I have found this to be one of the most exciting years of ministry that I have ever had. Spirit has shown up in so many ways. We have been blessed with abundance, love and joy in many classes, activities and on Sundays. It feels like a new energy is present in every activity and as the staff works together during the week. I am grateful to be a part of this community and its continued growth and unfoldment.
During 2008 we continue to be guided by the Values Survey that we did in spring of 2007. We have had an ever deepening commitment to stewardship, to community service, to who we are as a community that is living and expressing the values that we have identified. Just to remind everyone, these are the values of New Thought Unity:
|
Personal Values |
Current Culture Values |
Desired Cultural Values |
| 1. Spirituality |
1. Inclusive Community |
1. Inclusive Community |
| 2. Integrity |
2. Diversity |
2. Balance |
| 3. Love |
3. Love |
3. Love |
| 4. Balance |
4. Volunteer Participation |
4. Community Service |
| 5. Creativity |
5. Caring |
5. Church attendee fulfillment |
| 6. Nature-Loving |
6. Practical Teachings |
6. Open Communication |
| 7. Caring |
7. Spiritual Awakening |
7. Spiritual Awakening |
| 8. Humor/Fun |
8. Fellowship |
8. Diversity |
| 9. Compassion |
9. Community Service |
9. Empowerment |
| 10. Honesty |
10. Education |
10. Financial Health |
On April 12, 2008, we came together in a day of retreat. This retreat was called Stepping into our Vision: Designing Our Future Together – A Mutual Ministry Review where we looked at our successes in living our values and our mission and vision during the past twelve months, and where we continued our conversation about what these values actually meant to us in 2008. We had the following objectives:
We looked at the ways we lived our mission, vision and values (MVV) in 2007 by asking the following questions and these are the answers that the congregation gave:
A-1 Name three things we have done well this year. What have we accomplished?
· We have increased “positive energy flow between board, ministers, staff and congregation” and “palpable” “excitement in Sunday Services”. This was also supported by comments about over all “energy and excitement in services” and comments about “financial health”, “volunteers”, “community service”, and “stable cohesive board”.
· Senior Minister has established her connection with the congregation resulting in the Sunday messages being received as “meaningful”, “appropriate”, “poignant” “engaging”, “interactive” and “entertaining”.
· The “broad array” of “music is supporting the message” and “energy of the services”. The “lyrics on the screen” create a physical and mental unity as the congregation sings together.
A-2 What are we doing better than expected?
· There are “more opportunities to connect with each other” through groups, teams, activities, events. There is a perceived shift from “hierarchy to community” and “more involvement of children” and improved “handicapped accessibility”, acknowledgment of “vegan” opportunities.
· We are “working together more and we have more positive communications” through “board collaboration”, “improved technology”, “email to congregation” and “power point during services”.
· Presentation of classes with “Unity focus and core beliefs”.
A-3 How did we meet your needs?
· Our “increased sense of family communion at each service” is manifesting our Mission and Vision.
· Increased prayer support through Pastoral Care, prayer chaplains, and prayer team.
· Doris “reaching out” and “attentive to needs” of congregation.
A-4 In what ways can we trace the movement of Spirit this past year in the minister/staff/board/congregation?
· “Board assumed responsibility and is collectively working together” in a “friendly, coherent, centered, committed” way and is more “visible” to the congregation.
· Staff “is more connected to each other and owning their responsibilities”. They are having more “fun” and are more “involved”.
· Congregation is more “responsive”, “energized”, “warm”, “happy”, “involved”, “inclusive”, and “unified”. There is more “unity of spirit at Unity”.
We described what, as a church, we would do to more clearly demonstrate our MVV in 2008:
B. Reflecting on things yet to accomplish.
B-1 What has not yet been accomplished?
· “Expand prosperity awareness” through “increased giving and tithing” developing “consistent finances” and “improved reserves”. This would allow us to: make needed improvements and repairs, increase staff and hours, repair parking lot entrance, create a coffee shop, and further development of our campus, “full development of Spiritual Practice Center”.
· “Increase membership”, “attendance” and “involvement”.
· “Connection of Youth and Family Ministry, both physical and non-physical”, with “full adult staffing and volunteers” (this could include “our own elementary and day-care”).
