About Unity WCR

Unity West Central Region

The West Central Region of Unity Worldwide Ministries encompasses Unity ministries in the northern 2/3 of California and the northern half of Nevada.

Our Mission Statement: The West Central Region supports vibrant, diverse, spiritual leaders and communities by providing opportunities for spiritual growth, education, leadership development, networking and fellowship.

Unity’s 5 Principles

  • There is only one Presence and one Power active as the universe and as my life, God the Good.
  • Our essence is of God; therefore, we are inherently good. This God essence was fully expressed in Jesus, the Christ.
  • We are co-creators with God, creating reality through thoughts held in mind.
  • Through prayer and meditation, we align our heart-mind with God. Denials and affirmations are tools we use.
  • Through thoughts, words and actions, we live the Truth we know.

Board & Staff

Rev. Kristin Powell

she/her
Board President

Rev. Kristin Powell (she/her), ordained a Unity minister in 2002, is passionate about Unity, Spirit and Nature. She currently serves as the Senior Minister at Unity of Walnut Creek.

Kristin loves Sunday mornings when the Unity community comes together to connect and grow spiritually. She especially enjoys tuning into the Divine and the community to prepare and share the message of the day. Her spiritual path and messages are focused on wholeness, oneness, love and wisdom. Kristin moves herself and her audience toward a sense of full soul integration (physical, emotional and spiritual) and trust in the Divine through Unity principles and inspiring stories.

In 2003, Kristin founded Unity Rising to offer spiritual retreats and sojourns in divine nature, and currently offers nature immersions. Previously, Kristin served as a supervisor at Silent Unity, Unity’s international prayer ministry, and as senior minister at Unity of Columbia in Missouri. She was host of Soulstream on Unity Online Radio from 2013-2016.

Kristin joyfully shares her home life with her wife Brenlee Reida, her mother Jan, and their dogs Dakota and Samson. She loves to be outdoors swimming, beaching, hiking or biking.

Rev. Carolyn Warnemuende

she/her
Vice President

I feel honored to serve the Unity West Central Region. The opportunity provides a beautiful way to practice the principles that are the basis of Unity and to serve as a model of leadership for others. Supporting our ministry leaders and all that we stand for is a privilege.

Rev. Ken Ficklin

Board Treasurer

Ken was ordained and served as junior pastor with the Church of Tzaddi from 1984 until 1989.  In 2004 , he joined Unity Chapel by the Sea in San Juan Capistrano, Ca.  In 2010, he moved to Redding Ca. He was ordained by Unity in 2020 and became the Associate Spiritual Leader. In 2024, he became the Spiritual Leader of Unity of Redding.

He served over two years with the US Army, worked for the Internal Revenue Service over thirty years and is a Certified Public Accountant Retired – 52831E – 1989 – Present.  He currently serves on the Board of Dirictors for Unity Urban Ministerial School and the Unity West Central Region.    

Rev. Cherie Larkin

she/her
Board Secretary

Rev. Cherie Larkin has been involved in the Unity movement for more than 50 years. She was ordained by Unity Worldwide Ministries in 2000 and spent 14 years as Senior Minister at Unity of Nashville in Tennessee. She is currently the Minister at Unity of Auburn.

Rev. Cherie also started an online ministry where she offers an array of spiritual classes, seminars, and tools.  She is also a professional fundraising coach and advisor, having assisted many Unity ministries to raise over $11 million to support growth and capital improvements.

Rev. Larkin was born in San Francisco and grew up in Sacramento. She is California native and a native daughter of our area. She graduated from California State University at Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

Rev. Brian Walker

Board Member

From 2001-2009, Brian lived, went to ministerial school, and worked at Unity Village, MO, where he was ordained as Unity minister in 2003.  During the entire time he was there, he worked at Silent Unity, Unity’s Prayer Ministry, both as a prayer associate and a trainer.  

After ordination, Brian also served as adjunct faculty at the Unity seminary, teaching Nonviolent Communication.  In addition, for two years Brian was part of the Unity Worldwide Ministries executive team that implemented a campus-wide change process called Appreciative Inquiry.  After leaving Unity Village in 2009, Brian became the minister of Unity Chapel of Light in Santa Maria, CA where he retired in 2016.  Brian was delighted to come out of retirement March 1, 2018 to serve as minister of Unity-Five Cities.

Rev. Dalia Adams

she/her
Regional Representative

Rev. Dalia is a retired clinical psychologist, an ordained Unity Minister, and a certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher. Her personal mission statement is to know God, to love, and to do the next step.  Her “next step” has led her to molecular genetics research in Germany, teaching and foster parenting  in the U.S. Virgin Islands, clinical psychology training and practice, and finally to ministry.  As a minister she has served at Silent Unity, Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute, and in church ministry as a Senior Minister, workshop presenter, and guest speaker. She is honored to be serving on the WCR Board of Trustees 

Rev. Joe Sloan

he/him
Regional Consultant

Rev. Joe Sloan was ordained as a Unity Minister in 1995. He served as Assistant Minister and then Senior Minister at Christ Church Unity in Kansas City North. In 2000 Joe and wife Lyn returned to California to pioneer Unity in the Gold Country in Grass Valley. He served that ministry for 12 years turning it over to a former Catholic Priest from Ireland, now a Unity minister, Jerry Farrell. Joe has been the Regional Representative and now Regional Consultant for the West Central Region for over 20 years. He is a member of Unity Worldwide Ministries’ Standard Committee, Ethics Review Team and the Ministers Evaluation Team. Joe’s passion is helping ministers and boards succeed in providing a loving, guiding environment for their congregations. He values his considerable work as an advocate for ministers and boards undergoing the ethics review process. Joe is an avid golfer (he walks) and a former long distance runner who successfully completed the Western States 100 mile, One Day Trail run over the Sierras. He adds that is was a few years and lbs. ago. In 2019, Joe received the Charles Fillmore Award.

Lisa Lawson

she/her
Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT)

Lisa Lawson, LUT, finished her Licensed Unity Teacher training and licensing in 2022. A dynamic speaker and warm-hearted teacher, she is also currently part of the 2024-26 UWSI Ministerial Path Cohort, training to be an ordained Unity Minister. Lisa’s passion is to encourage spiritual growth and personal expression in all people, and to foster community within the region. She is happy to help students and credentialed Unity leaders navigate the ins and outs of Unity’s current education offerings and CEU’s. Lisa is on the leadership team at Unity Spiritual Community in Citrus Heights, serving as LUT and Music Minister.

Mike Gomez

he/him
Regional Y.O.U. Consultant

Carrie Deterding

she/her
Chief Administrative Officer

Carrie has been with Unity West Central Region since Sept 2024. In addition to working for WCR she is currently the Administrative Assistant for Unity of Auburn. She is married to Richard, has two sons (Jeremy & Matthew) and two beautiful daughter-in-laws (Heather & Katie) and is blessed to be the Nana of Harper and Peyton. Her hobbies include gardening, walking, crafts and learning to golf.