Integral Ministry Practice (IMP) Certificate Program Information

“Transforming lives and inspiring people to make a positive difference in our world.”

What is the Integral Ministry Practice (IMP)?

The IMP is an alternative ministry practice that is an antidote to the decline of congregational ministry. Unlike the 400-year-old “plop, pray and pay” pastor / flock model of ministry, the IMP focuses on a holistic or integral approach to ministry practice. Based on the work of Ken Wilber (Theory of Everything), Don Beck (Spiral Dynamics), Paul Smith (Integral Christianity), Jim Lockard (Being the Beloved Community), Bruce Sanguin (The Emerging Church), Fredrick Laloux (Reinventing Organizations), Cindy Wigglesworth (SQ21) and other luminaries, the IMP works to embrace ministry as a “living system” capable of evolving and adapting to changing circumstances.

What is the Integral Ministry Practice Certificate Program?

The purpose of the IMP certificate program is to equip New Thought ministry leaders and individuals with an understanding of ministry as a living system and the capacity to facilitate an integral approach to ministry cultural evolution.  This program offers a new paradigm of ministry practice that is centered upon the fulfilment of purpose in people’s lives. It is a departure from our current ministry practice and its tithing-based funding model to the formation of a “spiritual cooperative” that develops the values of ownership, partnership, self-responsibility, and personal integrity.

Who Can Enroll in the Program?

The Integral Ministry Practice Certificate Program is open to all New Thought ministry leaders—ministers, board / council members, LUT’s / CSL practitioners, and lay leaders. This program has no credentialing status in Unity or Unity Worldwide Ministries.

How is the Program Structured?

The yearlong IMP Certificate Program consists of 4 quarters / terms—each containing ten 2-hour virtual learning sessions for a total of 80 collaborate course room hours. Students will interact with media presentations, reading assignments, and written exercises prior to each online session, culminating in 2 – 3 hours of additional prep time. During each session, students will participate in discussion, group work, and other learning experiences. All online sessions are recorded in the event a student is unable to attend. Credit for the absence will be given upon completion of written assignments for the missed class, providing that the student watches the video recording of the missed session.

Post program certificate holders will have access to free monthly online coaching sessions conducted by Dr. Gary for those wishing to join the community of Integral Ministry Practitioners. These monthly sessions are offered to support those seeking to implement the IMP in the field.

What is the source of the course material and subject matter?

IMP program is taught by the Revs. Drs. Gary and Jane Simmons and is based upon their lived experience serving at Unity Spiritual Center Spokane for nearly six years, as well as the milestones of Dr. Gary’s client ministries. For over a decade, the Simmons’ have consulted with Ken Wilber and other integral luminaries as they sought to apply integral principles to address the opportunities and challenges of congregational ministry in these chaordic times.

What is the tuition for the IMP Certificate Program?

The tuition, if paid in full is $5,500 or four quarterly payments of $1,500. Partial scholarships are available through Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute.

Does the tuition include manuals, workbooks and / or texts?

Most of the materials are provided in the course. There are several books required that must be purchased by the student (see required book list). A complimentary SQ21 assessment is included in the course (a $150 value).

Are there any prerequisites to the IMP program?

Students are required to have participated in the 21-day Quantum Living Process prior to Quarter 2 of the IMP program due to its importance in the coursework.

Who is the IMP certificate program for?

The IMP program is best suited for those ministry leaders who consider themselves “early adopters.” If you tend to be pragmatic or skeptical of new and innovative approaches, this program will be a challenge. The program is ideal for ministers taking on a new ministry or for transition ministry specialists who are seeking to evolve their clients out of their challenging past.

If you are a retired minister, minister of record, burned out, or “done with church”, yet have energy for something that can matter to struggling churches, this program is definitely for you. If you serve in a ministry without a minister or are seeking new ministerial leadership, consider sending someone to the course to get a head start on evolving your ministry out of its patterns of minister-centrism.

If you are a Licensed Unity Teacher or CSL Practitioner who wishes to support cultural and consciousness evolution in your ministry, this program is a game changer. If you are newly ordained or licensed, taking on your first ministry, get started on the right track with the IMP.

