC for inclusion in the Minister's Letter.
• A resume is received before the advertisement appears in the Ministers’ Letter. Candidate delivers Sunday message and congregation votes unanimously to extend employment offer.
• On May 15, 1997, the church becomes the first Unity church in WI to have a home page on the World Wide Web.
• Reverend Sheryl Fehr begins on October 27, 1997.
• Rev. Fehr is officially installed as minister of Unity Church of Christianity on November 9, 1997.
• Church rents minister’s office space at 1213 N. Superior Street in Appleton.
• Reverend Fehr begins offering classes, weddings, and other ministerial services!
• Prayer team forms.

1999

• The church becomes a fully-recognized church by the AUC.
• Church moves from YMCA (and Superior St.) to a leased storefront at 1800 S. Lawe Street in Appleton!
• Small church bookstore, the “Book Nook,” opens.
• Installation of April Kain-Breese as the church's first Licensed Unity Teacher.
• More classes are offered by Rev. Fehr and LUT.
• Rev. Fehr begins appearing on local cable show, “Understanding Islam” twice monthly.

2000

• Survey of entire membership is performed regarding their needs and satisfaction with church services, classes, and expansion.
• First annual festival fund-raiser held.
• Expansion committee formed.
• Small group discussions are offered.

2001

• Second annual festival fund-raiser held.
• Conducted membership church life survey with consultants Robert and Janet Ellsworth of Pathfinders Ministry.
• Wisewomen group formed.

2002

• Consider expansion or relocation.
• Renewal of lease at 1800 S. Lawe.
• Administrative assistant, formerly a volunteer position, becomes a paid position.

Summer 2002

• Reverend Fehr and family leave to accept a new position.
• Church hires interim minister.

Fall 2002

• Reverend Marylou Palmer joins us as Interim Minister.
• Raffle of Packer tickets and related items for fund-raiser.
• Church begins process of transition with Reverend Palmer’s leadership and expertise.
• Church services and activities continue to thrive throughout the transition.
• Minister search team is established and begins work.

2003

• New vision, mission, and core value statements are developed and approved by church membership.
• Minister search culminates in a call to Reverend Morgan Barclay to be our next minister
• Reverend Barclay begins his ministry on October 10.

2004

• Rev. Morgan Barclay is formally installed as the church's second minister on June 20.

October 2007

• Rev. Morgan Barclay resigns
• April Kain-Breese, LUT, serves as interim spiritual leader

May 2008

• April Kain-Breese, LUT, and founding member, becomes the spiritual leader