Editing Unity Church

{{Short description|New Thought religious denomination}}
{{distinguish|text= [[Unitarianism]], [[Unitarian Universalism]], the [[United Church of Christ]], or the [[Unification Church]]}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
|name = Unity Spiritual Movement
|image = Unity-church.jpg
|alt = Unity Village
|imagewidth = 250px
|caption = Unity Village
|main_classification = Unity ([[new religious movement]])
|orientation = [[New Thought]] [[Christianity]]
|founder = [[Charles Fillmore (Unity Church)|Charles]] and [[Myrtle Fillmore]]
|founded_date = 1889
|founded_place = [[Kansas City, Missouri]], United States
|headquarters = [[Unity Village, Missouri]]
|separated_from =
|branched_from =
|merger =
|separations =
|leader_title = CEO
|leader_name = Rev. Jim Blake
|associations =
|congregations =
|members = 
|website = {{Official website}}
}}
{{NewThought}}
'''Unity''' is a spiritual organization founded by [[Charles Fillmore (Unity Church)|Charles]] and [[Myrtle Fillmore]] in 1889. It grew out of [[Transcendentalism]] and became part of the [[New Thought]] movement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unity.org/about-us/what-we-do|title=About Us|publisher=Unity.org}}</ref> Unity may be best known for its ''[[Daily Word]]'' devotional publication begun in 1924. Originally based in Christianity with emphasis on the Bible, Unity has said it is a "Christian movement that emphasizes affirmative prayer and education as a path to spirituality," and says about itself, "We honor all spiritual practices and the diversity of paths leading to enlightenment."<ref>{{cite web |title=What Is Unity? |url=https://www.unityvillagechapel.org/whatisunity.html |access-date=2020-05-23 |publisher=Unity.org}}</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:Unity Village.jpg|thumb|Unity School of Christianity]]
Unity describes itself as a global, inclusive, spiritual community, offering practical tools and uplifting resources to help people of all faiths apply positive spiritual principles in their daily lives. Unity welcomes all people regardless of race, color, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability, or sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions about Unity |url=https://www.unitystl.org/unity-faq/ |access-date=2012-12-29 |publisher=Unity.org}}</ref><ref>Kornfield, Jack, "The Wisdom of Not Knowing"  Unity Magazine Nov–Dec 2005  p. 10</ref><ref>Gaither, Jim, Metaphysical Musings, Unity Magazine, Jan–Feb 2008, p. 10</ref><ref name="NewBrit">"Unity School of Christianity, The New Encyclopædia Britannica, 1987, Vol 12 P, 162.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=McQueeney |first1=Krista |title="We are God's Children, Y'All:" Race, Gender, and Sexuality in Lesbian- and Gay-Affirming Congregations |journal=Social Problems |date=2009 |volume=56 |issue=1 |pages=151–173 |doi=10.1525/sp.2009.56.1.151 |jstor=10.1525/sp.2009.56.1.151 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/sp.2009.56.1.151 |issn=0037-7791|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Unity describes itself as having no particular creed, set dogma, or required ritual.<ref>Rosemergy, Jim "No More Dogmas, No More Creeds, Unity Magazine, March–April 2003, p 17</ref> It maintains that there is good in every approach to God and holds that one should focus on the potential good in all{{emdash}}that the essence of every human is divine regardless of current behavior.

Unity emphasizes healing by spiritual means, but it does not reject or resist medical treatments.{{sfn|''Britannica''|loc=online}}

Unity is the largest group connected with the [[New Thought]] movement, and the only one to maintain a significant Christian identity.{{sfn|Shopf|2018|pp=34, 94n266}}

==History==
The ''Unity School of Christianity'' was founded in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], Missouri, in 1889 by [[Charles Fillmore (Unity Church)|Charles Fillmore]] (1854–1948) and [[Myrtle Fillmore]] (1845–1931) after Mrs. Fillmore had been cured of her [[tuberculosis]], she believed, by spiritual healing. To learn more about spiritual principles, the Fillmores studied the teachings of world religions and the links between science and religion. They were influenced by Dr. E. B. Weeks, [[Ralph Waldo Emerson]], [[Emma Curtis Hopkins]] and [[Mary Baker Eddy]] (the founder of [[Christian Science]]).

