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Who's Who
Unity Board of Directors
Unity Executive Team
Association of Unity Churches International Board of Trustees
Association Leadership Team
Association Regional Resources
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Charles Rickert Fillmore |
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Rev. Howard Caesar, Board Chair Howard has been a minister for more than 30 years; 23 years as senior minister of Unity Church of Christianity, Houston, Texas. A founding member of the Leadership Council for the Association for Global New Thought, he previously served on the Board for the Association of Unity Churches International and on the board of the International New Thought Alliance. |
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Rev. Ellen Debenport Rev. Ellen Debenport is the author of The Five Principles, a book published in 2009 by Unity House about the universal spiritual laws that govern our lives. She is minister at Unity of Wimberley in the Texas Hill Country and served eight years at Unity Church of Dallas. She also hosts a radio show on Unity.FM called "Absolute Living". Before she was ordained in 1999, Ellen was a newspaper reporter covering politics in Florida and Washington, DC. |
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Rev. Bill Englehart The Sr. Minister at the Unity In Marin church since 2006. Before being called to ministry, Bill spent 18 years in the field of Human Resources Management. On his last assignment as an International Human Resources director, he lived and worked in London as an expatriate for a Fortune 50 corporation. He currently resides in Northern California. |
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Doug Harris Doug has attended Harvard's Graduate School of Business and has been featured in Who's Who in America publications. He has over 30 years of management-level experience with corporations such as Knight Ridder, Inc., and United Air Lines. |
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Rev. Jennifer Holder Licensed and ordained as a Unity Minister since 2006, Jennifer has been actively studying on the spiritual education path for 20 years having served in leadership positions of various churches in Children/Youth Ministry, Sr Adult Ministry, Music Ministry and as a Board Member. She brings a passion for the power of prayer and intention, a commitment to living in the awareness that we are One, and a strong belief in the unity teaching "Life is Consciousness". Jennifer currently serves Unity Church of the Triangle in Raleigh North Carolina as Associate minister focusing on congregational care, youth and family ministry, Next Generation of Unity (young adults), spiritual leadership, outreach and teaching classes. She co-hosts a unity.fm weekly internet radio show, "Unity Family Matters" with her husband, ministerial candidate and church music director, Ogun. |
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Rev. Pat Williamson Reverend Pat Williamson is senior minister of Unity Christ Church in Minneapolis, Minn. He has recently served as chair of the Board of the Association of Unity Churches International (2006–2007). He is affiliated with the International Conference of Police Chaplains. During Pat's 15 years of field ministry, he has served congregations in Kansas City, Mo.; Evanston, Ill.; and Cincinnati, Ohio. |
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Ron Bonar Ron serves as founder and current chairman emeritus of Bonar Group, a consulting engineering, surveying and planning firm. From Fort Wayne, Ind., he has over 45 years' engineering and construction experience. |
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Rev. Marilyn Muehlbach Marilyn has a BA degree in Economics from Denison University, graduated from the Ministerial Education Program of Unity School for Religious Studies in 1985 and served as minister of Unity Church of North Idaho in Coeur d'Alene Idaho for 20 years. In addition she was a member of the Association of Unity Churches International Board of Trustees, serving as Chair in 2008-2009. She also serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d'Alene. |
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John R. Knowles, LUT From Plymouth, Wis., John Knowles is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an entrepreneur and has an extensive background in business and engineering. He is president/owner of Plymouth Industries, Inc., which specializes in computer-controlled custom machinery and material-handling equipment. John holds several patents and many original designs. He has been in Unity for over 30 years. He is a licensed Unity teacher and currently serves as spiritual leader at the Unity Church of Sheboygan. |
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Rev. Sylvia Sumter Sylvia has served as the minister of Unity of Washington, D.C., since 1991. Prior to that, she served as the chairperson for Communication Studies and Skills for Unity School of Religious Studies. She graduated from the ministerial program in 1986. |
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Michael Sheets A graduate of the University of Kansas, Michael Sheets has a master's degree in Communications. He is retired from a career in the general aviation industry. Active in his local church (Unity of Wichita), he has been involved with Unity for nearly 20 years. |
