About UCC

We get this question fairly often from folks who are new to Unity. We want to answer thoughtfully and clearly: Yes, Unity is a Christian church. We look to Jesus as our Wayshower, affirming His divine nature – the Christ nature – as the Son of God.  To us, this means that, so far as we know, no one else has demonstrated the qualities of the divine potential for humankind more completely than Jesus did. We believe His words: “I am the light of the world.” We also believe His teaching for all of God’s children: “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine.”

Because we believe that God, the one Presence and one Power, everywhere in the universe, is unlimited possibility in continuous expression, we don’t have a problem with believing the virgin birth and all the miracles of Jesus as recounted in scripture, including physical resurrection. But, we leave all free to reach their own conclusions about these particulars. We are a Christian church, and yet we honor the universal principles taught by Jesus as found in all peaceful paths, of all times and all places.

Actually, we believe that since we are all children of God, born in original innocence, not in “sin” (i.e., “missing the mark,” or forgetfulness of our divine nature), then, we cannot ever really be “lost.” We are often asked, “Do you believe that the salvation of the soul – the realization of eternal life – is God’s gift of grace for those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior?” Yes, we do believe that those who accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, in faith, are saved (from feeling separated from God). We also believe the Christ nature shines in every soul, in all religious paths, rightly understood. We believe that Jesus’ teaching: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6), refers to the Christ presence in all people that Jesus so fully realized and expressed. All who accept that Christ nature are saved.

When we are asked, “What percentage of humankind is truly seeking the highest ideals of Christianity and other spiritual paths?” We like to say that we believe that one hundred per cent of humankind are actually seeking these high ideals, whether they know it or not. Whenever people become ready, they will find their path. For those who find their way to Unity, and feel at home, we say, “Welcome! Welcome to that “do it yourself” Christian church! We hear people say, all the time, “I didn’t know there was a church like this! I didn’t know that there were so many other people who believe what I have, personally, always believed! I know that I am ‘home’ at Unity!”

Although our services are joyful and usually include laughter and we do like to applaud the great musicians that highlight our worship services, people who are new to Unity sometimes tell us that they are surprised to find tears coming to their eyes during services at Unity. We think this may be a result of having held deep devotion inside for so long, that when we realize we are not alone, that these long-held spiritual feelings are being acknowledged, celebrated, and shared in our worship, it can be sort of overwhelming. No worries. It’s okay. Soon you will get used to the positive worship at Unity, and you will realize that you can share a word of reassurance or a comforting smile to other newcomers who encounter the same sensations. You’re among friends.

A love offering is a gift of whatever amount feels right and fair and natural to you, according to your prosperity consciousness. No one is left out of our Unity events on account of funds. However, in order to continue this ministry, we depend on the willing participation of those who have reached the level of responsible giving where they naturally give freely in appreciation for the learning opportunity. When Truth students realize that they are receiving life-changing and soul-enlightening instruction, then they will probably want to give a love offering for each class that is more than, say, the cost of a movie ticket. We like to give our Truth Teachers a percentage of the love offerings received; the rest is directed to sustain the costs of this ministry. Jesus taught, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give” (Matthew 10:8). Everyone can give in appreciation. As our appreciation grows, our gifts will grow, and the blessings that come home to us also grow. Jesus taught: “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you” (Luke 6:38). This is the universal prosperity law. There is no such thing as something for nothing, and every gift given freely, in love, returns to you multiplied – both visibly and invisibly. The universe operates under the law of love, which never fails.

No. Please see above. Your giving is between you and God. But as you discover the prosperity law, you will joyously give and joyously receive. As our familiar offertory blessing affirms, “Divine love, through me, blesses and multiplies all that we give and all that we receive. Thank You, Father Mother God.”

Well, I guess we could answer, “Why not?” “Father-Mother God” is a reasonable and scripture-based term for God – the indefinable One, known by many names. “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). In our Unity faith, God is not limited by human form – not limited to the image of an old man with a white beard, sitting on a big throne, who is limited by human emotions. We know God as Spirit, Divine Mind, Father, Mother, Father-Mother, Mother-Father, Creator, Source, Love, Life, Power, Light, Wisdom, or any other word or name that helps us to express our the infinite nature of the God of our ever expanding understanding.

Unity comes out of the New Thought and Christian Science tradition, and we share so many great teachers and teachings. We would tend to say that, according to our understanding faith, healing can be experienced through prayer, through medical treatment, through so-called natural medicine, or a combination of these. In Truth, all healing is spiritual healing, and all life is God-life and all wisdom is God-wisdom, and we love the classic Unity approach: Go first to God and then to humankind, taking outer steps if and as God directs.

We’re all God’s children, beautiful expressions of Spirit, and all are welcome here. We aren’t going to try to “fix” what isn’t broken. Love is love and the Golden Rule is our standard of living.

Well, nobody can really know what the “afterlife” might be like. Jesus said, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). We’d rather focus on the realization of God that we are here after, rather than dwelling on the “hereafter.” The foundational Unity teaching is something like this, variously stated: “There is only one Presence and one Power, everywhere and always – God, the Good omnipotent, and God is Love.” So, if God is everywhere and always, there is no spot where God is not! “Heaven” is the conscious awareness of the presence of God. Feeling separated from God’s presence sure does feel like hell! We don’t have to “die” to get to either state of consciousness. Right here and right now, we dwell in the Presence – so let’s wake up and know this! Since God is Life and God is everywhere and always, there is no place where God is not, and Life, being of God, can never really “end.” If that seems confusing, just take some Unity classes; like the person who fell asleep one night, wondering where the sun had gone, eventually it will dawn on you!