View the Community Outreach Ministry Team brochure online (pdf).

Community Outreach Ministry Staff

Community Outreach Ministry Teams

Living at the Intersection of Faith and Justice

A Call to Service
Living at the intersection of spiritual development and social justice encourages members of Unity Church to reflect on how their spiritual lives inform the ways they serve, bless, and change the world. The Community Outreach Ministry Teams were created to further the ministry of Unity Church in service to the larger community.

About the Community Outreach Ministry Teams
These ministry teams engage the congregation in service, education, and advocacy to the larger community. Ministry teams form partnerships with community organizations, informing and extending the church’s reach.

Most teams develop a beginning and a closing group spiritual practice for their meetings that take inspiration from literature, music, liturgical themes or reflective questions. Team members take time to reflect deeply on their actions in the world through discussions of appropriate magazine and newspaper articles, books, films, and their service experiences.

Unity Church-Unitarian is always looking for opportunities to expand its community outreach program through team ministry. Download a team application (pdf) or contact Pat Haff, Coordinator of Community Outreach Ministry at the Church Office for more information.

All of the teams listed here have short and long term volunteer opportunities available.

Community Outreach Ministry Teams

Affordable Housing/Project Home

This team addresses the affordable housing crisis through policy work, direct service and education. Through Project Home, Unity Church becomes home to homeless families in Ramsey County in the month of May. Community Partners include Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing (MICAH), St. Paul Council of Churches and Habitat for Humanity. Visit the Affordable Housing/Project Home page.

Center for Victims of Torture

The primary purpose of this team is to form a supportive, long-term, mutually beneficial relationship with the Center for Victims of Torture. This ministry team hopes to achieve a sense of connectedness with the Center for Victims of Torture and its clients and to develop a heightened sensitivity to the issues of torture, U.S. asylum, and other refugee concerns. Visit the Center for Victims of Torture Team page.

Evergreen Projects

The Evergreen Projects Team holds monthly food drives for Sharing Korner Foodshelf; provides a variety of services for the Jeremiah Program, a residential campus for low-income single mothers and their families; and supports the Family Place, a day program for area homeless families. The Evergreen Quilters provide “joyful fundraising” for these project through the making and selling of handmade quilts. Visit the Evergreen Project and Foodshelf Monthly Collection pages.

Green Sanctuary

This team helps the congregation live out its commitment to the Earth by creating a sustainable life style for its members as individuals and as a faith community. Cultivating a connection to the land, food, and environment that sustains us is the spiritual foundation of this team. This team has sponsored many educational events, launched earth friendly congregation and community campaigns, and coordinated advocacy efforts with other interfaith eco groups. It is committed to supporting a local farm cooperative and selling fair trade coffee.Visit the Green Sanctuary Ministry Team page.

Buy meat, cheese, produce and more from local, sustainable farms and pick it up at Unity Church! Place an order by the first Wednesday of each month. Orders will be delivered to Unity Church on the third Wednesday of each month. Pay by sending a check with the invoice enclosed with your order to Whole Farm. Order from Whole Farm Coop now.

Generosity Ministry

Visit the Generosity Ministry Team page.

Interweave

This team exists to lead Unity Church-Unitarian community as it expands and deepens its welcome and support of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and allies. The team's community partnerships and action reflect Unity Church’s commitment to welcoming all sexualities and gender identifications.

Literacy and Education

This newly forming team is looking at ways Unity Church can support and advocate for literacy and education in our neighborhood and community. In partnership with the St. Paul Council of Churches, this team supports volunteers from Unity Church to be caring mentors for students at Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary (across the street from the church).

Mano a Mano (Hand to Hand)

This team is dedicated to supporting the work of the non-profit organization, Mano a Mano International. This organization’s mission is to improve health and economic well-being in very low-income Bolivian communities. The outreach team conducts educational and fundraising events to raise awareness about this outstanding organization that has built 101 community health clinics, constructed schools, roads, and reservoirs all in partnerships with the residents of these communities. Visit the  Mano a Mano Team  page.

Partner Church

The intent of the Partner Church Team is to develop a mutually rewarding relationship between the Unity Church community and that of our sister church in Homorodszentpeter, Transylvania, in Romania. The Unity Church community grows with the challenges of developing a cross-cultural relationship and as our relationship deepens with Homorodszentpeter, both congregations will experience a transforming love. Visit the Partner Church Team page.

Racial Justice

This ministry team takes time to reflect on issues of racial justice and then acts to establish relationships with interfaith, interracial groups in the neighborhood and beyond. Team members have connected with neighborhood churches by co-hosting an interfaith interracial New Orleans gospel choir visit, co-hosting an interracial “faith float” at the annual Rondo Days Parade and attending events in the community as active participants. The team is also committed to actively working on issues of racial injustice in the larger community.

Restorative Justice

The Restorative Justice Team engages team members, the Unity Church community, and the broader community in healing conversations and activities between and among people involved in or impacted by harmful behaviors or experiences. Their community partner, AMICUS, partners with inmates, ex-offenders, juvenile offenders and communities to build successful lives and stronger communities. Visit the Restorative Justice Team page.

Unity Church-Unitarian

732 Holly Avenue • Saint Paul, Minnesota 55104

651-228-1456 • unity@unityunitarian.org