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Charlotte Shelton |
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Peggy Ball-Coleman Director, Human Resources With over 25 years of experience in human resources, Peggy has managed corporate functions in more than 10 states. Peggy joined Unity in 2002 and oversees recruiting, employee relations, benefits, safety, compensation and security. |
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Rev. Lynne Brown Vice President of Silent Unity/Development Lynne is an ordained Unity minister and serves as vice president of Silent Unity/Development. Silent Unity celebrates 120 years of service in 2010. The prayer ministry is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives nearly two million prayer requests each year from people of many different faith traditions. Lynne has served Unity in various capacities for 30 years, including a position on the Board of Trustees for a period of two years. She is currently focused on the expansion of Silent Unity, its services and its products, believing that prayer makes a positive difference in our lives and in the world. |
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Paula Coppel Vice President, Communications and Publishing In senior management for more than 10 years, most recently at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide in Portland, Ore., Paula has worked with and for a wide variety of organizations, from publicly held companies and government entities to private agencies and nonprofit organizations. She has been involved in Unity since 1980 and is completing her requirements to become a licensed Unity teacher. At Unity, she is responsible for internal and external communications, including Web content, public relations, new media and Unity's new online radio network, www.unity.fm. |
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Bruce Schall Chief Financial Officer Bruce has over 20 years' financial management experience in the for-profit sector. With corporate assignments in North Carolina, Massachusetts and Switzerland, Bruce joined Unity in 2000 and is responsible for accounting, control, finance, manufacturing, purchasing, logistics and facilities. |
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Ted Collins Dean/Chief Academic Officer of Unity Institute Prior to joining Unity, Ted served as Campus Executive Officer and Provost for Adult Professional Studies at Ottawa University in Kansas City. Ted is a board member of the C.O.R.E. Council of the Center for Spiritual Living in Kansas City. He brings a variety of experiences to Unity, including business ownership, leadership in public and private education and civic leadership in Overland Park and Kansas City. He has a B.A. and M.A.T. from the University of Iowa and is a graduate of the Drake University Law School. |
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Gae L. Lennan Director, Information Technology Gae's responsibilities include Network and Telecommunication Services, Application Services, and the Project Management Office. She began her career as an application developer and has over 20 years of experience in the information technology field. Gae received her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Missouri where she studied Computer Information Systems. She also earned an MBA from the University of Kansas. |
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Scott Klann Director, Development Scott has been in the Development field for 25 years, having lead successful fund raising efforts at both the local and national level. Over the years Scott has specialized in capital campaigns as well as major gifts and planned giving. He is a graduate of Cornell College where he received his degree in English Literature. |
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Mike Joseph Director, Marketing & Product Development Before joining Unity in 2011, Mike served in senior Marketing, Ad Agency and Publishing management positions in the Kansas City area. He is responsible for the Communications, New Media, Web Content, and International departments. Mike is an alumni of both Ohio University and Syracuse University, and is degreed in Public Communications. |
Association of Unity Churches International
Full list of Home Office Staff
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Jim Lee Chair Jim is current Chair of the Association's Board of Trustees. He is senior minister at Unity Renaissance in Warren, Mich. Ordained and serving in Unity leadership positions since 1994, he was formerly a successful corporate marketing instructor and national marketing representative and worked for IBM Corporation. Jim has a degree in business management. He was executive director for Youth at Risk, transforming lives of inner city youth. |
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Donna Johnson First Vice Chair Donna is senior minister at Unity of Fairfax in Oakton, Va.. Active in the work of the Association for a number of years, Donna served on the Admissions Ministry Team and Credentialed Leader/Ministry Review Team. She has also served on the Church Growth, Development, and Gift Planning teams. With a degree in psychology, she has taught at the secondary level, worked in real estate, newspaper journalism and served as a mental health counselor. |
