Message from the Executive Director
UUMS is Accredited!!!
A picture is worth a thousand words. So let’s start with this!
UNITY URBAN MINISTERIAL SCHOOL IS ACCREDITED!!!
In a letter dated June 11, 2022, John F. Scheel, Ph.D., President of Accrediting Commission International, Inc., announced that “Unity Urban Ministerial School, Detroit, Michigan, has been
accepted as a Fully Accredited Bible Institute in the Accrediting Commission International.”
Our School now joins the Johnnie Colemon Theological Institute and more than 300 other institutions accredited through Accrediting Commission International, Inc. (ACI). UUMS is now
one of two schools in the state of Michigan accredited by ACI. The other is Destiny Bible School in Roseville, a Detroit suburb. With the approval of the UUMS board of directors, the staff and I spent months collecting data and documents to meet ACI’s accreditation requirements.
On June 7, thirteen (13) UUMS staff, alumni, board members met with Dr. Scheel in our Detroit office, where we provided a thorough overview of our School’s history and operations. We could
tell that he was impressed. I owe a special thanks to Rev. Dr. Anna Price, Ph.D., Provost and Academic Dean of the Johnnie Coleman Theological Seminary, for her gracious support and encouragement.
Let’s Celebrate Freedom!
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”
This month, we celebrate the birthday of the United States of America. Commonly referred to as the Fourth of July, or Independence Day, it was on July 4, 1776 that the Declaration of
Independence was initially signed. As we gather with family and friends for food, fun, festivities, and fireworks, let us not forget that there are people all over the world who do not have the
freedoms that many of us enjoy. Yet, freedom is everyone’s birthright, and it must be cherished. In the words of the great Civil Rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, “Nobody’s free until
everybody’s free.”
A Look Back at the Month of June
by Rev. Sandra Campbell
People come to Unity Urban Ministerial School for the education; they stay for the community.
June was another exciting month for our UUMS community. Eight of our students, now alumni, graduated and were licensed/ordained by Unity Worldwide Ministries. A dozen or more UUMS
alumni, faculty, staff, their families, mentors, and associates attended the ceremonies and the convention. Several alumni were convention presenters. We extend special thanks to their alumni advisors and mentors for their dedicated support and encouragement. In the words of the African proverb, “It takes a village!”
Informal Gathering for UUMS Family
Four years ago, my husband Phil and I started a tradition of opening our home to our UUMS family the day before graduation/ordination. Each year we are joined by several students, alumni,
and their family members for food, fun, and friendship. It was the first time most of them had seen each other in person.
This year, our dining room became a workshop during the gathering, where we cut out cloth symbols and letters spelling: # I A M @ # U N I T Y ! Marleen Horsey, wife of Rick Horsey, helped get us organized, and Debra Amme, partner of Rev. Ann DeMichael, ironed the letters on t-shirts the next day while the rest of us rehearsed for graduation/ordination ceremonies.
UWM Convention Opening Ceremony
On Tuesday and Wednesday, a well-attended, 4-hour workshop on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) was facilitated by Revs. Sandra Campbell, Dinah Chapman, Gregory Guice,
Jackie Hawkins, Diana McDaniel, Eric Donaldson, Charline Manuel, Paulette Pipe, Kevin Ross, Sylvia Sumpter, and James Trapp.
UWM Ministerial Commencement Ceremonies
The Ministerial commencement ceremonies were held at Unity Village on Monday, June 13, 2022. Certificates of completion were presented to students from Unity Urban Ministerial School, Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute, Field Ministry, and the International Ministerial programs. Rev. Indira Grace officiated and Revs. Sandra Campbell and Diane Venzera made the
official presentations.
Rev. Shad Groverland, UWM Executive Director and UUMS alum, conferred the licensing and ordination. We in UUMS join with alumni, faculty, staff, students, family, and friends in
congratulating these accomplishments by Revs. Julia Grace Baginski, Linda Gail Burdett, Ann Marie DeMichael, Sue Frederick, Rick Horsey, Paxton McCaghren, Velma Delois Spence, and
Robert E. Turner.
UWM People’s Convention – “People Get Ready!”
Rev. Sandra choreographed an arousing pep rally at Monday night’s convention opening ceremony. The power of YES brought together twelve cheerleaders onto the Silent Unity Chapel stage. The diverse group of UWM staff and alumni of the ministry paths got the audience on their feet, dancing the “Cupid Shuffle,” and grooving to the Temptations’ “Get Ready!” in preparation for the week-long convention billed “People Get Ready!”
More than a dozen members of the UUMS board, staff, faculty, alumni, and student body attended the 2022 People’s Convention at the Marriott Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. It was
the first face-to-face Unity convention in two years. Revs. Eileen Patra was a featured author, signing her new book, “A Mystical Approach to Spiritual Living.” Rev. Glenda Walden (2015)
led a workshop on “The Emerging Church.”
On Tuesday, Revs. Candace Henry and Sandra Campbell presented the opening prayer. Sandra sang The Peace Song and Candace led the prayer.
Rev. Karen Saunders accepted the 2022 Ruth M. Mosley Award presented posthumously to her mother, Rev. Helen Saunders, a member of the “Detroit 8.” Rev. Karen followed in her mother’s
footsteps as a graduate of UUMS, an ordained Unity Minister, and Senior Minister of Christ Love Unity in Omaha, Nebraska, which her mother founded in 1983.
A four-hour workshop, on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), held Tuesday and Wednesday, was facilitated by Revs. Sandra Campbell, Dinah Chapman, Gregory Guice, Jackie Hawkins,
Diana McDaniel, Eric Donaldson, Charline Manuel, Paulette Pipe, Kevin Ross, Sylvia Sumpter, and James Trapp.
During Wednesday’s business meeting, Rev. Linda McLeod accepted the nomination from the floor and was subsequently elected to serve on the UWM Leadership, Recruitment, and
Development Team (LRDT).
Rev. Sandra Campbell was the host of the gala on Thursday night.
UUMS Summer Term in Full Swing
I am proud to announce that our Summer Term is in full swing with 106+ enrollments (32+ Ministerial Preparation/SEE and 74 Ministerial Studies (2 nd /3 rd Year/Advanced).
The Fall term begins August 10 with a full lineup of classes in both programs. The classes can and textbooks can be found on the Academics page at uums.org.
Spread the word! We know there are more seekers out there just waiting for you to introduce them to Unity Urban Ministerial School After all, people come to the Urban School for the education; they stay for the community.
UUMS Earns Accreditation
Shortly after Convention, UUMS staff got word that the School is now accredited by the Accrediting Commission International, Inc. So, as I said earlier, June was another exciting month in the continuing evolution trajectory of Unity Urban Ministerial School. And we are all proud and grateful. Thank you, God!