UNITY FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCHES, INC.

Beckstrom and Brafman in their book The Starfish and the Spider suggest that leadership of the future will not depend on the “head” office.  Instead, organizations will join together based on common purpose, vision, and values.  The parts are connected but not dependent. … The connection between the (organizations) is not legal, but relationship driven.  There is accountability, but not dependence.  ICM is more of a movement than an organization.*

The above quote describes the philosophy undergirding our own Unity Fellowship of Churches movement. Below is the Nine-Point Movement/Partnership Plan:

1)      Develop a UFC ANNUAL SAVE THE FAMILY FORUM COMMISSION to make presentations as part of our annual session. Invite 3 black mayors, 3 HBCU college presidents, and 3 pastors to join in a discourse on strategies for enhancing the state of America’s families.

2)      Develop a UFC CREDIT UNION/ENDOWMENT COMMISSION to focus on building endowments and financial partnerships (e.g. FICA) with National Lending Institutions to reduce home foreclosures, to assist first-time home buyers, and to reduce loan forfeitures by churches and faith-based organizations.

3)      Develop a UFC “SAFE HOUSES” COMMISSION to partner with local interested churches to protect our elderly by building “SAFE HOUSES” FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS—working with one or more churches in one community at a time to build one house at a time. We will secure grant writers and other professionals/consultants to go after funding.  More local speakers will be used for our sessions and thereby free up funds for seeking grants.

4)      Develop a UFC CHRISTIAN ACADEMIES & CHARTER SCHOOLS COMMISSION to partner with local churches to develop Christian academies and charter schools. (We already have one in Asheville: New City Christian School.)

5)      Develop a UFC EVANGELISTIC CRUSADES COMMISSION  to hold a 2-3 day/night crusade as part of a UFC 3-day annual session.

6)      Develop a UFC YOUNG PASTORS AND MINISTERS COMMISSION to energize and encourage young pastors/ministers to become an integral part of the Unity Fellowship of Churches. (UFC’s own young pastor, Rev. McNair of Lumberton, who is also a board member, may chair this commission.)

7)      Develop a UFC GLOBAL AND FOREIGN MISSION COMMISSION to focus on a foreign missions program and presence.  (UFC has already partnered with, and advanced $10,000 to, the Foreign Mission Board of the NBC, USA, Inc. to do a project in Malawi, Central Africa.)

8)      Develop a UFC CLOSE THE HEALTH DISPARITIES COMMISSION to focus on providing quality health care for all Americans and reducing health disparities among historically neglected groups. Recruit a physician to chair this commission.

9)      Develop a UFC POLITICAL ACTION COMMISSION that will speak to the needs and concerns of our communities, as well as challenge elected official to clearly articulate their plans and visions for the rebuilding of America’s economic and educational institutions. This commission will draft resolutions to be approved at our sessions for media distribution, etc.

We envision other organizations/movements joining with Unity Fellowship of Churches to

·         Establish these commissions with the special focuses,

·         Bring appropriate professionals to the table to facilitate the work of each commission.

We will rotate our annual session meetings among the various partner organizations/movements, having each of them host when we meet in their respective cities.  In addition to preaching and teaching the Word of God at the annual sessions, we will have sessions in which the appropriate professionals will make presentations on resources and “how to’s” for the various commissions.