ORDAINED LEADERSHIP OF OUR COMMUNITY

Rev. Amy Moffett                                 1921
Rev. Bob Wallett -
Rev. Edward Hoge                               1963
Rev. William Kozy                                1972
Rev. Robert Barth                                1980 - 1988
Revs. Judith and Donald Crooks  1989 - 1991
Rev. Carol Amos                                  1992 - 1997
Rev. Marty Newman                           1998 - 2011
Rev. Joslyn Mason                          2012 - 2021
Rev. Judy Pilat                                      2023 - 2025
Rev. John McLean                              2025 -

COMPLETE HISTORY

The Labyrinth

This work is a labyrinth (not to be confused with a maze, and contains seven (7) circuits. It was designed by Kent Brigham and dedicated in 2018. To learn more about labyrinths and their uses, click HERE

The seed for Unity of Kalamazoo was planted by Miss Amy Moffett, who moved to Kalamazoo from Chicago for the express purpose of establishing a Unity Center. Rev. Moffett had studied under Unity founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. Miss Moffett received her Certificate of Ordination in May 1922 and was officially ordained in July 1923. She held Sunday services and weekly classes at her home on Dutton Street for almost 40 years, after which time meetings moved to various locations.

When Rev. Moffett was no longer able to have services in her home, Ernest and Mildred Jansen and Kenneth and Helen King were largely responsible for keeping the group active; evening meetings were held weekly in their homes, sometimes with only five or six in attendance.  In 1963 Ward Goff, who had also attended Rev. Moffett’s services, was instrumental in bringing Rev. Bob Wallett from Unity of Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo for weekly services at the YWCA on Rose Street.  Rev. Wallett moved to Texas soon after; and the room at the YWCA was no longer available to us.  We were fortunate to be able to rent Lilac Cottage on Elm Street for Sunday afternoon services.  When a guest speaker was not available, audio tapes by Unity ministers, made available by the Unity Tape Library in Los Angeles, were used.

In January of 1964, Rev. Edward Hoge became minister of Unity of Grand Rapids and came down for Sunday afternoon services meeting first at Lilac Cottage, then the Burdick Hotel, the Kalamazoo Inn on Park Street, and finally the social rooms of the Fidelity Federal Savings and Loan Association on West Main Street.  When Rev. Hoge was no longer able to come, it was decided to hold Sunday morning services with guest speakers or taped lessons.  Miss Leota Bertlett, also a former student of Rev. Moffett’s, lived in that area and obtained the key each week to open the lower level of the Association’s building on Sunday morning.  Guest speakers included Rev. Leon Miller, retired, Rev. George Mill, Mabel Lughart, Certified Unity Teacher; and Ralph Zulke.  Members of the group also conducted the Sunday morning service occasionally.  Many Sundays there were fewer than a dozen people there.  At this time a Sunday School, call the The Angel Factory, was organized by Vi Davis for the 2-6 children who might come.

In 1970 arrangements were made to meet Sunday mornings at the YWCA on Rose Street. Virginia Sheldon became the pianist in May of 1970. J. Sig Paulsen, well know minister and writer from Unity Village, and his wife Janee, came to Kalamazoo and spoke to a gathering of about 200 in the auditorium of the Kalamazoo Public Library.

Peg Bennett, Adrienne Ikerd, and Gard Goff among others held the vision of a full-time minister and soon a list of candidates was request from ministerial school.  Al Adams, a local attorney, was a member of our group and acted as our legal counsel in becoming incorporated.  In 1972 Rev. William “Bill” Kozy, a recent graduate, his wife Jackie and two daughters came to Unity of Kalamazoo – a third daughter was born to them while they were here.  A Unity study group in Battle Creek was interested in having Bill hold classes there and contributed to his salary.