Application for Certificate in Integral Ministry, click HERE.

Once you have completed the Application form you will be contacted by UWSI to arrange payment.

What is the schedule of online Collaborate Course Room sessions?

Quarter 1:   All sessions meet on Friday 9 – 11 PT

Week 1 – April 14, 2023

Week 2 – April 21, 2023

Week 3 – April 28, 2023

Week 4 – May 5, 2023

Week 5 – May 12, 2023

Week 6 – May 19, 2023

Week 7 – May 26, 2023

Week 8 – June 2, 2023

Week 9 – June 9, 2023

Week 10 – June 16, 2023

Quarter 2: All sessions meet on Friday 9 – 11 PT

Week 1 – September 15, 2023

Week 2 – September 22, 2023

Week 3 – September 29, 2023

Week 4 – October 6, 2023

Week 5 – October 13, 2023

Week 6 – October 20, 2023

Week 7 – October 27, 2023

Week 8 – November 3, 2023

Week 9 – November 10, 2023

Week 10 – November 17, 2023

Quarter 3: All sessions meet on Friday 9 – 11 PT

Week 1 – January 12, 2024

Week 2 – January 19, 2024

Week 3 – January 26, 2024

Week 4 – February 2, 2024

Week 5 – February 9, 2024

Week 6 – February 16, 2024

Week 7 – February 23, 2024

Week 8 – March 1, 2024

Week 9 – March 8, 2024

Week 10 – March 15, 2024

Quarter 4: All sessions meet on Friday 9 – 11 PT

Week 1 – April 5, 2024

Week 2 – April 12, 2024

Week 3 – April 19, 2024

Week 4 – April 26, 2024

Week 5 – May 3, 2024

Week 6 – May 10, 2024

Week 7 – May 17, 2024

Week 8 – May 24, 2024

Week 9 – May 31, 2024

Week 10 – June 7, 2024

What new processes or systems are different from the current model of ministry?

• The three foundational elements of the IMP
• Statement of purpose as an organizing principle: Transforming lives and inspiring people to make a positive difference in our world.
• The Quantum Living Process shadow work program
• SpiritGroups as a leadership development program
• Integral Welcoming System
• Integral Membership System—A seamless path from first-timer to competent leader
• Community Member
• Governing Member
• Spiritual Cooperative—new funding model
• Quantum Living Process for Groups and Teams—Differentiating personal shadow from the organization’s pain body
• Evolutionary Council
• Conscious Conversations—Mapping the heart of the community
• Mapping What Is—organizational audit that aligns every structure, practice, system to the fulfillment of purpose.
• Board Development—15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
• Integral Job Description Alignment
• Integral Employee Review Process
• Genogram Activity—Formulating the ministry’s shadow and Q card
• Moving from “requirements to qualifications”
• Moving from “tithing TO Source, to tithing AS Source
• Updates
• Evolution Update
• Board Update
• Community Update
• Transformational Stories Update
• Moving the Needles—Meeting or exceeding the cooperative share

What are the learning objectives for the IMP certificate program?

Quarter 1 Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this quarter, learners will be able to:

• Identify and articulate the elements of cultural evolution
• Determine the fundamentals of integral ministry practice 
• Examine the impact of unresolved shadow issues within individuals / groups / organizations
• Explore and practice components of embodied spirituality
• Compare and contrast variances between minister-centric and integral ministry cultural imperatives
• Assess how integral principles are demonstrated in actual ministry settings

