Getting to Know Rev. Diane – A Conversation with Our Minister

As Rev. Diane closes out her first full year serving as Seattle Unity’s sole minister, the Board invites her to share a little about her journey, her vision for our community, and the heart behind her ministry.

 

 

What has brought you the most joy during your first year with Seattle Unity?

Moments of connection.

Whether it’s time shared in a class, during Sunday service, over coffee and snacks upstairs, or meeting one-on-one, being able to share a little bit of our human-spiritual journey together is one of the greatest gifts of ministry I continue to receive.

I’ve also been meeting individually with community members to hear some of their stories and learn what is important to them. This is one of my favorite parts of ministry—the relationships and connections.

 

Having been part of Seattle Unity since 1997, what continues to stand out to you about this community?

We have a wealth of experiences and gifts. I love discovering something new about someone in our community. It is very common for me to hear a bit about someone’s story and want to shout out to the congregation:

“Do you know how amazing this person is? You really need to get to know them!”

There is so much wisdom, experience, creativity, and generosity within this community.

 

What is your vision for Seattle Unity over the next year or two?

It goes back to the people.

We have an amazing community, and as people share their experience of Seattle Unity with friends and acquaintances, they invite others into this community.

I see our spiritual community as a place for healing and restoration—a safe place to land for personal healing as well as collective healing. I feel a thriving, creative energy when we come together. I feel it on Sundays, in classes, and in small groups.

My intention and prayer is that we continue creating a vibrant aliveness at Seattle Unity through a strong sense of belonging, opportunities for each person to share their gifts, experiences of transformation, and an awareness of the power that comes from joining together.

I also see Seattle Unity as a place where spiritual leaders gather, develop, and grow together—and then carry that spiritual leadership into every area of their lives and our greater community.

Everyone can be a spiritual leader. It may not be someone’s job title. It can look like bringing a more compassionate presence, an awakened awareness, and a recognition of the inherent worth of every person into whatever circles we are part of.

Transformation of our organizations, relationships, communities, and world begins with us.

 

How would you describe your ministry style, and what do you hope people experience on a Sunday?

The heart of my ministry is relational.

I am grateful to walk even a part of someone’s spiritual-human journey with them and hear their story. I want to support and encourage relationships between our community members, and I want each person to know how vital they are to Seattle Unity. I also value our relationship with the larger Unity movement and the transformative power that comes when we come together.

I hope people experience exactly what they need at any given time when they come on a Sunday.

Not because we are trying to be all things to all people, but because we hold space for honoring each person’s unique journey.

If it is comfort you need, there is space for that. If you are seeking connection and a place that accepts you for who you authentically are, we are creating that together. If you are feeling challenged or stuck, I hope you find inspiration or a new insight that can bring a shift.

 

What spiritual practice has been especially meaningful to you in this season of your life?

I’m leaning into spiritual surrender more than I have in the past.

That might seem like an odd one, especially in my first year as sole minister, but it is closely aligned with one of Unity’s 12 Powers: Release. It is also about creating space for deeper listening.

Release can show up in small but important questions: What can I—or we, as a staff—let go of so that we can focus on what is most important?

Making more space for deeper listening means more time in prayer and meditation, holding an openness for what is alive in the moment and what is being called forth. It means allowing space for settling and discernment.

 

What does practical spirituality look like in your own life?

Practical spirituality has always been one of Unity’s foundational principles, and it is what has kept Unity most alive and relevant in my life.

I’ve found that weaving spiritual tools such as prayer and meditation throughout my day—and continually touching into an awareness of the interconnectedness of life—becomes a way of being that is inseparable from who we are.

That awareness is there in the most brilliant moments of our lives and in the most challenging times.

 

What might people be surprised to learn about you?

It can take me a long time to make a decision—but usually that’s because I’m making extensive lists in my head about the potential benefits and ramifications and looking at it from nine different perspectives.

Of course, there are exceptions. If it has been a very long day, I’m tired, I don’t feel like cooking, there are no leftovers, and I just want to order a pizza…

I order the pizza.

I like variety and new experiences. I’m curious about what I might discover that is new to me.

Growing up, there were so many different careers I wanted to try. Stunt woman was one of at least a few dozen near the top of the list. So what better way to have the stunt-woman experience than to jump off our garage roof into the garden?

Yes, I did that.

And no, nothing was broken.

Before someone thinks it was completely crazy, it wasn’t that much higher than the gymnastics equipment I used to vault from—and there was dirt.

And finally, I have a very strong aversion to multiple-choice questions.

 

What is one thing every member of Seattle Unity can do to strengthen our community?

Truly know and embrace that this is your community. Your presence is a gift. Find the ways you can share your gifts and experiences.

You are an integral part of creating our current experience of community and the legacy of spiritual community that Seattle Unity will continue to bless for generations.

And this includes everyone who joins us online. A very practical way you can contribute is to engage with our social channels, share what speaks to you, and invite others into community.

“Your presence is a gift.”

 

Is there a teaching or phrase guiding you right now?

“Love one another.”

It is found throughout the scriptures—John 13:34, John 15:12, Romans 13:8, Ephesians 4:2, 1 John 3:11, and others.

To me, this is essentially our Second Unity Principle: to see, know, and live from an awareness of the Divine that is the Truth of each person.

Each person is inherently worthy and an integral part of Oneness. As we live from an awareness of our interconnectedness and treat others from this understanding, we transform the world.

 

What Are You Looking Forward to This Fall?

I’m especially excited about the launch of Compassionate Listening Circles, an opportunity to support one another on our human-spiritual journey, with so much gratitude to Patricia, Kathleen, and Donna for being willing to facilitate this essential offering.

I’m also looking forward to traveling with the Prayer Chaplain group to Unity Village for our annual training and retreat—the first time in more than 20 years of the Chaplain program at Seattle Unity that we will make the journey there as a group!

There is the annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner: a time to celebrate and give back to the many people whose sacred service makes spiritual community possible.  I’m especially grateful to all the volunteers who step forward to help make it happen: Holly, Danni, Mary, Cindy, John, and many more.

“I feel a thriving, creative energy when we come together.”

 

A Few Small Details

Coffee or tea?
Both—coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon and evening. Unless there’s an occasional affogato for dessert after dinner.

Beach or mountains?
Beach, unless I’m in the mood for a hike.

Sunrise or sunset?
Both—and a nap in the afternoon.

Book or movie?
Books for historical fiction and strong characters; movies for imagination and escapism—fantasy, sci-fi, and superheroes.

Favorite vacation destination?
Anywhere there is big water.

Favorite way to spend a day off?
Sitting on the patio listening to the wind move through the trees and the hum of bees, soaking in the simple beauty of life. Play time with Tobi. Listening to music and dancing. A few hours in the kitchen cooking—trying a new recipe or recreating a favorite dish. Maybe some journaling and time with the tarot.

One word that describes Seattle Unity?
Spiritual oasis.

One word you hope describes our future?
Vibrant.

 

One Last Question

What do you hope every person feels when they walk through the doors of Seattle Unity?

Home.

 

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