In 1973 our Sunday morning services were moved from the YWCA to the former Second Reformed Church on Park Street.   William ‘Bill’ Hilton became platform assistant, and Mary Hilton joined Vi Davis in providing Sunday School classes.  During this time Amalie Frank, a Certified Unity Teacher who because acting minister in Battle Creek, came to Kalamazoo to teach various classes during the week.   Because of her outstanding contribution as a teacher and acting minister, ministerial requirements for study at Unity Village were waived, and she was certified for ordination.  In 1976 James Dillett Freeman, poet of Unity and Director of Silent Unity for many years, came to Kalamazoo to ordain her.  The ordination service was held in the Kalamazoo Public Library Auditorium.

In 1976, the Board of Directors located a small church on Fairfax Avenue which was for sale by the Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints of Jesus Christ.  It was purchased for $42,500 and became the first church home owned by Unity of Kalamazoo.  We raised $12,500 and financed the balance through the Justus Credit Union at Unity Village.  We borrowed money from Marian Jager and Bea Johnson to renovate the building.  We took out the baptismal tank, made two offices behind the sanctuary, updated the kitchen, and put in two furnaces.

Ward and Jan Goff and Bill and Mary Hilton were very instrumental in help to provide much needed financial stability during the early years.  Sizable gifts from Richard Gillmor (?) Marian Jager, Circo Mazzola, and Anne Suck were also very helpful; but the minister emphasized that it is the regular, dependable, every week support by all the members of the congregation that is so important for an organization to endure and prosper.

Grace Cutler became the first regular part-time volunteer helping in the bookstore.  Part time clerical help was made possible by Marian Jager, spiritual teacher and senior member of the Sunday School staff, who provided funds for her granddaughter, Jackie from Colorado, to help in the office while visiting in Kalamazoo during two summers.  Vi Davis director of the Sunday School, decided to enter ministerial school and resigned to go to Unity Village.  Lynda Bryant took over the Sunday School responsibilities.  The first full time secretary, Nancy Meisterheim, was hired and worked for a short time just before the move from the Fairfax location.  Jill Witt became the next secretary and Barbara Bommersheim follower her.

Alden Studebaker was the platform assistant for Bill Kozy for a time following the very early and unexpected death of Bill Hilton.  Losing Bill was a shock to all of us.  Alden left for ministerial training after obtaining his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University.  Carole Lunde, a member of Unity of Kalamazoo, also became a Unity minister.  All three people, Vi Davis, Alden, and Carole, who went to ministerial school from this church, are now ministers with their own congregations.

The church was growing larger and a larger building was being considered.  Several times inquiries had been made about the availability of the Second Church of Christ, Scientist at 910 West Main, which had been considered by Bill Hilton, and several other members, to be an ideal church home.  The response from the Christian Science Board had always been negative.  In 1979 our Board of Directors became aware that that property could be purchased.  The Fairfax building was sold to a Montessori school for $75,000; and Unity of Kalamazoo became the proud owners of the present church property which was appraised at $400,000 and purchased for $200,000.  The Christian Science Home Church in Boston provided the original financing.

Virginia Sheldon had been our pianist beginning at the YWCA and preferred not to play the organ when we moved to the new church.  We are so fortunate someone as talented and dedicated as Barbara Hong, one of our own members, was available to become our organist.  A change in building also brought a change in ministers.

Robert ‘Bob’ Barth became the minister in 1980.  His wife Vesta became an ordained minister, also, during their tenure in Kalamazoo.  They had three children; their youngest Ricky, lived with them.  Jackie Kozy became director of the Sunday School when Lynda Bryant resigned.  Other capable directors of the church young people have been Theo Owsley, Linda Rodriguiz, Kass Hillard, and Jim and Claire Keating.

After Rev Barth’s arrival he made wonderful changes in the church building with the help of many hard-working volunteers.  The front of the sanctuary was very formal, typical of early New England churches.  The speaker’s platform was surround by a wood enclosure opening on into the hall behind the sanctuary.  This created a feeling of complete separation between the minister and the congregation.