Quarter 2 Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Identify and describe the characteristics of a Teal/2^nd Tier organization
• Explain how Integral Ministry Practice supports the emergence of Teal/2^nd Tier elements
• Identify competencies of a 2^nd Tier/Teal leader needed in order to facilitate evolutionary change
• Identify obstacles to cultural and developmental evolution
• Recognize challenges that can become polarities to manage rather than problems to solve
• Identify specific indicators to measure lives transformed and the positive difference that makes
• Articulate the value of small group ministries
• Facilitate the Quantum Living Process for Teams
• Articulate the rationale and strategies behind the three necessary elements of IMP – Purpose Statement, Quantum Living Process and SpiritGroups (small group ministries)
• Explore the foundations of Integral Ministry Practice
• Quarter 3 Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Identify competencies of conscious leadership
• Identify obstacles to cultural and developmental evolution
• Assess and evaluate the complexity of a welcoming system
• Apply best practices to address insufficiencies
• Facilitate the Genogram Activity
• Articulate and apply principles of the Spiritual Cooperative
• Identify elements of The Beloved Community
• Implement Integral Membership System
• Identify elements of Spiritual Intelligence (SQ)

Quarter 4 Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Formulate questions that are in alignment with The Living Curriculum
• Identify and articulate elements of the IMP curriculum that foster cultural evolution
• Facilitate a guided meditation experience that is a whole-body experience
• Articulate the elements of the Evolutionary Council
• Articulate the elements of developmental stages of ministry
• Align job descriptions to the IMP convention
• Identify the elements of the Integral Employee Review Process
• Identify the three Faces of God
• Identify elements of creating a Sacred Service Ministry
• Articulate differences between Sacred Service and Volunteerism
• Identify the competencies of the Integral Ministry Practitioner

What are the topics and themes of the IMP certificate Program?

Quarter 1: An Introduction to the Integral Ministry Practice

• The Inconvenient Truth—About our current ministry practice
• Case Study—A sobering look at the consequences associated with the comings and goings of spiritual leaders over time in one Unity church. Check out our “never ending story.”
• Evolving out of Not Enough—Understanding the funding crisis
• The Theory Behind the IMP—an integral map of ministry
• Wake up, Grow up, Clean up, Show up—actualizing the full potential of Integral Ministry
• Shadow work—The Quantum Living Process as a cultural norm
• Uncovering the ministry’s pain body
• Embodying our Teachings—honoring our roots
• Evolving Culture—working with evolution and developmental principles to shift into 2nd tier practices
• Putting Theory into Practice
• Overview of Unity Spiritual Center Spokane’s evolutionary process

Quarter 2: Foundations of Integral Ministry Practice

            Guest Luminaries: Ken Wilber, Mendhi Audlin

• Implementation Process Map—a framework and timeline for transitioning to IMP
• Reinventing Ministry—looking at the evolution of organizations through the spiral of development
• Dealing with the Obstacles to Development and Cultural Evolution
• The Fulfillment of Purpose—Transforming lives and inspiring people to make a positive difference in our world
• Organizing Principle
• Embodiment Imperative
• Translational vs Transformational Teachings & Practices
• Institutionalizing Shadow Work—How to make the Quantum Living Process a cultural norm
• Aware-apy—Using the Quantum Living Process in spiritual counseling
• Quantum Living Process for Groups and Teams
• SpiritGroups—Using small group ministry in the fulfillment of Purpose

Quarter 3: Awakening the Beloved Community

            Guest Luminaries: Dr. Jim Lockard, Cindy Wigglesworth

• Integral Welcoming System
• 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership—How to cultivate “above the line” behavior
• The Beloved Community—Heart of the IMP
• Genogram Activity—Facilitation of a whole-system shadow work event that results in the formation of the church’s shadow and Q card
• Spiritual Cooperative—A new funding model based upon the values of ownership, partnership, self-responsibility and personal integrity
• Values Development—How to cultivate values that support cultural evolution
• Integral Membership System—A seamless path from first-timer to competent leader
• Ministry Updates—How to use Center, Board, Community & Transformational Stories Updates to evolve the community and cultivate owner/partners
• Spiritual Intelligence

Quarter 4: Wake Up, Grow Up, Clean Up, & Show Up

            Guest Luminary: Rev. Paul Smith

• Transformational Curriculum for SpiritGroups
• Radical Wholeness—The essence of Embodiment
• Evolutionary Council
• Conscious Conversations
• Mapping What Is
• Integral Job Descriptions
• Integral Employee Review Process
• Integral Ministry Practitioner Competencies
• Moving from Metaphysics to Mysticism—Moving from head to embodiment; the 3 Faces of God
• Sacred Service Ministry—Going beyond volunteerism
• Overview of Online Support Sessions for Certificate Holders

