LEADERSHIP

Minister & Staff

Rev. Linda Taylor

Spiritual Leader

Rev. Linda is a familiar face to many, and those who don’t know her will find that she’s down-to-earth and friendly.  Rev. Linda has been with us since 1998, with a little nine-year detour to Unity of Roanoke, VA, where she was the lead minister from 2011 until 2019, when she moved back here to be with her family.

While here, Linda obtained her LUT in 2002, and went on to join the Unity Field Licensing program, having been  ordained as a Unity Minister in March of 2008.  Somewhere in there, from 2000 to 2004, she found the time to attend classes at UTA, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2004 with a BA in Philosophy.

Linda excels at communication and is a dedicated teacher, well versed in Unity principles and texts.  She enjoys the process of positive transformation and assists with it however she can, with an emphasis on community focused growth and interactions.

Linda and her husband, Riley, live in Hurst.  They have two grown daughters and four grandchildren.  In her time away from church, Linda enjoys being with her family, traveling, and reading.
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Mary Salerno

Administrator

A Chicago native, Mary moved to Texas over 35 years ago, settling first in Southlake, then in Grapevine, where she’s lived for about 30 years.  She worked in corporate America as a business analyst and manager for most of her career before coming to Center of Unity as the Administrator.

Mary began attending Center of Unity at her daughter’s request in February of 2001 and, like so many, immediately found “home”; she says she came for her daughter and stayed for herself.  She has served on the Board of Directors as the President, has held many volunteer positions, and currently coordinates the Care Team, the Center of Unity Prayer Chaplain group.

Outside of the office, Mary enjoys preparing vegan meals, reading, working in clay, and writing.  She lives in Grapevine with her cat, Preeda.  Her son and daughter-in-law live in Roanoke, TX, and her granddaughter and great-grandson live in Chicago.
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Amber Holland

Media Director

Amber first began working in the bookstore and office at Center of Unity in 1999.  She soon became the Administrative Assistant until she left to pursue another career opportunity in 2005.  In 2014 she received a call to returned to COU.  Amber started back as the Administrative Assistant but quickly became the Media & Youth Ed Director.  

Amber, her husband, Jeff, and their children enjoy preparing and participating in a wide variety of activities at the church, such as the monthly church luncheons, patio parties, birthday banquets and much more.  
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Debie Franz

Youth Ed Director

Born and raised in Southern California, Debie move to the Dallas area when she received a job promotion in retail management.
She began attending Unity of Arlington in 1986 and has been a truth student ever since.  In 1997 she became the Youth Director until 2007 when she left to return to her previous career.  In 2019 she began attending Center of Unity and was asked to be the Youth Ed Director in 2021.

Debie is the mother of three sons and a daughter.  She enjoys working with youth and has volunteered with an organization for over 20 years.  She also enjoys camping, hiking, sewing, crafting, baking and movies.
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Volunteer Leadership

Board of Directors

Email all board members
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Matt Sweat

President
Matt  was born at Parkland Hospital and raised in Irving, where he's spent most of his life.  He moved to the H.E.B area with his wife in 2009.  Matt has worked as a medical biller for the past 14 years.  He and his wife, Nicholle, found Unity in 2015 while searching for a spiritual community more in line with their social values. They found Harmony Fellowship of Fort Worth and felt very at home with the Unity teachings and values. They then discovered Center of Unity was just around the corner and decided to try it.  Matt has served on the security team and Nicholle serves as volunteer coordinator.  Matt enjoys reading, writing, music, camping, studying history, and watching movies with Nicholle.
May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life! 
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Barbara Luders

Vice President
Barbara Luders has attended Center of Unity for ten years and has been a member for eight. Besides conceiving and leading the Corked social group, her other volunteer activities include serving on the Care Team and, in the past, hosting the Friday night Zoom parties during COVID, hosting Sunday Meet and Greet, and serving on the advertising committee.
Barbara’s favorite volunteer activity is service on the Care Team, reaching out and supporting others. Feeling their gratitude helps her know what an important role  the Care Team plays in our spiritual community.
For Barbara Unity is a “progressive and positive approach to Christianity. Each person is a unique expression of God and is sacred and worthy."
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Madeline Losito

Secretary
Madeline Losito has been attending Center of Unity for twenty years and has been a member for over thirteen years. Besides delving wholeheartedly into various classes and workshops, she has volunteered in a number of capacities.
Maddy finds serving on the Care Team most rewarding. She loves to pray with people and help them affirm their good or affirm it for them when they cannot. As a choir member, her love of singing shows up as she happily lends her voice when the group is in session.
She says of Unity, “It has teachings I believe in and is filled with loving and like-minded people. It is community to me.”
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Norma Crawford

Treasurer
Norma has been attending the Center of Unity for approximately 11 years. She joined in 2001 but moved to Colorado in 2012, returning to COU this fall. Her time away from Texas was not an absence from her spiritual service. She was a blessing to Unity in the Rockies as a Prayer Chaplin.
 Norma has served on two boards in Colorado, briefly on the church board and several years on a neighborhood HOA board. She describes herself as having a calm approach to life’s issues, realizing there is already a Divine solution waiting to be discovered. She has learned to recognize the Christ Spirit in other team members and to be willing to consider the wisdom of ideas unlike her own.
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June Brookshire

Member
June has been an active member of the Center of Unity for the past 27 years and has volunteered in myriad ways.  Before retirement as a self-employed business woman, June developed business acumen in managing personnel and physical property. Prior to owning a business, her career path included teaching high school students and practicing as a school counselor and mental health counselor.  Her combined knowledge of Unity, Buddhism, Native American traditions, and Edgar Cayce principles allow her a well-rounded spiritual experience.
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Lori Elhardt

Member
Lori has been a member of the Center of Unity for the past five years of the six years she has attended. She considers it her spiritual home and enjoys fellowship with members of the congregation.  Lori conveys her passion for music as the rhythm guitarist on the Worship Team. Celebrating love and peace through music drives her loyal dedication to the Team every Sunday. Occasionally, she assists with selecting music and locating sheet music.  Lori lives in North Richland Hills with her dog, Ziggy.