Although the Unity School of Christianity was not incorporated until 1914, the Fillmores began publishing their first magazine, ''Modern Thought'', in April 1889. Later magazines included ''Wee Wisdom'' (for children) and ''Daily Word''. In 1891, the Fillmores named the movement Unity and began publishing in 1903 with ''Lessons in Truth'' by [[H. Emilie Cady]]. In 1906, Mr. and Mrs. Fillmore accepted ordination and ordained seven other ministers.<ref>{{Official website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.unity.org/static/about-us |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Unity.org |language=en}}</ref>

After [[World War I]], Unity Village, which became a 1,200-acre incorporated town, was developed 15 miles southeast of Kansas City, beginning with the purchase of a farm. Originally a weekend getaway for the Fillmores' downtown employees, Unity Village is now the headquarters for the prayer and publishing work of the Unity spiritual movement.

After Charles Fillmore's death, the Fillmores’ sons and grandchildren initially led the movement.{{sfn|''Britannica''|loc=online}} Great-granddaughter Connie Fillmore stepped down as president in 2001. Governance was then converted to a CEO and board composed of Unity ministers and outside business people.

The mission of Unity World Headquarters is to help and serve through prayer, publishing, and community. Unity World Headquarters offers resources to people of all faiths, including magazines, booklets, videos, books, meditations, retreats, and events.

The Unity Prayer Ministry, also known as Silent Unity, has continuously prayed with people of all faiths worldwide for more than a century. Prayer associates respond to over 1 million prayer requests yearly by letter, phone, email, and social media.

==Organization==
Individual Unity churches are autonomous, each governed by its own board and minister. Minister training, ministerial placement, and educational resources are supported by Unity Worldwide Ministries, a separate nonprofit organization that leases office space at Unity Village from Unity World Headquarters.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

In 2010, there were 594 Unity churches in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Religion Census - 2010 |url=https://www.usreligioncensus.org/report1.php?year=2010}}</ref> Unity Worldwide Ministries counts 650 churches and 1,700 licensed and ordained leaders worldwide.

==Basic teachings==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2024}}
{{New Thought beliefs}}
The five basic ideas of Unity teachings reflect the universal spiritual principles taught in most of the world's religions.
#[[God]] is everywhere and always present in every circumstance. This divine energy underlies and animates all of existence.
#Human beings are innately good because they are connected to and an expression of Spirit. 
#Our [[New Thought|thoughts]] have creative power to influence events and determine our experiences.
#Prayer and [[meditation]] connect and align us to our own spiritual nature and to God.
#It is not enough to understand spiritual teachings. We must apply our learning in all areas of life, incorporating them into our thoughts, words, and actions.

Unity teaches that each person is a unique expression of God and is sacred and worthy. It emphasizes the creative power of thought and encourages choosing life-affirming thoughts, words, and actions in order to experience a more fulfilling and abundant life.

===God===

Unity views God as spiritual energy that is present everywhere and is available to all people. According to Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore: “God is not a person who has set creation in motion and gone away and left it to run down like a clock. God is Spirit, infinite Mind, the immanent force and intelligence everywhere manifest in nature. God is the silent voice that speaks into visibility all the life there is.”

===Jesus===

Unity teaches the divinity of Jesus and of all human beings. They consider him an “elder brother” or “wayshower” whose life demonstrated what is possible when we live from our innate spiritual nature or divine consciousness.

===Nature of humanity===

Unity teaches that all people are individual, eternal expressions of God, and their essential nature is divine and therefore inherently good. Followers believe their purpose in life is to express their divine potential as demonstrated by Jesus, and that the more they awaken to their divine nature, the more they can do this.

===Bible===

Unity founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore interpreted the Bible as a metaphysical representation of each soul’s evolutionary journey toward spiritual awakening. Unity considers the Bible its primary spiritual resource, a complex collection of writings compiled over many centuries and a reflection of the comprehension and inspiration of the writers and their times.

===Affirmative prayer===

Affirmative prayer is understood in Unity as the highest form of creative thought. It includes the release of negative thoughts and holding in mind statements of spiritual truth. Unity teaches the use of meditation and prayer as a way to experience the presence of God, heighten the awareness of truth, and thereby transform a person's life. Prayer is believed valuable not because it alters the circumstances and conditions of a person's life but because it alters the person.

