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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 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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Rev. Duke Tufty, Board Chair Has served as senior minister at Unity Temple on the Plaza, Kansas City, Mo., since 1991. Duke served as associate minister at The Myrtle Fillmore Center in Prairie Village, Kan., from 1989 to 1990. Duke is currently the Board Chair. |
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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, Silent Unity Lynne is an ordained Unity minister and serves as vice president of Silent Unity. 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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James Blake Chief Information Officer |
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Paula Coppel Vice President, Communications 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. |
Association of Unity Churches International
Full list of Home Office Staff
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David McArthur Board Chair David is current 1st Vice 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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Jim Lee First Vice Chair Jim is current 2nd Vice 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 Second 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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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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Julie Armour Member 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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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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Jim Labrie |
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Linda Lowery Member Linda is a licensed Unity teacher serving in Detroit Unity Temple in Detroit, Mich. She has co-chaired the Association's Licensed Teacher Ministry Team. She has served the church as a lay minister in teen and children's ministry, and coordinated and conducted interfaith services. With a degree in marketing and business, she is certified in sales, marketing, consulting, training, management, negotiation, telecommunications, digital imaging technology and finance. She has been on radio and television and is an author. |
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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. |
Power of Prayer Retreat:
Prayers and Practices from Around the World
September 5–10, 2010
Unity Village, MO
Participants will experience diverse forms of prayer, discover a deeper appreciation of how prayer unites us, and enjoy beautiful music and practices from many different spiritual traditions. Participants will be at Unity Village during World Day of Prayer 2010.
