Unity Church of Dallas - Future Search

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Look At We're Doing!

To every volunteer, staff member and minister…
To everyone who loves UCD and works so hard to create the world’s greatest Unity church…

THANK YOU!

UCD – WHERE ARE WE NOW?
In January 2001, a group of 64 dedicated volunteers from Unity Church of Dallas met for an entire weekend to vision for the next decade. It was called the Future Search Conference: UCD 2010. Ideas flowed freely, and goals were set. But what actually came of the effort? In February 2002, many of the same people spent a day reviewing accomplishments and setting more goals in keeping with Unity’s five basic principles. Look at what your church has done!

AUDIO-VISUAL DEPARTMENT
Results to date:
Provide sound, lighting and projections for Sunday and Wednesday services, guest speakers, special events, choir concerts, holidays
Handled sound & visuals for All Stressed Up with Nowhere to Go and 100 Years of Broadway
Worked closely with music department and ministers to develop AV mission
Developed a student internship program with The Art Institute of Dallas.

Current Goals:
Continue to increase the high level of audio standards
Increase quality of audio and lighting equipment (new minister microphones, monitor system for the Unitunes, portable LCD projector for classes and guest speakers)
Assist in developing audio needs for redesigned stage - input locations and permanent choir microphones.

BOOKSTORE
Mission: Create a location of light, love, joy and service.

Results to date:
Offering live entertainment and monthly events programs
New product lines – books, gifts, music

Current Goals
Comprehensive marketing, website e-commerce
Work with Common Grounds

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
Created in 2001 as a new team to facilitate social activities for the entire congregation and occasionally individual groups (singles, couples, etc). Also includes membership, diversity and Common Grounds.

Results to date:
Retreat for singles
Redesigned visitor packet – 2nd printing complete
Redesigned Orientation class for new members
Increased follow-up with visitors
Diversity team focused on inclusion rather than differences
Common Grounds social hours began on Sunday mornings
Common Grounds After Dark – game night, movie night

Current Goals:
Increase ways to pull visitors, new members into church activities
Improve communication via email and website
Fully develop Common Grounds After Dark

EDUCATION and SPECIAL EVENTS
The Special Events Department has been folded into Education. So UCD’s perennial emphasis on classes, speakers and workshops will also include entertainment, such as dinner theater and concerts. The Education team still envisions UCD as the place to go for spiritual education in the Metroplex.

Results to date:
Rev. Ellen Debenport became minister for education and special events
Increased variety of events – All Stressed Up dinner theater, Jesus Seminar
Speakers included Jackie Waldman, Maria Nemeth, Harold Bloomfield, Cherie Carter-Scott, Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Booked for fall – Mary Manin Morrissey, Caroline Myss, Gregg Braden
More comparative religion classes, by popular demand
Surveyed congregation on education needs
Extravaganza to celebrate Ellen’s 100th Wednesday Night Service

Current Goals:
Coordinate classes/speakers with Sun/Wed talks
Host 2003 CEP-in-the-Field
Join with Metroplex Unity churches for SpiritEd catalogue to promote all classes, speakers and events
Focus on global consciousness; inviting Barbara Marx Hubbard
Offer more credit classes
Branch out from authors to artists of all types

FACILITIES
In order to provide the highest and best use for the property and facilities, this team is preparing a Master Plan. Items to be addressed include the White House; the “occupied” house; maximizing the existing building/update as needed; creek area - meditation/peace garden; better scheduling of events and full use of open days; education center/adult-children; kitchen-cafeteria; zoning issues; parking/traffic flow.

Results to date:
More White House rentals
New John and Abbie Webster Rose Garden
$5,510 raised to remodel stage (Cayman trip drawing)
Master Plan is about 60% complete.
Had preliminary talks with neighbors about zoning for the proposed new school
Peace Garden plans have been prepared by Don McKinney

Current Goals:
Interior finishes in church – foyer, stage
Fundraising, donations, estate planning to raise money
Continued development of Master Plan, Peace Garden, School in the Forest
Start a fundraising campaign for a Floating Fountain with lighting, located in the pond area of the creek (approximately $5,000)
Replace zodiac windows in Peace Chapel with 12 Powers/Disciples

FAMILY MINISTRIES
Results to date:
Virtue Venture spreading nationwide
Family worship service led by teens
Texas Uniteen retreat
Youth Peacekeepers Camp
Virtues quilt in Fellowship Hall

Current Goals:
Appoint task force, help plan School in the Forest
Wednesday evening program for children
Parent education: drugs, sex, boundaries, etc.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Results to date:
Full-scale singing and dancing production of 100 Years of Broadway, attended by over 600 people, spring 2002
Choir and handbell performances at Christmas, Tenebrae, spring concert, ordinations
Developed a reliable high standard of performance
Offered wider variety of musical tastes
Purchased new chimes for bell choir
Adult Bells participated in festival
Established youth handbell choir
Made positive contacts in the musical community due to Kim’s level of musicianship and reputation

Current Goals:
To recognize and accept the mantle of “ministers of music” in services
To continue to increase the high level of musical standards
To offer a wider variety of musical styles
To participate in redesign of sanctuary stage for more versatile use of space
To plan for a dedicated rehearsal and storage space
To continue to develop children’s and teens’ choirs
To increase number of bell choir members

PASTORAL
Pastoral Care is modeled on the healing prayer ministry established by Charles Fillmore, Unity’s cofounder. Rev. John B. Webster and a pool of trained volunteers call, visit and pray with anyone expressing a need.