B-2 What can we do better? What can be improved?
· Outreach
“Better marketing/advertising of Unity presence and message” throughout the community including the “unchurched.” Extend invitations to hear “New Thought speakers” and sponsor “community events” to increase “visibility”.
· Communication/Connectedness
Better and more effective communication to promote and enhance more connection with staff, board and congregation.
· Children and Youth
Increase excitement and “involvement” in our youth and family program.
B-3 In what ways do you feel that Spirit has been blocked this past year? (What we will continue to focus on)
· We continue to articulate our “Unity” and “New Thought” “beliefs” and communicate them more effectively so that we are individually and communally living out of those beliefs.
· We continue to create additional opportunities to increase attendance and involvement of congregation.
· We continue to communicate effectively to promote connectedness within our congregation as well as reaching out to the greater community at large.
We described what individual or group behaviors would best model our MVV
C-1 If you felt a sense of perfect “fulfillment” as an attendee of NTUC, what would you be experiencing?
· Feelings—A strong “sense of Unity connection” which would demonstrate as “letting go of shields”, “being ourselves”, a “feeling of ownership/belonging” “wanting to be at NTUC every Sunday”, “laughter”, “happiness”, “joy”, “love”, “excitement”, “trust”, and “harmony”.
· Inspiration—We would be “experiencing an inspiring service on many levels”; which would be demonstrated through “a strong sense of Spirit”, “centeredness”, “practicing the principles” and “a sense of moving toward enlightment”.
· Participation—“Strong willingness to be a part of a diverse congregation through” “involvement”, “ownership” and “holding a vision of growth”.
C-2 If NTUC were a perfect example of an “inclusive and diverse” community, how would it look? What would be experienced here?
· “Diversity is reflected in all groups, staff, leadership, and congregation. Even in our diversity we feel our oneness. Everyone is welcomed, included, respected and honored.”
C-3 If NTUC were a perfect example of “financial health,” what would that look like?
· “Everybody is knowledgeable, but not concerned, about financial health”. We “celebrate our prosperity” because our congregation of tithers creates ease, allowing us to have a “well-maintained facility”, hold an “unlimited vision” and “maintain abundant reserves”.
We described how our MVV would look if they were demonstrated in daily operations at NTUC? (Our biggest dreams for ourselves and our Center)
D-1 As you consider our vision, what do you see us doing to demonstrate our support for this vision?
We celebrate a world of harmony and oneness, a place of loving stewardship, sacred connections, and pure joy where all are welcomed with honor and respect.
· “Celebrate everything about New Thought Unity’s diversity and strengths”. Affirm our vision throughout the week by authentic positive words and expressions “promoting our values, classes and programs”. “Partnering with other churches and organizations to create a more peaceful world”.
D-2 If we were fully demonstrating our mission, what would we be experiencing and doing?
In God, we are an inclusive, abundant community -- experiencing love, transforming lives and serving others.
· “Look for opportunities as a church community to express the Mission and Vision collective values”. “Create Communication and Leadership Training programs aimed at supporting congregational transformation”. Our transformed congregation is fully invested in service both within our congregation and in our community.
D-3 How will we know we’re very successful and we’ve played our part in achieving our vision and mission? What will it look like if we’re highly successful?
· Enthusiasm is very high, there is full participation, we have a diverse full house, we are staffed and prosperous and we have financial reserves.
D-4 What do we need to do to fully develop the Center? What are the opportunities?
· “Set and hold the goals in prayerful vision on a daily basis”. Cohesive teams carrying out action plans with follow through. The congregation expands their ownership of New Thought Unity. “Set and hold the goal in prayerful vision on a daily basis”. Cohesive teams carrying out action plans with follow through. The congregation expands their ownership of New Thought Unity.
E. Stepping into Our Vision, action teams form around ideas/opportunities. What actions would be needed to complete these ideas/opportunities?
Goal: Make short-term and long-term action plans.
The following teams were created by the individuals at the retreat: I will bold five of those teams that have evolved and are now working. One of these teams achieved their goal and has completed their work. I will bold and italicize that team. We would encourage you all to join any of these teams that are available.
