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UMMAS Policies and Practices
The Spiritual Leader of a Unity ministry in GA, NC, SC, and TN, which
includes:
- Ministers, Associate Ministers, Co-ministers, retired Unity ministers,
inactive Unity ministers, and Unity ministers leading "alternative" forms of
ministry. (Unity ministers in nearby states are also welcome.)
- Spiritual Leader of a church (including a Unity Licensed Teacher who
is serving as the spiritual leader of their church.)
- Spouses/Partners of ministers/spiritual leaders. Spouses are
full voting members and may hold office.
Quarterly Meetings
- October during the Southeast Conference
- February & May at various UMMAS churches (Changing
locations allows us to become acquainted with each other's church
facilities, community, and practices. We also enjoy the renewal of
a short vacation "get-away".)
- September at the annual UMMAS Retreat (ministers arrive a day
early to Retreat for this meeting).
Sometimes we extend the February or May meeting by a day or two for a
special training experience or a ministers' retreat.
Usual format of our Feb/May Quarterly Meetings:
- Monday:
- Gather at noon for lunch (often at the host church)
- 1 or 2pm: "Heart-Check" - a time for personal support. Each person
shares a few minutes of update about what's happening in your life,
especially your personal life. This non-judgmental personal
support is the heart of UMMAS, the process by which we bond and grow.
- Dinner on our own / informal fellowship
- Tuesday
- Continue/Finish "Heart-Check" as needed
- Business meeting - financial report, tithe decisions, planning our
events, etc.
- Share ideas and "how to" of what works in our church
- Dinner together (paid by UMMAS)
- Wednesday
- Continue/Finish Business meet needed
About the Retreat
UMMAS pays
most of the cost for all
active UMMAS Ministers & Spiritual Leaders and
their spouses to attend. Each UMMAS member pays $100 toward the
package. All are expected to assist in various ways
at the retreat... some of the opportunities for service include:
- Lead a Vespers service or Morning Meditation
- Give a workshop
- Program Chair - coordinate speakers/schedule, do introductions
- Registration
- Publicity - prepare Flyer and Schedule
- Help at Registration/Check-in table
- Retreat "Chaplains" - available for informal counseling, answering
questions for retreat participants
- Lead/Organize "extra" programs: some ideas: Evening Fellowship in
the lobby, Sing-a-long in the lobby, Talent Show, Nature Walk/Hike,
pre-retreat whitewater raft trip, Twelve Step meeting, golf or tennis match, jog together, yoga, etc.
UMMAS members arrive at retreat a day early. We meet at 2:00 for Heart-Check and last-minute details of the retreat, then have
a wine & cheese social at 5pm, and dinner together at 6pm. We
continue with a short meeting the next morning. (Per usual meeting
participation policy, non-UMMAS members who may be traveling to Retreat
with you are NOT invited to these meetings.)
A short meeting is held on Friday immediately after the close of the retreat, for
business and de-briefing about the retreat (suggestions while they're
still fresh in our minds).
Retreat policy, amended Feb. 2008:
Any Unity minister or Spiritual Leader of a Unity church, or
any Unity minister living in the UMMAS region, pays $100 for themselves and $100
for their spouse/partner, to attend the Kanuga retreat.
The requirement to teach a workshop at the Kanuga retreat is that the
prospective presenter must attend either the February or May
business meeting of said year.
Grant & Scholarship Guidelines
- Policy (revised Feb. 2006) for UMMAS expenditures for grants and
scholarships. Includes grants for financial assistance to Licensed
Unity Teachers, Field Licensing Program, new building for an UMMAS
ministry, retreats & leadership trainings, and other needs that arise
for active UMMAS members. www.ummas.org/grants.html
Definition
of Active Membership:
(from Grant & Scholarship Guidelines).
Active
UMMAS membership is established after one year of UMMAS membership including
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attending at least one regular UMMAS business meeting and
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supporting UMMAS
through gifts and tithes.
Active UMMAS membership is maintained by
-
attending at least one regular UMMAS business meeting a year and
-
supporting UMMAS during each active year through gifts and tithes, either personally or through their
ministry.
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