Results to date:
Angel Tree project to give Christmas gifts to families
Love Bears All project to distribute stuffed animals

Current Goals:
Spanish prayer
Cards to births/marriages/deaths
Church “buddy”
Peace garden, bell tower, prayer wall

PRAYER & COUNSELING MINISTRY
Working with Unity’s five basic principles, “God is good, the Christ is within all of us, thoughts manifest, prayer and meditation raise our connection with God-Mind, and we must live the Truth we know,” allows us to tap into the strength, wisdom, love and abundance that are within us. This new department presents more opportunities for prayerful support, spiritual counseling, and professional counseling for our congregation.

Results to date:
Two LifePath retreats in Mexico
24-hour Prosperity Prayer Vigil
Increased spiritual counseling and services
Establishing grief support classes
Teaching prayer and meditation
With Ellen, established professional Counseling Referral Service; 102 referrals so far

Current Goals:
LifePath retreat in Dallas
Prayer Vigils for healing (physical, mental and emotional) and love (honoring self and relationships)
Renewal of Wedding Vow Ceremony - July
Email prayer service
Develop marketing and website for Counseling Referral Service
Prayer and meditation classes
Record meditation tapes for counselees and bookstore

PROSPERITY
Prosperity Statement of Intention: Living a consciousness of prosperity, we enhance current revenue sources and develop new sources of revenue, by converting time and talent into treasure. Doing this, we have the financial freedom to live our mission boldly.

Results to date:
Giving Tree
Quarterly financial report in bulletin
Parking lot sale (100+ volunteers, $31K)

Current Goals:
Quarterly Giving Trees (Prosperity Tree)
Look for free money – foundation grants, projects, etc.
Formal endowment plan
Educate congregation about tithing, love offerings

SENIOR MINISTER
Results to date:
Ordained Revs. Donna McClure and John Webster as Unity ministers
Stabilized downward trend in Sunday contributions and attendance, which have been increasing since September 2001.
With Donna, developed ongoing small groups in the Master Mind and Fall Program format
With Donna, taught two Spiritual Energy of Money classes
Facilitating a two-year Master Leadership Class.
With Laura Morgan, completed a Mediation Skills Training at Unity Village and will form a Mediation Team for UCD. Invited Rev. Richard Blackburn from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center to do a workshop with board and staff in April 2002.
Created and oversaw a successful Fall Program in September 2001 on the theme of Coming Home. This included small groups, Sunday lessons, a yard sale that raised $31,300, and a Parking Lot Hoedown Celebration. Thanks to hundreds of volunteers who made this such a success.
Served as vice-president of the South Central Unity Churches Association, with duties as board liaison to Youth and Family Ministries in the region. The region covers 13 states from South Dakota to Louisiana.
Served on the Admissions Committee of the Association of Unity Churches, with duties for interviewing prospective applicants for the Ministerial Education Program.
Played on the Unity Softball Team at the position of pitcher.
Graduated a third group of Apostles from the Disciple/Apostle two-year class.

Current Goals:
With Donna, complete training to become certified facilitators for LifePath Retreats; conducting retreat in June
Develop 2002 Fall Program based on the theme of No Less Than Greatness
Celebrate 40 years of ministry – Sept. 7, 2002
With Laura Morgan and Diana Hughes, conduct mediation training for Metroplex churches.
Develop radio broadcast to serve all Metroplex Unity churches.
Expand small-group ministry
Begin outline for new book
Do talent project for Fall Program 2003

UNITY PROMOTION & ADVERTISING TEAM (Up&At’Em)
This team, created at Future Search, intends to (1) create clear, dynamic, focused, meaningful and motivating messages to illuminate the path to UCD, and (2) deliver this message via multimedia and dedicated personal ministries.

Results to date:
Website overhaul
Helped launch new visitor packet
“Welcome Home” song and video
Met with Metroplex Unity churches for joint marketing
Surveyed congregation
Established marketing budget
Hired University of Dallas MBA group for marketing project

Current Goals:
Establish target markets and strategy
Create new press packet
Help create SpiritEd catalogue of Unity-Texas events
Identify and promote CommUnity Events
Help market family ministries, bookstore, special events
Survey congregation again in 2002

VOLUNTEERS/OUTREACH
Providing an inviting, informative, educated, passion-driven pool of volunteers.

Results to date:
Organized fall program yard sale, barbecue, home study groups
Volunteer trainings – leadership, outreach orientation
Increased Outreach Ministry including blood drive, Richardson Humane Society, Girls Inc., Angel Tree, annual food drive
Landscape team planted bulbs and plants
Increased volunteer recognition

Current Goals:
Recruit in advance volunteers for fall program
Investigate creating volunteer task force
Increase Volunteer Dept. budget
Involve new members in volunteering soon after they join
Maintain the John and Abbie Webster Rose Garden

Commitments for 2002

Be renewed Be joyful

Be bold Abandon fear

Be free Radiate peace

Teach fearlessly Work together

Be warm and gracious Share

Love

Back to Top