Unity NW Conference Details
This conference is for spiritual leadership, music teams, board members, and engaged congregants and will feature Daniel Nahmod and Rev. Ruth Miller as our keynote presenters. In addition to our keynotes, we will offer three tracks as follows:
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One is for those in spiritual leadership - not just ministers and spiritual leaders, but those who are interested in cultivating spiritual awareness and growth in our communities. There will be opportunities to connect with each other and discuss the issues that matter. Think outside the box with this. You know that a minister’s work includes administration. But the lucky ones have administrators who may want to be in these workshops too. You may have regular guest speakers, spiritual directors, small group leaders, or prayer chaplains. Invite them!
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The second track is for board members or any leaders in your community who are concerned with shaping attitudes, practices, and policies. These sessions will count as board trainings and help you create a more prepared governing group as well as provide important contacts to help a group that may feel isolated and overwhelmed to do their jobs confidently.
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The third track is for musicians and those who are responsible for making sure our services appeal to the emotions through music. Be sure to invite your music directors but if you’re too small to have one, bring the person who picks CDs to play. The presenters will be prepared to help the small centers as well as the larger ones with plenty of resources and ideas.
The conference is scheduled for Sept 17-19, 2025 in Bellingham, WA.
Early bird price is $215 until the end of May (plus receive an extra bonus!). Full price of $275 starting June 1, so sign up right away. Note: If your ministry pays for 4 registrations, you get a 5th one free!
Lodging is at Spring Hill Suites in Bellingham
Keynotes
Rev. Ruth Miller, will lead us in a mini-service/keynote Tuesday evening, Guiding Our Communities Through the Fog. Integrating her work as a minister, a student of consciousness studies, and a futurist, Rev. Dr. Ruth Miller offers some insights about where the world is and what's unfolding, some new understandings from the world of brain research into how our consciousness effects our experience, and how our Unity Principles are our "fog lights" on the road ahead.
Daniel Nahmod, singer, songwriter, producer, and humanitarian will lead us in an introspective, soul-stirring, musical experience on Wednesday (Bring your journal!) and a concert of his heart opening music on Thursday evening.
Minister/Spiritual Leader Track
- Minister Mingle—playful and deep connection time
- Thriving Regardless—workshop/discussion with Rev. Ruth
Board Member Track
- Preparing for Danger, perceived or real—How to keep our communities safe in attacks or natural disasters and when a registered sex offender wants to attend. Co-led by a local law enforcement officer and Frank Patka, CEO of Changing Patterns Inc, an organization that assists citizens returning from prison to successfully navigate the barriers and obstacles of re-entry
- Financial Literacy—with Rev. Don Barton, UWM board treasurer—and Spiritual and Emotional Maturity with Rev. Carrie Kenyon NW Regional Representative"
Music Leader/Director Track
- Unleashing Your Musical Potential—Creative duo Laura Dubois, music director, and Jon West, ministerial team member, will share the vision and methods they use to create musical magic at Unity of the Valley in Eugene, Oregon.
- Musical Ministry Resources— Explore the amazing body of work, in a wide variety of formats, that will work in centers with no music team as well as those with a full music ministry. Singer/songwriter/speaker Sue Riley will share online resources, choral libraries, songbooks, and the empower Music & Arts super store. Sue is Co-Founder of emPower Music & Arts, has been the Music Director at Unity of Clearwater for 38 years, and serves as the chair for the UWM Music Ministry Team. She co-wrote the handbook “Music In Ministry” with business partner Richard Mekdeci.
- Sharing our best chants with each other, led by Laura Dubois and Jon West.
Extras for all
- Rev. Jim Blake, CEO of Unity Headquarters, will join us to share updates and answer questions.
- Rev. Cylvia Hayes and Rev. Don Barton, board members from Unity Worldwide Ministries, will share updates and answer questions. Rev. Cylvia will also share updates on UWM’s EarthCare program
- Rev. Susan Gumm will lead us in a powerful Despacho Ceremony, a variation of a Native American ritual that she was trained in by a native elder and has adapted for Unity.
- Rev. Terry Murray will lead a contemplative Cinema Divina program, a variation of the Lectio Divina.
- Rev. Cylvia Hayes will offer an optional lunch program on Spiritual Activism
- Local outings
Wait, wait, there’s more!
Extend your stay and make a vacation of it. From hiking by the Salish Sea, taking a ferry to the San Juans, checking out the crafts, food and museums in Bellingham, biking all around, there is plenty to do.
Check out more ideas here. https://www.bellingham.org/
and
https://www.bellingham.org/itineraries/top-10-things-to-do-in-bellingham