1. Communication Team: Convener: Jo Keaveney
Goal: To connect with visitors by establishing Ambassadors for New Thought Unity (ANT) team by 6-1-2008
2. Financial Team Convener: Terry Eisert
Goal: To create an endowment of one million dollars by 12-31-2013
3. Green Team (Earth Cares) Convener: Randall Ball
Goal: To co-create a sustainable world by creating a sustainable Center by 2013.
4. Individual Visioning Team Convener: Bill Eagen
Goal: To create a Vision & Mission card to be passed out to the community at large by 7-6-2008 and inviting them to hold our M & V for 110 days until our 110th anniversary and to commission a song about our M & V before our 110th Anniversary
5. Marketing Team Original Convener: George Whitton Now: Nancy Nally
Goal: To attract and retain 50 people who have no current church affiliation by 9-30-2008
6. Outreach Team Original Convener: Jodi Traver Now : Ray Smith
Goal: To create peace and harmony in the local community by introducing Unity principles to others through community service and outreach opportunities by 12-31-2008
7. Program Team: Convener: John Phelps
Goal: To offer programs that transform lives in a way that is loving and serves participants by 12-31-2010
8. Web Team: Convener: John Carsman Now: Jennifer Keating
Goal: To develop an enhanced website, including complete registration capabilities for all classes and events, blogging, podcasts, sound files for all services and radio shows, etc. by 11-1-2008
The Board of Trustees worked with the information that we gleaned from this retreat, and they created the following chart to illustrate our goals:
Achieving Our Mission and Vision in 2008: How to Grow and Develop the Organization
The following is the progress on these goals thus far:
· Implement and complete Thriving in Unity Program:
The Board adopted the Thriving In Unity program during the summer. We have completed most of the Benchmarks and hope to be complete with them by the end of April, 2009.
· Sustain and grow a prosperous financial base grounded in Unity Principles:
This year through the concerted efforts of the Finance Team, the Board of Directors and you the congregation, we raised $64,000 to pay off our debts. We ended the year with only current financial obligations. We honored our commitment to you the congregation and since October 1, 2008, we have been living on our income. We have maintained a high staff moral, and though we are closed one additional day a week, we have given classes, workshops and social activities plus our excellent Sunday Services.
· Increase Unity’s presence in the Walnut Hills community and Greater Cincinnati
Service to our larger Unity Community
§ We continue our work with MARCC (Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati) for the Cincinnati Unity Churches. Mark Stroud is our Unity delegate at this time and Adrienne Mrozek is our alternate. Unity was voted into MARCC in November of 2006 as the 17th judicatory (religious denomination) at the annual Delegates Conference.
§ We have increased our support of Fredrick Douglas Elementary School by refreshing their school supplies. More importantly, we have begun working with them directly as tutors. We will be finding additional ways to serve our community outside our walls this coming year.
Marketing
The Marketing Team is focusing on getting us in to newspapers such as The Enquirer, Cincinnati Herald, and various locals with articles about our services and stories about congregants. We’ve had over a half dozen in the last couple of months with more scheduled.
Sabbatical
My contract granted me a three-month sabbatical after seven years. In 2007 when that time had been accomplished, it did not feel like the right time for me to take any time off. In consulting with the Board of Trustees, they agreed that 2008 was the right time to do that. I went on Sabbatical starting June 23rd. Due to the financial conditions, I was in communication by phone, email and attended some meetings during July and August. It was felt that I needed to return early to work with the changes that we needed to make to work with the funds available. So I returned September 1, 2008, a month early. I’m grateful to the renewal of Spirit that I experienced during my time away and want to say Thank You to all of you and to Rev. George Whitton for handling the services while I was away.
Staff Successes
We have said goodbye to many loved staff members during the past year. The current staff is a strong, cohesive team. We are very focused on providing excellent service in those areas that we can. They are doing an excellent job of creating and holding the spiritual consciousness of our Center while doing their jobs with great love and devotion. Each of the key staff will be presenting their achievements in their area for the past year.
We received 11 New Members in 2008.
Respectfully Submitted with Blessings and Gratitude,
Rev. Doris Hoskins