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Julie Armour Second Vice Chair Julie is senior minister at Mountain Light Unity Spiritual Center in Evergreen, Colo. She has served as regional representative and chair of the Association's Standards Ministry Team. Serving as a member of the Credentialed Leaders/Ministries Review System (CLMRS), she has chaired the judicatory regional representatives. Julie also served on the Licensing & Ordination Ministry Team. With a professional background in accounting, Julie has over 20 years of business experience working in nonprofit corporations. |
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Lei Lanni Burt Keeper of the Flame Lei Lanni serves at the Board's Keeper of the Flame; as a nonvoting member, she was appointed by fellow board members in recognition of her prayer consciousness, holding the high watch in all Board deliberations. She developed Light and Love Ministries to support leaders and congregations in creating effective and innovative pastoral care programs. Services include consulting, training programs, ongoing support, products and other services. As founder of the Prayer Chaplain Program, Lei Lanni previously served as Director of Pastoral Care at Unity of Phoenix. |
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David McArthur Member David is immediate past chair of the Association's Board of Trustees. He is the senior minister at Unity Center of Walnut Creek, Walnut Creek CA. With more than 30 years in Unity and 27 years in Unity leadership positions, he is a nationally recognized leader, speaker and presenter for the Institute of HeartMath. David was previously an attorney at law in consumer advocacy and environmental issues. He co-authored The Intelligent Heart. |
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Mary Masters Member Mary has been senior minister at Unity Church of Practical Christianity in Buffalo, N.Y. since 2003. Her passion for organizational development, financial responsibility and spiritual leadership are demonstrated through her ministry, her five years on the board of the Association's Eastern Region, and in service in the Buffalo community. She has a bachelor's degree in political science and organizational behavior and a master's in managerial communications. She was a licensed Unity teacher prior to ordination. |
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Jamie Sanders Member Jamie is senior minister at Unity of Pensacola, Fla. He recently received his ordination through the Association's Field Licensing Program. He has been a featured performer on the television show presented by Rev. Dr. Barbara King's Hillside Chapel and Truth Center in Atlanta and various radio programs around the country, as well as executive producer and host of his own weekly television program, Positive Living. He currently hosts Spirituality Today on the Unity.FM network. |
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Karen Tudor Rev. Karen Tudor has a 20 year background in health care, 14 years in ministry and is a former Senior Associate Minister for Unity Church of Christianity, Houston. Karen has served as a hospice chaplain and is now leading the Unity Church of Practical Christianity in New Braunfels, TX as Senior Minister. Rev. Tudor founded Interfaith Network of Comal County in 2007 which is dedicated to sharing diverse religious cultures and viewpoints in the community. She has been active in the Association of Unity Churches at both the regional and national levels. Rev. Tudor co-hosts Biblical Power For Your Life, a weekly internet radio show on Unity Online Radio. She lives with her husband, William in the Texas hill country, with her two daughters and 4 grandchildren nearby. Rev. Tudor has recorded a meditation CD Earth : Fire : Air : Water that is a healing meditative journey through the elements of the universe. |
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Laura Barrett Bennett Member Rev. Laura Barrett Bennett has been a Unity minister for twenty-eight years. She served at Unity Church of Flint, MI, and currently at Unity Renaissance Spiritual Life Center in Chesapeake, VA. She has also been chairperson of Biblical Studies and Skills for Unity's international ministerial and adult education programs. Her love for Unity has given her a deep appreciation and motivated a life-long study of the Bible, spirituality, world religions, and adult education and leadership. She has facilitated classes, conducted workshops, and hosted a radio program for people in her local community and throughout the international Unity movement. She is a past president of the Great Lakes Region. She is co-host of New World Radio for Unity online and WTAR in Hampton Roads, VA and author of The Wisdom and Power of Scripture and writer for other Unity educational materials and texts. She was elected to the board in June 2011. |
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Jack Hartog |
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Ross Campbell |
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Diane Venzera |
