Developing Unity’s NewMinisterial Education

Experience

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Conversation with Unity Leaders January 13, 2016

Today’s Agenda

• Opening Prayer• Our Development Process• Your Feedback from First Survey• Our Present Proposals • Our Present Key Questions• Closing Prayer• Follow-up with survey and

one-on-one calls

Matthew 18:20“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Guidelines for Discussion1. The call will last 90 minutes.2. To accommodate everyone’s ability to

participate, we’ve set up guidelines for this call.

3. Questions and comments will be taken in the order received. Press *6 to get in line to share.

4. Please state your name before speaking.5. There will be a two-minute time limit for each

speaker. This sound will be audible at the end of the time limit.

6. Please use respectful language and speak only for yourself.

IntroductionsOur presenters today will be:

David Ridge -Co-lead of the Ministerial Curriculum Sub-team

Lauri Boyd - team member of the Ministerial Curriculum Sub-team

Our Development Process

• Designated Teams• Objectives• Supporting Teams• Ministerial

Curriculum• Recommendation• Establish Program

HR

Credentialing

Fund Raising

Transition Finance

SEEYouth and Family

ProgramConsultant

s

UWM Board of TrusteesUnity’s NewEducation Program

MinisterialCurriculu

mUI Curriculum

Standards & Rubrics

Best Practices – Learning Mgmt SystemsBest Practices – Other Credentialing Paths

Hidden Curriculum

Team- & Field-Defined Skills

Technology

Education Task Team Core

Education that isHigh QualityAccessibleAffordableSustainable

RecommendedEducationProgram

Survey Results

• Quantitative Results• Unique Multiple Choice• Any/All Multiple Choice

• Qualitative Results• Counting of Word Usage – Open-

ended questions

Survey Results – Skills

• Communications / 27• Interpersonal Skills / 21• Administration / 16• Homiletics, Speaking / 15• Finance / 14• Self-Awareness / 14• Counseling / 13• Teaching / 11• Pastoral Skills / 9• Prayer, Meditation / 9

What skills do you consider most important in your ministry work today?

Survey Results – Skills What area(s) of ministry did you feel inadequately prepared for when you arrived in your first ministry?

Ministry Administration

Ministry Financing

Ministry Marketing

Survey Results – Skills

• Teaching / 22• Interpersonal Skills / 19• Administrative Skills / 17• Pastoral Skills / 17• Grounding in Unity Principles / 14• Technology/Media / 12• Self-Awareness / 11

If you were to hire an associate minister, what skills would you look for in the applicant?

Survey Results – Skills

• Technology/Social Media Skills / 33• Innovation, Skills to Develop Alternative

Services, Ministry / 26• Knowledge of World Religions, Interfaith Dialog / 19• Community Outreach / 14• Marketing / 10• Social Action/Advocacy / 7• Reaching Younger People, Spiritual but

not Religious / 6

With an awareness of emerging trends, what skills do you think are and will be important for ministry?

Survey Results – Continuing Education

What categories of courses would you like to take for your own continuing education?

Ministry Administration

Ministry Financing

Ministry Marketing

Honing Emotional and Spiritual Intelligence

Other Sacred Scriptures

 

Our Recommendations to date

Existing Classes (mostly) Unchanged

About two thirds of existing courses carried forward with few changes or only recommended adjustments.

These include:• The Writings of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore• Advanced Metaphysics• Bible History and Interpretation• World Religions• Pastoral Counseling• Homiletics

Ministry Administration Skills

Recommendation – create series of courses for:• Ministry Structure & Administration• Ministry Staff Management and Volunteer

Development• Ministry Board and Governance• Ministry Financial Management• Ministry Fund-Raising• Ministry Marketing

Hidden Curriculum – a Definition

Develop skills of emotional & spiritual intelligence• Experiential self-discovery• Community bonding• Spiritual growth

Facilitated by • Life challenges• Interaction within community of peers • Guidance from trained mentors

Hidden Curriculum

Internship

Intensive

Mentoring

On-site Residential

Based on your experience, what would be the most effective way of providing the “hidden curriculum”?

Bonding Experiences

• Orientation intensive• Class Discussions• Class Projects• Intensives • Internships• Licensing and Ordination week• Regional Conferences and National

Unity Convention

Hands-on Experience

Internship

Intensive

Mentoring

On-site Residential

Based on your experience, what’s the most effective way of providing hands-on ministry experience?

Internship LengthHow long should a ministry-focused internship be?

Recommended Program Structure

3 year program culminating in a Master of Divinity degree and eligibility for ordination1st and 2nd Years•4x 10-week academic terms per year•face-to-face intensives 3rd Year•16-week ministry internship•two 9-week internships -- might include prison, YFM, CPO in a local hospital, prayer/Silent Unity, second ministry (Easter), etc. •face-to-face intensives •possibly ending with a 10-week academic term

Internships

Students would have the opportunity for:• Giving a message on a Sunday or

weekday service• Leading a meditation• Teaching a class• Leading an outreach project• Working with Volunteers• Participating in board meetings• Participating in Youth and Family Ministry• And on…

Key Question - Mentoring Training

Challenge: Ensure the Ministry Internship experience provides enough structure and broad experience for the student.

Suggestion: Create a Mentoring training that would be required of any minister hosting an intern.

Key Question - Entry Points

Recommendation: having Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall academic terms

Should we designate one term as the only “starting point” for the academic year?• Provides a consistent support group with which to bond • Has the potential to provide a deeper experience of

the hidden curriculumOr should we support Rolling Admissions, allowing students

to begin at two or more entry points during year?• Provides enrollment flexibility students have requested• Provides a different cohort experience

Key Question – Location of Intensives

Face to face intensives can be held anywhere

If you were a ministerial student, where would you prefer they be held?• at Unity Village or UWM Headquarters?• at regional locations, perhaps rotating

regions?• other?

Feedback, Please…We want to follow-up with you if you have other

questions or comments – please key into the chat window your name, ministry & the best phone

number to reach you. If you are calling in, or you wish to keep that information private, you can email your name, ministry & best contact phone number

to Marti@unity.org. We are publishing a survey as soon as this call is over. Please respond ASAP. It will be open until

Midnight, Mon, Jan 18th Check your email for the link to survey.

Your responses will provide vital input to our ministerial curriculum design.

Open Discussion

*6 to enter the line to share

Future Dialogues

Presentation & Discussion at January meetings Call: in mid-to-late February (check The Path)

Your added feedback + further development efforts … Targeted Completion: Mar 31, 2016

With Board review & approval to follow. Presentation at the

2016 People’s Convention, Jun 13-17, 2016

Thank You!… for being with us today …

… for your feedback …… for your support …… for your prayers …

Closing Prayer