==Relationship to Christianity==

Unlike other [[New Thought]] groups, Unity emphasizes its agreements, not differences, with traditional Christians and<ref name=NewBrit/>{{sfn|Shopf|2018|p=94n266}} stresses its concurrence with the teachings of Jesus, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the Bible.<ref>Fillmore, Charles  Jesus Christ Heals, 19th ed 1999, pages 9–35</ref><ref>Turner, Elizabeth Sands,  Your Hope of Glory, 10th ed, 1996, pp. 7–15</ref><ref>Butterworth, Eric  The Universe is Calling, 1994, pp. 129–135</ref><ref>Freeman, James Dillet, The Story of Unity, 2000, pp. 9–19, 225–269</ref><ref>Mosley, Glenn, "Unity, Much more than a Denomination" Unity Magazine, Mar–Apr, 2003, pp. 15–16</ref><ref>Shepherd, Thomas, "That's a Good Question" Unity Magazine, Jan–Feb 2008, p. 7</ref> According to Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore:

<blockquote>
It has been generally accepted that Jesus' great works were miracles and that the power to do miracles was delegated to His immediate followers only.  In recent years many of Jesus' followers have inquired into His healing methods, and they have found that healing is based on universal mental and spiritual laws which anyone can utilize who will comply with the conditions involved in these laws.<ref>Fillmore, Charles  Jesus Christ Heals, 19th ed 1999, p. 79</ref>
</blockquote>

Unity considers itself a non-sectarian educational institution, although Unity ministers are ordained following their prescribed courses and training.<ref name=NewBrit/>