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Angela Denton Angela is an active lay leader and Unity Truth student at the Unity Church by the Shore, Neptune, NJ. Angela has served in many capacities including president, vice president, and secretary of the ministry's board of trustees; Unity chaplain; building and grounds committee; and platform assistant. Angela has a bachelor's degree in education and a master's in behavioral science. She has been a special education teacher at W. R. Satz School, Holmdel, NJ, for the past 25 years. Angela is also in private practice as a marriage and family therapist assisting adolescents, individuals, couples and families to cope with and overcome life challenges. She is a passionate tither of time, talent, and treasure to Unity—her source of spiritual nourishment. |
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James Trapp President, Chief Executive Officer James Trapp, President and CEO of the Association of Unity Churches, began his term in 2005. Rev. Trapp was ordained in 1994 and has served at Unity on the Bay in Miami, Fla., for the past 10 years. Since being at Unity on the Bay, he has been instrumental in creating a growing and dynamic spiritual community that is racially, ethnically and culturally diverse, mirroring the wide spectrum of people who live in South Florida. Under his leadership, Unity on the Bay has grown from an average Sunday attendance of 125 to more than 1,300. Rev. Trapp believes that Unity principles, such as honoring the divinity of all people, are relevant to select societal issues. He was a keynote speaker at an interfaith service for religious leaders, organizations and politicians who support equal treatment of all people. Rev. Trapp has a bachelor's degree in economics and a certificate of concentration in African-American studies from Princeton University and a law degree from the University of Florida. "I am deeply honored and humbled to have the privilege of serving as the next President and CEO of our Association of Unity Churches International," Trapp said. "I look forward to working with our collective Unity movement as we go about carrying out the great commission of spreading the good news and co-creating with spirit to transform lives and our world." Rev. Trapp, his wife Angela and son Jaelan are settling into life in Missouri and weather with four seasons. |
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Deborah Frownfelter Vice President, Education, Leadership and Ministry Development Ordained 2006 Deborah is responsible for capacity-building functions of Association members that further the strategic plan and goals established by the Board of Trustees of the Association. These functions include programs and services involving spiritual education for all ages, leadership development, ministry expansion and development and worldwide support. Deborah is responsible for the development of the Association's new Transformation Experience program. Prior to ministry, Deborah's career included education, counseling, management, corporate training, organizational development, leadership development, coaching and consulting. Most recently she worked with the Center for Leadership Development at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine. |
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Carl Osier Vice President, Minister and Ministry Services Carl Osier joined the Association home office staff in September 1996, assuming the position of vice president of Organizational Services. He works closely with Gary Simmons and Barbara O'Hearne in their member ministry service areas. His department also operates as the "human resources" department of the Association, keeping track of staff policy and hiring. Carl has a background in medicine and hospice care and is an ordained (1993) Unity minister. |
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Young Bae Vice President, Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer Rev. Dr. Young Bae is currently the chief financial officer and vice president of finance of the Association. He joined the staff in August 1985. Young's previous experience includes teaching, consulting and accounting services in various organizations. Young is a graduate of Seoul National University (B.A.) and the University of Missouri (M.A.), and holds a Ph.D. in applied management and decision science from Walden University. He is an ordained Unity minister (Class of 1995). A native Korean, Young came to the USA as a foreign student in 1975, and later became a U.S. citizen along with his wife Myoungsoon Bae. Both Young and Soon love playing golf, and the entire family (daughter Suzanne and son Daniel) enjoys music (choir, trio, piano, guitar) and travel. |
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Kristen Preud'homme Kristen is responsible for leading Unity Worldwide Ministries': communications, media, marketing, events, development and the Unity Identity Project. |
Cruise the
Ancient Empires:
A Spiritual Tour of Italy, Turkey and Greece
Set sail with Unity friends on a 12-day educational and spiritual journey—April 30–May 12, 2012. Experience the world’s most beautiful beaches and discover ancient treasures along the eastern Mediterranean Sea aboard Holland America Lines. Learn more.
