Greetings and a blessed New Year to everyone from my heart and my home in Eugene. This is Rev. Ed Conrad. Some of you know me and some of you don’t. More on me later in this letter.

I am writing to all of you on behalf of the Unity of Bandon board of directors: Amy Wilhite, Dorothy Tharsing, and Betty Ketsdever, as well as Rev. Robin Haruna, your beloved minister for 27 years.  

Most of you are aware of what has taken place at Unity of Bandon since February of 2020: The profound health, social, and emotional impact of COVID, Rev Robin Haruna’s retirement in 2022 after 27 years as your minister, the involvement of a Unity Worldwide Ministries transitional specialist, and all the very significant challenges of maintaining basic services to the church community. The disruptive realities of this period of our lives have pushed the entire Unity movement into unfamiliar territory and provoked the absolute need to reimagine how to support, sustain, and rebuild Unity communities and the Unity movement as a whole. 

Prior to several years ago, Unity Churches seeking to hire a licensed and ordained Unity minister and maintain their status with Unity Worldwide Ministries, generally speaking, had only two options: hire either a part-time or full-time minister. This kind of hire has become too great a stretch for the increasing number of Unity Churches that simply don’t have the needed financial and/or congregational resources to commit to such a big step. Due to both the ripple effect of COVID and aging congregations in Unity Churches, Unity Worldwide Ministries created a 3rd option for Unity Churches and Unity Ministers. It is called a Minister of Record. Unity Churches in the kind of situation described above now have another option. 

A Minister of Record provides the spiritual support and administrative guidance that a Unity Minister can provide. The Minister of Record mentors the church’s Board of Directors and other key individuals in the church to ensure that the ministry is operating within its bylaws and policies/procedures.The presence of a Minister of Record ensures a foundational alignment with the Unity Worldwide Ministries requirement that a Unity Church employ a licensed and ordained Unity Minister in good standing. The presence of a Minister of Record can also serve to support a Unity Church in bridging across a low point and onto a new era of well-being.

For me personally, the impact on Unity Churches  as well as the upheaval I’ve experienced and witnessed in my family, community, and country have shaken me. Early this past summer, I felt strongly that I was once again being called to Unity ministry. I made the commitment to go through the required 4 month process to re-enter Unity ministry since I had been out of active ministry for 10 years. I successfully completed that process in late October and was given the green light by Unity Worldwide Ministries to go forward and apply for openings in Unity Churches. 

The one option for my role as a Unity minister that largely prompted me to go forward with the re-entry process is what I highlighted before: the Minister of Record option. Most of those Unity Ministers serving as Ministers of Record are doing it remotely. This would allow me to remain in Eugene as well as serve Unity Churches miles or states away. I am planted in Eugene and will likely be here for some time to come. My marriage to my wife Candyce in 2022 has anchored my commitment to remain a resident of Eugene. 

On December 19th I emailed a proposal to your Board of Directors to become Unity of Bandon’s Minister of Record. I am very pleased to inform you that they have accepted my proposal. An agreement has been signed by all parties and includes payment of a modest monthly stipend for my services. I will serve for 6 months with the possibility of serving for another 6 months through the end of 2024. 

(For more info on Rev. Ed Conrad and his ministry background and skills, click here : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ew9TuBj4zR6dpwedx4O2-Ta-50D-LVA5yvADKz3yrIY/ )

The clear intention for 2024 is to join together and rebirth this spiritual community so that it will be spiritually and structurally well prepared for the hiring of a permanent minister who will reside in Bandon. My presence and participation will fulfill the requirement that Unity of Bandon employ a licensed and ordained Unity Minister. I look forward to sharing my love with this ministry. I trust that the breadth and depth of my 26 years of ministry experience will be truly helpful. Much of what I will offer will be via zoom meetings and appointments to take care of the business at hand as well as provide prayer support and counsel. I have also agreed to speak on Sunday twice a month over the next 6 months which could be extended beyond the 6 months. This will also help to keep us knitted together as a community as well as allowing me to connect in person with all of you. The honorarium I receive for being a Sunday speaker is paid separately from the stipend I receive for being the Minister of Record.

Early this past summer, Amy Wilhite contacted me primarily about being a guest speaker. Later in that conversation, I asked about Rev. Robin and how she was doing. After we talked a bit about the current circumstances at the church, I told Amy that I strongly believed that Robin needed to be included and not excluded as an integral part of Unity of Bandon, if she felt inclined. Well, as you now know, Robin is lending her time, love, and energy to provide a number of needed tasks and services to this church community. Robin and I have spoken several times at length about her role and her future with Unity of Bandon. She and the board have mutually agreed on her job description and payment of a modest stipend. Robin is also aligned with the intention to rebirth Unity of Bandon in preparation for the future hiring of a new minister who will reside in the Bandon area. I am so grateful that she and I will be partnering together in 2024! 

We begin now. There are signs already of a rebirth in this precious church community. We see this continuing. First and foremost will be rebuilding the board of directors. The terms of service for the current board members Amy, Dorothy, and Betty, will expire at the annual meeting on February 11th. As a Unity Church and non-profit organization, it is required that Unity of Bandon have a board of directors of at least 3 people. I trust that there will be those of you who will choose to step into this gap and agree to serve and help with this initial project of rebirthing and healing for the Unity of Bandon community. Part of my role as the Minister of Record will be as an adjunct member of the board. I look forward and inward to what the Spirit of God is already bringing into manifestation.

Bless You One and All,

Rev. Ed Conrad
Minister of Record

In Summary:

• The disruptive realities of this period of our lives has created the absolute need to reimagine how to support, sustain, and rebuild Unity Ministries and the Unity movement as a whole
• A couple of years ago, Unity Worldwide Ministries created the option for Unity Ministries and Unity Ministers called a Minister of Record.
• A Minister of Record is a licensed and ordained Unity Minister in good standing who provides spiritual support and administrative guidance to a Unity Ministry on a very part-time basis.
• Unity of Bandon’s Board of Directors and I have entered into an agreement for me to become Unity of Bandon’s Minister of Record.
• I will serve for 6 months with the possibility of serving for another 6 months through the end of 2024
• The presence of a Minister of Record helps empower Unity of Bandon in bridging across a low point and onto a new era of well-being.
• Unity of Bandon’s future includes Rev. Robin Haruna. She and the board have mutually agreed on her job description and payment of a modest stipend. Robin fully supports the intention to rebirth Unity of Bandon in preparation for the future hiring of a new minister in residence in the Bandon area. I am very grateful that the two of us will be partnering together in 2024.
• There is an immediate need for 3 or more individuals to step forward no later than February 11th to serve as board members. Who will choose to step into this gap and agree to serve and help with this 2024 project of rebirthing Unity of Bandon? Part of Ed’s role as the Minister of Record will be as an adjunct member of the board. 
• Let’s join together and co-create this new era for Unity of Bandon!