Expansion Ministries
Expansion ministries are those new ministries (churches, centers, communities) that become affiliated with the Association through the Ministry Expansion Office and intend to become a full-status ministry. They fall under the tax umbrella of the Association and operate as a nonprofit religious organization.
- A new ministry pioneered by a credentialed leader
- An affiliated ministry—A ministry directly sponsored by a Credentialed Unity Minister in good standing who is in an existing full-status Unity ministry in good standing. (See Affiliation Agreement)
- A credentialed leader eligible for employment by the Association of Unity Churches and willing to serve the ministry for a minimum of two years. This would include the following:
Licensed Unity Teacher
Associate Licensed Unity Minister
Licensed Unity Minister
Ordained Unity Minister - A spiritual leader under special dispensation recognized and approved in writing by the Director of Ministry Employment.
- A designated group leader, referred to as the Spiritual Coordinator, who is willing to serve as contact person to the Association until a Credentialed Leader has been established. This person is responsible for making sure the correct reports are filed with the Ministry Expansion Office and for updating information. Should the person serving in this capacity leave that position, a new Coordinator must be named and the Ministry Expansion Office notified.
- An Affiliated Ministry must operate under the guidance of a sponsoring minister. Both parties are required to sign and abide by the Affiliation Agreement for Sponsored Ministries. If this Affiliation is terminated by either party, a ministry has six (6) months to find a new Affiliation, or they may be reclassified as a Non-Affiliated group.
- They must have an intention to hold regular weekly worship services, or be designated as seasonal ministry that meets during certain times of the year.
- They must meet in a physical, public location.
Non Affiliated Groups
These groups meet as independent groups for the purpose of studying and practicing Unity principles. They are not officially affiliated with the Association of Unity Churches International.
- Study Group—A group that meets for the purpose of studying and practicing Unity principles.
- Seed Group—A group meeting to explore Unity principles with the intention of eventually becoming an approved Unity Ministry with a credentialed leader. They may be meeting on Sundays and using messages from other Unity groups.
*Note: Non-Affiliated groups will be unable to advertise affiliation with Unity, or operate under the name ‘Unity' (Church, Center, Ministry, etc.). These groups do not fall under the Association's tax umbrella and thus any contributors to the group are not eligible for tax deductible donations.
Process for Starting a New Ministry
Prior to starting a new ministry, the interested party will submit a proposal to the Ministry Expansion Office. All ministries must obtain written approval through the Ministry Expansion Office according to established procedure.
- Approval will be determined by the Ministry Expansion Office, the Regional Representative, and the Pioneering Support Team Chair(s). Final approval is given by the Association Board of Trustees. Such approval is valid for one (1) year and will automatically continue provided the ministry complies with reporting process and continues under the guidance of an approved Credentialed Unity Leader or Affiliated Ministry.
- If approval is not given, the Designated Leader has the right to appeal in writing within thirty (30) days to the Association Board of Trustees.
- Independent worship services are to begin only after the ministry has been approved in writing by the Association of Unity Churches International. A Seed Group may meet on Sundays to listen to and/or participate in another Unity ministry's service via the use of CDs, web casts or other links, but must not operate as an affiliated Unity ministry until approval has been granted.
- The Unity ministry must obtain the full approval of the Association of Unity Churches International before conducting any services or doing any work under the Unity name. It is vital they also seek the cooperation of recognized Unity leaders of Unity ministries in that vicinity.
Proposal
All proposals should be typed and submitted to the Ministry Expansion Office and contain the following information. Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
- Name of ministry
- Name of credentialed leader
- Mailing address and meeting location if different from mailing address
- Telephone and fax number
- Email address
- Name of Spiritual Coach/Mentor
- Name of Sponsoring Ministry (if applicable)
- Plans for the ministry
- Timeline for launch/beginning
- Describe who will comprise your launch team
- Give a brief description of meeting location
- Give a brief description of the vision for this ministry and who it will serve
- List five (5) main priorities for your new ministry prior to starting
- List five (5) main priorities for your first year
- How do you intend to build ownership in the community as it grows
- Services and programs
- Describe the various services, classes and programs you plan to provide
- Describe how you will incorporate Unity Principles into your new community
- Demographics
- Describe basic demographics of area, population and potential for growth
- Extensive demographic studies or figures are not necessary
- Ministries in the area
- Describe any other New Thought Ministries (including Unity) in the area
- Funding
- Submit a general working budget with estimated income and expenses
- Promotion Plan
- Describe your plans for reaching your target audience
- Describe how will you advertise/market your community
- Resumé— Describe your experience and qualifications for your role as the spiritual leader/coordinator and administrator
- Income—Describe how you intend to support yourself in early stages of pioneering
- A signed copy of the current Code of Ethics for a Ministry
- A signed Spiritual Coach/Mentor agreement
- A map of the area with the proposed target area and any existing Unity ministry with locations marked
- A signed affiliation agreement from sponsoring ministry (if applicable)
- A letter stating you have read and understand the policies and procedures for new ministries.
