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 the creation of 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. John Riley

he/him
Board Presdent

Hello and welcome to the Unity West Central Region! I’ve spent my whole lifetime in Unity and almost a lifetime in Silicon Valley, and I have a passion for helping people discover the power within them and integrating spirituality into their everyday life. I am a recovered senior software product manager and financial services manager and now joyfully head Unity Palo Alto as Senior Minister.

Rev. DeeAnn Weir Morency

she/her
Board Vice President

Rev. DeeAnn’s unique integrative approach to authentic living utilizes Spiritual Principle, Affirmative Prayer, meditation, ritual, intuition, and creativity. She is a powerful facilitator and teacher, mentor and counselor, as well as guest lecturer and speaker. She also has a spiritual mentoring program that supports clients to activate Spiritual Principle in their lives and she is the Senior Minister at Unity in Marin.

Rev. Kristin Powell

she/her
Board Treasurer

Rev. Kristin Powell was ordained a Unity minister in 2002 and serves as lead minister at Unity of Walnut Creek (since April 2021). She is also founding minister of Unity Rising, a spiritual travel and retreat ministry that is nature focused. Kristin led many spiritual trips (since 2003) and now offers seasonal daylong Nature Immersions in the Bay Area as a part of Unity Rising. Formerly, Kristin was senior minister at Unity of Columbia in Missouri. She is also involved in an ecumenical clergy group in Pleasant Hill and the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County. She lives in Walnut Creek with her wife Brenlee and their two adorable dogs — Samson and Dakota.

Rev. Carolyn Warnemuende

she/her
Board Member

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. Diana McDaniel

she/her
Board Member

Reverend Diana McDaniel is the senior minister of Unity of San Leandro and has been leading the ministry there for 20 years. She also serves as President of the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial, where her leadership has helped to publicize Port Chicago’s important role in civil rights history.

Rev. Vicky Elder

she/her
Regional Representative

Rev Vicky Elder was ordained a Unity minister in 1998, and has served as senior minister at Unity of Monterey Bay since then. Her mission is to create a safe space for all people to explore their spiritual nature, become biblically and spiritually literate, and discover their own Path to the Sacred. Vicky is also passionate about social justice–which she actively pursues through UMB’s involvement with COPA (Citizens Organizing for Relational Power in Action – an IAF affiliate). Vicky serves as the Regional Representative for the West Central Region of Unity Churches, as well as the Chair of the Unity Worldwide Ministries (UWM) Standards Committee.

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.

Kristine Krause

she/her
Chief Administrative Officer

Mike Gomez

he/him
Regional Y.O.U. Consultant