==Notable members==

There are well-known people affiliated with Unity such as [[Della Reese]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19961019/2355023/della-reese-is-no-angel-but-shes-real-reverend|title=Della Reese Is No Angel, But She's Real Reverend -- In Dual Roles Of Minister And Actress, She Has A Big Following |work=Seattle Times Newspaper |first=Adelle M. |last=Banks |date=October 19, 1996 |access-date=July 24, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Hingston 2020">{{cite web |last1=Hingston |first1=Sandy |title=Science and Religion Have Never Been More at Odds. Can Conshohocken's Templeton Foundation Bridge the Divide? |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2020/10/10/john-templeton-foundation-philadelphia/ |website=Philadelphia Magazine |publisher=Metro Corp. |access-date=July 3, 2022 |date=October 10, 2020}}</ref>  [[Betty White]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Villalva|first1=Brittney R.|title=Betty White- I'm 'Sexier' and 'More Wise' at 91 (PHOTO) |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/betty-white-sexier-and-more-wise-at-91-actress-jokes-photo-89569/|website=www.christianpost.com|date=6 February 2013|publisher=The Christian Post|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Hingston 2020" /> [[Eleanor Powell]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Jim|title=OUR "QUEEN OF TAP DANCING" - ELEANOR POWELL|url=http://www.tapdance.org/content/feature-story-0409|website=www.tapdance.org|publisher=International Tap Association|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> [[Lucie Arnaz]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Messer|first1=Kate X|title=Lucie 'splains It All|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/arts/2011-02-10/i-do-3-lucie/|website=www.austinchronicle.com|publisher=The Austin Chronicle|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> [[David Friedman (composer)|David Friedman]],<ref>{{cite web |date=12 Nov 2023 |title=David Freedman, Unity Minister - Sermons |url=https://www.unityofthekeys.org/sermon-speaker/david-friedman/}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=April 2022}} [[Wally Amos]],<ref name="Hingston 2020" /> actress [[Michael Learned]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.unity.org/publications/archives/dailyWord/articles/mySpiritualJourney.html|title=My Spiritual Journey|first=Michael|last=Learned|work=[[Daily Word]]|date=December 2002|access-date=January 20, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328224647/http://content.unity.org/publications/archives/dailyWord/articles/mySpiritualJourney.html|archive-date=March 28, 2014}}</ref> Licensed Unity Teacher [[Ruth Warrick]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Paid Notice: Deaths WARRICK, RUTH| work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9807E0D71238F93BA25752C0A9639C8B63|access-date=13 March 2015|agency=The New York Times|date=January 18, 2005}}</ref> [[Barbara Billingsley]], [[Theodore Schneider]], [[Erykah Badu]], [[Matt Hoverman]], author [[Victoria Moran]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Moran|first1=Victoria|title=Growing Up on Daily Word|url=http://www.dailyword.com/articles/2013/04/growing-daily-word|website=www.dailyword.com|date=21 March 2013|publisher=Daily Word|access-date=13 March 2015}}</ref> [[Patricia Neal]],<ref>Raven, Barbara C.  ''Badge of Courage''. Unity Church of New York, 2002.</ref> [[Johnnie Colemon]], and [[Maya Angelou]].<ref name="Hingston 2020" /><ref name="Oprah.com 2013">{{cite web | title=The Revelation That Changed Dr. Maya Angelou's Life | website=Oprah.com | date=May 19, 2013 | url=https://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/the-revelation-that-changed-maya-angelous-life-video | access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Italie 2014">{{cite web | last=Italie | first=Hillel | title= Maya Angelou dead at 86  | website=The Des Moines Register | date=May 28, 2014 | url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2014/05/28/maya-angelou-dead/9664693/ | access-date=July 3, 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[New religious movement]]
* [[Universal Foundation for Better Living]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite thesis |last=Shopf |first=Kevin |date=2018 |title=What Makes a Founder?: Determining the Founder of New Thought |url=https://prism.ucalgary.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/9e23e7d1-984f-4071-b2af-6f9833a657b3/conten |doi=10.11575/PRISM/32815 |publisher=University of Calgary}}
* {{cite encyclopedia |title=Unity School of Christianity |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica Online |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/617994/Unity-School-of-Christianity |ref={{harvid|Britannica}}}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Berry |first=Harold J. |year=1975 |title=Unity School of Christianity: What's Christian about It? |location=Lincoln, Neb. |publisher=Back to the Bible Publications |ISBN=0-8474-0745-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Freeman |first=James Dillet |author-link=James Dillet Freeman |title=The Story of Unity |publisher=Unity Books |year=2000 |location=Unity Village, Missouri |isbn=0-87159-145-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Harley |first=Gail M. |title=Emma Curtis Hopkins: Forgotten Founder of New Thought |date=2002 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |oclc=606778962 |isbn=0-8156-2933-8}}
* {{cite book |last1=Melton |first1=J. Gordon |author-link1=J. Gordon Melton |editor1-last=Wessinger |editor1-first=Catherine |editor-link1=Catherine Wessinger |title=Women's leadership in marginal religions: explorations outside the mainstream |date=1993 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |location=Urbana |isbn=978-0-252-06332-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/womensleadership0000unse/page/96/mode/2up}}
* {{cite book |last=Mosley |first=Glenn R. |year=2006 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pueALswwJikC |title=New Thought, Ancient Wisdom: The History and Future of the New Thought Movement |publisher=Templeton Foundation Press |ISBN=1-59947-089-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Vahle |first=Neal |title=The Unity Movement: Its Evolution and Spiritual Teachings |publisher=Templeton Foundation Press |date=2002 |isbn=1-890151-96-3}}

==External links==
* [https://www.unityworldwideministries.org/ Official website of Unity World Headquarters]
* [https://www.unitymelbourne.org.au/a/Home Official website of the Unity Church in Australia]
* [http://www.unitynz.org/ Official website of the Unity Church in New Zealand]
* [http://www.unityuk.org/ Official Website of the Unity Church in the UK]
* [http://www.dailyword.com/ Daily Word:– Daily Bible Study Devotional Guide by the Unity Church]
* [http://lessonsintruth.info/library/new-thought-home-study-courses/lessons-in-truth-by-h-emilie-cady/ ''Lessons in Truth, A Course of Twelve Lessons in Practical Christianity'']
* [http://www.truthunity.net/ TruthUnity:– A repository of audio, video and text of Unity resources]
* {{Cite web |title=Unity Church Chronology PDF |url=https://www.unityvillagechapel.org/uploads/1/0/3/5/10350251/unity_chronology.pdf}}

{{Unity footer}}
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[[Category:Unity Church| ]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:New Thought denominations]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1889]]
[[Category:Religious belief systems founded in the United States]]
[[Category:New religious movements established in the 1880s]]
[[Category:Affirming Christian denominations in the United States]]