- A letter and input form must be sent to all Unity ministries or affiliated groups within a 10-mile radius, informing them of the proposed ministry. This extends to 20 miles for your home church, or one you've been affiliated with for a period of 6 months or longer. A copy of the letter(s), with proof of mailing must be included with the application. The area minister(s) and/or Board of Trustees of the ministry/ies should return a signed copy of the input form to the Ministry Expansion Office within 14 days of receipt of the letter.
- The applicant may contact the Director of Peacemaking and Transitional Support and seek guidance on the best way to pursue peace making and negotiate an agreement. They may also contact the Regional Representative for their region, most of whom have been trained in peacemaking and are familiar with certified peacemakers in the area.
- Should an agreement be reached by both parties, this can be submitted in writing to the Ministry Expansion Office and the application will be reconsidered.
- If no agreement is reached or concerned parties will not agree to mediation or peacemaking, a team consisting of the Regional Representative, the Pioneering Support Team Chair(s), and a representative from the Ministry Expansion Office will address the issue and make a final decision regarding approval.
- If allegation of violation(s) of the Code of the Ethics or Association Policy is involved, the case will be immediately remanded to the Judicatory Representative of the region.
- If during the application process, the applicant is referred to the Credentialed Leader/Ministry Review System, the process of approval will continue on hold until the Ministry Expansion Office has been notified by the Case Manager of the Credentialed Leader/Ministry Review Team that the applicant is eligible for employment. Then the process for approval of a new ministry resumes.
Upon Approval
Upon approval, a new ministry is affiliated with the Ministry Expansion Office and must follow established procedure until approved for full ministry status. It is the responsibility of the newly developing ministry to provide specific information to the Expansion Office until the ministry becomes a full-status ministry. You are welcome to email the reports to our Expansion Assistant at expast2@unity.org. For your convenience, you are also welcome to send your reports in quarterly.
Please note the following:
- In order to comply with IRS regulations, as a member ministry operating under the tax umbrella of the Association of Unity Churches, you are required to send us monthly reports. This includes Income and Expense reports, Steering Committee/Board meeting notes and attendance reports. Once you have become a full-status ministry, only yearly updates are required. If we have not received reports in over a year, you will be considered an inactive ministry and no longer able to operate under the Association's tax umbrella.
- In order to assure all documents get filed correctly, please make sure your church's name and current address appear on every report.
- If you have any changes in address, email, name of church or contact information, please email us as soon as possible so we can update our records.
- Let us know about classes and activities going on at your church and other events or activities that have been successful and if you'd be willing to share those ideas with ministers in the field.
- Should the approved Spiritual Leader of the ministry become unable to serve for any reason, the Ministry Expansion Office should be notified immediately.
- The ministry is automatically operating under the Association's recommended by-laws until their own have been developed.
- The ministry should establish a Dissolution Clause and record it in the Steering Committee/Board of Trustees minutes. An example of how this clause could be worded: “Should the ministry dissolve, all property and funds remaining after the payment of debts of the ministry shall be delivered to the Association of Unity Churches International, a nonprofit corporation for religious and educational purposes. Such funds or property shall be for the use and the benefit of the Association, as may be determined by the Board of Trustees. Upon re-establishment of a Unity ministry in the area within a four-year period, said group may contact the Association of Unity Churches International for procedure on applying for these funds.”
Solicitation Policy
Solicitation: It is Association policy that ministries (including ministers, transitional ministers, licensed teachers, spiritual leaders, and boards) not solicit funds from other churches by sending a letter, email, mailing, etc. directly to said ministers/ministries/boards. Many ministers/ministries are on ministry mailing lists and thus receive copies of correspondence relating to financial needs. We have no problem with this so long as the mailing is general and directed to friends and members locally. It is, however, against Association policy for correspondence/letters to be directed to ministers/ministries/boards in the field inviting gifts and tithes.