Bob lost no time removing that barrier and re-designing the platform area.  Art Johnston, Rev. Cutler, Charlie Burgstahler, Cal Pershing, Marilyn and Lee Hoard, Gladys and Marge Miner, Lowell and Lillian Hershey and young son Rob, Kit Lirot, Carole Lunde, Joyce Lee, and Lola Boussom and son John were only a few among the many who gave endless hours to the tasks of carpentering, removing paint, sanding, staining painting, and laying tile.  Many layers of white paint on the woodwork on the front wall of the sanctuary were removed revealing beautiful oak.  Its natural beauty was preserved; and steps were built and carpeted across the front of the platform.  Cal Pershing had the expertise and spent many hours cutting the pews in the center to make one middle aisle instead of the two original side aisles.  New tile was laid and carpet runners were installed.  Barbara Bommersheim and Thea Coleman spent many hours removing innumerable coast of paint from the sconces on the wall of the sanctuary revealing gleaming brass.

The second-floor office area was remodeled.  A storage room on the lower level was made into a kitchen using the cupboards and sink from the kitchen of Charlotte and Charles Nikitas.  The Marian Jager Fellowship Hall was refurbished with new wainscoting and floor tile and new carpet in the entrance area.

Phyllis DeBor became our first regular vocal soloist.  Darcy Davis Cushman and Jean Wing have also been vocal soloists and song leaders.  Frank DeBor was pianist and Bill Lee was organist while Barbara Hong took a leave of absence to complete her Doctorate Degree in Music Composition at Indiana University School of Music.  She became our Director of Music in 1991.  Frank DeBor helped acquire our beautiful grand piano.  Carol and Fred Lesly, both Certified Unity Teachers, became members and Carol became church secretary.

Peg Lavender was president of the board at the time the Barth’s resigned.  We were without a minister for six months and she deserves great credit for her untiring effort and her ability to keep everything moving smoothly.  We used guest speakers until we could consider hiring another minister.  The Revs. Judith and Donald Crooks were our ministers from 1989 – 1991.  The designation of church secretary was changed to administrative assistant and moved to an office on the upper level.  Volunteers were asked to act as receptionists at the West Main Entrance.

In 1992 Rev. Ed Dawson was interim minister for six months between the Crooks leaving and the arrival of Rev. Carol Amos in September.  Her grandson David lived with her.  While she was our minister, we had the exterior of the church painted, purchase a computer, and moved this bookstore from the lower level to its present location.  It was dedicated to the memory of Gladys Miner.  Rev. Carol Resigned in 1997; and as before with Peg Lavender, the board president, this time Judy Joudin very able guided the church through nine months of being without a regular minister.  During this time there were several temporary secretaries including Tracy Process who is at present a permanent member of the staff.

In March of 1998 Rev. Marty Newman became our minister.  Since she has been here the shingles have been replaced and the chimney repaired, the church office moved back to the first floor and changes made in the Gladys Miner Book Store to provide a copy room and new lighting fixtures.  The Marian Jager Fellowship Hall has been carpeted and redecorated and the electrical wiring has been brought up to code.  Changes were made in the foyer to provide a more attractive entrance with a different arrangement for coat rack.  Changes were also made to the ramp and it has been refinished.  The Board of Directors establish a Building and Maintenance Reserve Fund to ensure that the building will always be well maintained.  The funds are held in a separate account.

Burning our mortgage less that eighteen months after Rev. Marty’s arrival is glorious testimony to the wonderful growth we are experiencing in many areas and demonstrates what can be accomplished with dedications, cooperation and vision of the ministers, boards, and members of the congregation, past and present.  Great credit is due to all who have helped and been part of this church during its nearly 80 years to make this moment possible.  The seed planted by Rev. Amy Moffett is growing and bearing wonderfully well.

By 1979, the congregation had outgrown that building, and moved to 910 West Main in the historical district, where it remained until 2004.

A church-wide visioning determined that the vision for Unity of Kalamazoo’s ministry was no longer supported by the lovely but dated structure on West Main. This resulted in moving to our current location at 1204 Whites Road.

Our current facility is fully accessible, has a spacious kitchen, fellowship hall, dedicated youth ministry space, multi-age appropriate space, nursery, and well-designed office space in addition to the sanctuary with seating capacity of just over 200. The Unity Labyrinth was completed in 2018.

 Written by Joyce Zielinkski