Ministers Message

Karen and I recently returned from our trip to Kansas City for the annual Unity Worldwide Ministries conference. We always enjoy reconnecting with friends and being able to experience what it is like to be part of a larger movement with an international presence. One of the big items on the agenda at the business meeting was a resolution to authorize our leadership to explore and formulate a proposal to integrate our two organizations.

It comes as a surprise to many when they learn that Unity Worldwide Ministries and Unity World Headquarters at Unity Village are two separate entities each with their own board of trustees and CEO. The details of how this came about are not as important as simply recognizing the different roles each has come to play. Unity Worldwide Ministries consists of our field ministries and leaders and Unity World Headquarters operates Silent Unity, Unity Institute and Seminary, Retreats and Spiritual Education programs and publishes The Daily Word, Unity Magazine and Unity books.

In recent years, the two organizations have adopted the same logo, images and descriptive language as part of a uniform branding strategy designed to give us more visibility in the world. They also share a common website. In many respects, we are far more integrated than we have ever been. The remaining question is what more can or should be done?

The concept of complete unity within Unity is attractive but at this point we don’t even know what we don’t know about the logistics of such an undertaking. With that in mind, I was surprised to hear some people who were diametrically opposed to the very suggestion of integration even before any of the important issues have been identified and fleshed out. I am happy to say that in the end, the resolution passed with only a relative handful standing in opposition.

To me, one of Unity’s great strengths is our ability to initiate and embrace change. I believe our co-founders, Charles and Myrtle Fillmore, would be disappointed were they to return today and discover that we did not allow what they started to evolve along with the rest of the universe.

The Rev. Dr. Tom Shepherd was the recipient of this year’s Charles Fillmore award. During his acceptance speech he reminded the conference body that the Fillmores were progressive thinkers and shared something that he tells his students at Unity Institute; “Turn every idea upside down to see if there is an expiration date stamped on the bottom.” Are we willing to face the possibility that some of our cherished ideas and ways of doing things might be outdated and perhaps even a bit moldy?

We won't know that unless we are willing to observe, examine, test and discuss the results. These are the signs of a dynamic, living and breathing movement as opposed to a dusty relic that may look nice on the outside but is in the process of becoming obsolete. This doesn’t mean that we automatically become suckers for every new thing that comes along because if we are truly examining and testing, we will know what is truly compatible with our core beliefs and values.

During the month of August we will examine our core beliefs and values in the tradition of Charles and Myrtle Fillmore and place them in a modern context. What might the future look like for our movement and what ideas need to be turned upside down in order to allow us to continue to evolve? If we cannot do that, we will become obsolete and for me that simply is not an option.

Blessings,
Revs. Mark and Karen