5 Basic Unity Principles

1. There is only one Presence and one Power active as the universe and as my life, God the Good.

2. Our essence is of God; therefore, we are inherently good. This God essence, called the Christ, was fully expressed in Jesus.

3. We are co-creators with God, creating reality through thoughts held in mind.

4. Through prayer and meditation, we align our heart-mind with God. Denials and affirmations are tools we use.

5. Through thoughts, words and actions, we live the Truth we know.

Unity Principles

God is absolute good and everywhere present.

Human beings have a spark of divinity within them, the Christ Spirit within. Their very essence is of God, and therefore they are inherently good also.

Human beings create their experiences by the activity of their liking. Everything in the manifest realm has its beginning in thought.

Prayer is creative thinking that heightens the connection with God-Mind and brings forth wisdom, healing, prosperity, and everything good.

Knowing and understanding the laws of life, also called Truth, are not enough. A person must also live the Truth that he or she knows.

Our Misson Statement: "To Experience and Express God's Indwelling Presence.

UNITY WINGS

The Unity wings symbol appears in many Unity publications and is prominently displayed in many Unity churches all over the world. Its origins are so ancient they are lost in the mist of pre-history. Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore adopted this artistic creation as a Christian symbol as early as 1891 in the first issue of Unity Magazine. In the April 1923 issue Charles gave this explanation of the Unity wings:

"The winged globe or sun disc...represents the relation existing between Spirit, soul and body. Soul (the wings) gives wings to the body (the disc). Spirit is the (invisible) enveloping Principle, like the atmosphere in which both soul and body exist, and from which they draw their original inspiration."

Mr. Fillmore taught as we build and spread our wings of spiritual awareness, both our soul and body will be lifted up on the invisible wind of Spirit to the fourth dimension which Jesus called the kingdom of heaven. It is the freedom to which we all aspire and sing about in the Unity song, "I AM free, I AM unlimited; there are no chains that bind me!"

~First Unity Church Newsletter, February and March, 2001; Page 9.

About Unity

WHAT IS UNITY

Is the word of Christ made new again,

The Spirit of Christ reborn again,

The will of Christ revealed again,

The mind of Christ restored again,

The faith of Christ renewed again,

The law of Christ affirmed again,

The love of Christ employed again,

To help us know ourselves again-

The Self that is one with God.

~Dr. Marcus Bach

First Unity Church is a radiant center of light and love, celebrating the similarities of different approaches to God and drawing from the rich offerings of all faiths and diverse paths. We are a non-denomination, Christian Church that celebrates diversity and seeks to create an environment that is welcoming for all. First Unity is a place where each may find and experience acceptance, healing, and spiritual fulfillment. Join us to celebrate life, share love and seek the truth.

Unity is a worldwide Christian organization over 100 years old. It has been confused with other organizations because of the similarity in names. There is no connection between Unity and Unitarianism or the Unification Church.

Unity is a positive approach to life, seeking to accept the good in people and all of life. God is seen as having many attributes, but most important God is LOVE. Unity stresses God is Spirit and not a physical being. The One and Only power in and through all things, everywhere present, visible and invisible.

Unity proclaims the divinity of Jesus, but goes further and assures we, too, are children of God, therefore divine in nature. Jesus expresses His divine potential and sought to show how to express that divinity. Salvation is the expanding understanding of one's innate divinity through living the life demonstrated by Jesus. Unity explains the Mind as your connection link with God or Divine Mind. It shows how the action of your mind affects your body and circumstances. Emphasis is placed on the effective power every thought, feeling, word and act has upon your life. Prayer is not seen as a technique for changing God, but for expanding and transforming your mind, thus changing you.

Unity seeks to relate religion to daily needs. Thus, affirming for every need there is God's perfect answer. Its main textbook is the Bible and relates its lessons to your life and everyday experiences.

Unity does break from tradition as it has no creedal requirement joyous ways. It seeks not to emphasize one's sins of the past. Instead gives attention to every person, the good existing within, and what can be done to transform one's self and life.

Unity's main concern is not so much with a "future life" but with teaching people how to live fully in the present, seeing the good in all. It also believes in eternal life and views the present moment as part of eternal life.

Unity welcomes in dignity and love, people of all races, colors, religious, social background and economic levels.

In summation, Unity emphasizes the divine potential within every child of God. Teaching, through a practical understanding and appreciation of what Jesus taught, every person can realize and express his or her divine potential for a happier, fuller and more successful life.

~ First Unity Church of Memphis