Required books:

Quarter 1

• Weird Church by Paul Nixion & Beth Ann Estock

Quarter 2

• Reinventing Organizations (Illustrated version) by Fredrick Laloux
• A Theory of Everything by Ken Wilber
• Emerging Church by Bruce Sanguin

Quarter 3

• Being the Beloved Community by Jim Lockard
• SQ 21 by Cindy Wigglesworth
• The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A new paradigm for sustainable success, by Dethmer, Chapman, Klemp

Quarter 4

• Radical Wholeness by Philip Shepherd
• Integral Christianity by Paul Smith

Meet the Instructors:

Gary Simmons, Th.D. is a renowned peacemaker and spiritual leader whose teachings and ground-breaking Integral Ministry Coaching   program are transforming church organizations and helping church leaders energize their spiritual communities and expand their capacity to carry out their mission with greater integrity and congruence.

Dr. Gary is an ordained Unity minister having served the Unity movement for over 43 years; pioneering 3 Unity churches, serving on the Board of Trustees of the Association of Unity Churches International, as a VP at the Unity Worldwide Ministries home office and an adjunct faculty member of Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute. He holds a 4th-degree black belt in taekwondo.

Dr. Gary is the author of The I of the Storm: Embracing Conflict, Creating Peace, a Unity bestseller, now in its thirteenth printing, The Soul’s Conspiracy, and is published in the Journal of Integral Theory and Practice. Gary’s work in applying integral principles to evolving church organizations is also cited in Ken Wilber’s book, The Four Turnings.

He is the co-founder of The Art of Quantum Living and co-creator of the Quantum Living Process™, a shadow work system that focuses on healing and integration.

He served as co-minister with his wife, Rev. Dr. Jane Simmons, at Unity Spiritual Center in Spokane Washington for nearly six years, where they focused on intentionally moving from minister to mission-centric ministry. Gary and Jane are retired from pulpit ministry and now live in Kettle Falls WA in their tiny house, just 30 miles south of the Canadian border.

He is the creator of the Integral Ministry Practice Certificate Program.

Rev. Dr. Jane Simmons holds a doctoral degree in Theology from Holos University Graduate Seminary and is an ordained Unity minister. Since her ordination in 1999, Jane has ministered in four Unity churches in Canada and the United States as well as serving as the Teen Ministry Coordinator for Unity Worldwide Ministries. She was the 2020 recipient of Unity’s Light of God Expressing Award. She has served as an associate professor at Holos University and is currently a member of adjunct faculty for Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute, teaching credit classes in a virtual online format.

Jane is the author of the book, You Can’t Sleep Through Your Awakening – a combination of personal memoir, shared stories, psychological study, scientific learning, and spiritual discourse. You Can’t Sleep Through Your Awakening is an exploration into what it actually means to wake up and includes tools that contribute to the awakening process.

Jane is also the co-author of the beautiful, best-selling book and card decks, Who Have You Come Here to Be, 101 Possibilities for Contemplation. She has developed youth and adult curriculum based on the Unity bestseller The I of the Storm, written by her husband, Rev. Dr. Gary Simmons. She also adapted and expanded on his work, authoring I of the Storm for Teens.

Jane is a co-founder of The Art of Quantum Living, with its transformational 21-day practice called The Quantum Living Process™ which weaves together the latest research emerging from neurobiology, developmental psychology, and quantum science with the wisdom of the world’s mystical traditions to offer a powerful path to personal evolution. She is a powerful speaker, coach, writer, workshop facilitator, trainer and educator with a focus on virtual online learning. With a passion for heart-centered transformation, Jane is committed to helping bring forth a kinder, more compassionate world. As a facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project, Jane has worked in communities, schools and prisons, assisting others in developing skills to manage conflict in order to help bring about a world that works for all. She resides in Kettle Falls, Washington with her husband

To schedule a no obligation zoom session, please contact me at: drgarysimmons@gmail.com.