In 1985, the Unity ministers in North and South Carolina began meeting together regularly as “Carolina Unity Ministers” for the purpose of support and fellowship. We were spread out geographically, and further yet from South East colleagues who were mostly in Florida. We decided to meet quarterly, staying over 1-2 nights because of the travel time and to have time to get to know each other at a deeper level and to “play” a bit. We alternated the location of our meetings so we could visit each other’s churches and cities.
Sitting in a circle, we shared our challenges, our successes, ideas that worked in our churches, news about our families and personal lives…and this came to be called our “Heartcheck.” After Heartcheck, we all dined together at a local restaurant.
Membership was open to Unity ministers and their spouses (as full voting members) and to those officially leading a ministry in our geographical area. It was not open to Unity Licensed Teachers (unless leading a church) or church staff or Board members because we wanted the freedom and confidentiality to discuss any kind of relationship challenges. We also felt that this was our special place to discuss the unique experience of leading a church or of being a minister’s spouse.
We were small enough then that Heartcheck didn’t take much time, so we decided to do a project together – a Retreat for our congregations to attend. We booked space at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain, NC… which became the home of an annual UMMAS retreat held in late August.
We soon expanded our concept to include our neighbors in Georgia and Tennessee, and changed our name to Unity Ministers of the Mid-Atlantic States, UMMAS.
We recognized that our Boards needed a way to understand their function and to place themselves into the larger context of being part of the Unity movement. We initiated an annual Board-Minister training, which has evolved into the wider concept of Leadership Training, held on a Friday & Saturday in July in a central location. This Leadership training was expanded to include break-out sessions for Music Staff from our churches about 2009.
- In 2003, we moved the Retreat to Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC, a beautiful facility with a welcoming staff.
- In May 2005, we adopted By-Laws and officially incorporated. We decided our officers would serve for 2-year terms – in early times, officers often served until they could convince someone else to take the job!
- Around 2000-2004 we considered owning property for our own retreat or meeting facility. Fundraising for this initiative raised a nice sum of money, but the cost and time of development and then maintaining a facility proved to be more than our busy ministers wanted to take on.
As members of the South East region of Unity, we collectively hosted the annual SE Conference on a regular basis, beginning in 1997 with a SE Conference in Hiawassee GA, usually every other year. In 2011, we combined the UMMAS Retreat and SE Conference into one dynamic and inspiring event.
We embraced online technology early, using email by 1997, with an UMMAS ministers’ e-list by 2004. We had a website by 2001, and joined facebook in 2009.
Our model of support for each other has encouraged the growth of Unity churches in our area. We have assisted in funding personal growth experiences, ministerial training, and personal or church financial challenges. We have developed an inspiring level of community and cooperation. Our retreats are a source of in-filling and inspiration for laypeople and ministers alike.er
From a tiny group of a few ministers, we have evolved into a dynamic organization within the worldwide Unity movement.
THANK YOU to Lytingale (Lytingale.com) for this article and for her service as UMMAS webmaster for many years.