Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees of Unity Church-Unitarian represents the congregation in shaping the vision and long-term goals of the church. We ensure the church is externally effective and internally efficient, and we create policy and direction for the executive team and church staff.

For matters concerning church policy, long-term vision, and goals, contact the board by email to [email protected]. We want to hear from you! For concerns or ideas on matters related to church programming, contact the Executive Team.

The board of trustees meets in the Anderson Library each month. Currently, the board meets monthly on the second Saturday, from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., for the full calendar year. Minutes of each board meeting are posted below.

The annual congregational meeting will be held December 7, 2024.

Annual Meeting of the Congregation

Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 10:00 a.m. | Sanctuary and Zoom | Pancake breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m.

Please plan to participate either in-person in the Sanctuary or online via Zoom. Registration is required to participate online. Please register by Friday, December 6, at 5:00 p.m. Join us for a pancake breakfast beginning at 8:30 a.m.

This year's annual meeting will include a vote on Unity's bylaws, the election of new trustees, and a vote to approve the 2025 budget. If you haven't made your 2025 pledge, help us create a more accurate budget and pledge today.

2024 Annual Meeting Information Packet

2024 Annual Report

Annual Meeting Agenda

Barbara Hubbard Resolution

Proposed Bylaws Changes | Explanatory Grid | Zoom Session Video

2025 Budget Statement | Budget Narratives

All are welcome to attend; only eligible voting members can vote. Eligible voting members include those who have, by October 8, 2024:

Signed the membership book,
Made an identifiable pledge to the operating fund in the current or upcoming year, and
Made a payment on that pledge.

If you have questions about your voting member status, please contact Laura Park [email protected].

Trustee Nominees

At the annual meeting, the congregation will be asked to elect three trustees to serve three-year terms. We are grateful for this year's nominees!

Molly Flattum started attending Unity Church in 2010 seeking a community focused on social justice. Since then she has been a part of the Welcome Team, Generosity Ministry Team, Teaching Associates and Religious Education Ministry Team, and she truly loves her role as a Spirit Play teacher. Molly is especially grateful that her children have a safe, supportive, loving space where they are encouraged to be their authentic selves. Outside of Unity Church, she works in healthcare supply chain supporting a large trauma hospital in Minneapolis. She lives in Falcon Heights with her husband, Jordan, three children (India, Beckham, and Raleigh) and their dog Huck. In her spare time, Molly enjoys reading, playing volleyball, and trying out new sushi restaurants with her family.

Richard Lau lives with his wife, Heather, and their two daughters in Woodbury, alongside two cats and two dogs, all of whom think they are in charge. Since 2002, Rich has been a member of Unity Church where he taught religious education, participated in the food ministry, served as a worship associate, was a mentor in the Coming of Age (COA) program, had many meaningful and fun conversations as part of the multicultural conversation partners program, and loved contributing to the Ministerial Search Team. From the moment he stepped inside it doors, Unity Church felt like his spiritual home and still does every Sunday. Professionally, Rich practices real estate law and mostly advises family-owned businesses. Outside of his professional life, he finds joy in cooking and eating, exploring the art of photography, reading mystery novels, and, not least of all, delighting in embarrassing his children.

Derived from two generations of New England Unitarian Universalists, Jane Prince grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts. She majored in English Lit and minored in Russian at the University of New Hampshire. On a whim, Jane moved to Minnesota in 1976 with a UU pal from UNH and worked in municipal government, at the Minneapolis Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the Saint Paul Department of Planning and Economic Development, and the Saint Paul City Council. With a zest for community and solving problems, Jane earned her JD in her mid-50s, leading her to seek two terms on the Saint Paul City Council ending in 2023. Jane is married to Dave Murphy and she and her son Sam have been part of Unity Church since 1984. They live on Saint Paul's East Side.

Imagining Our Future

Crafting Unity’s ends is a board responsibility that depends on input from as many members of the Unity community as will participate. We’ll be holding nearly 20 meetings in January and February for Unity Church members and friends to come together and do some dreaming. You are invited to register for a community meeting to help imagine Unity’s future! Held at Unity Church, these facilitated, interactive sessions will each run about two hours. Participants will be connecting with one another and sharing experiences and ideas. Trustees will be in attendance to hear what you have to say. Let’s go deep into what Unity Church has been for you and what it could be in the future.

Facilitators Needed
Are you a natural facilitator who likes drawing people out and would be open to putting some time into helping this process? We’ve identified several facilitators for the community meetings the board will be holding, but the board could use a few more. While trustees will be coming to the community meetings to listen, the facilitator volunteers will be key. If you want to see more about the qualities that are important to help out and want to raise your hand for this, please complete the online application.

Meet Unity's Trustees

Board Walk and Talk

The e-newsletter of Unity's Board of Trustees.

Governing Documents

Charge to the Congregation
Draft Congregational Covenant

Monthly Meetings

Board Agendas
November 9, 2024
October 12, 2024
September 14, 2024
August 10, 2024
July 13, 2024
May 11, 2024
September 9, 2023
August 12, 2023
July 8, 2023
June 10, 2023
May 13, 2023
April 8, 2023
March 18, 2023
February 11, 2023

Board Minutes & Documents 2024
September 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
Special Meeting May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024

Fiscal Year 2024 Revenue & Expense Statement YTD through Qtr3