Unity was founded in 1889 in the Kansas City area by Myrtle and Charles Fillmore who referred to the Truth principles they taught as “practical Christianity.” After studying the teachings of Jesus, the transcendentalist ideas of writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson, and the lessons taught by the New Thought “teacher of teachers,” Emma Curtis Hopkins, both Myrtle and Charles experienced extraordinary healings. And while Jesus is still considered our primary Wayshower, Unity’s name was an inspired idea which came to Charles in meditation as he realized that these teachings were actually a blend of the ancient wisdom from many faith traditions. The spiritual principles involved are not only Universal but also a foundation for the works that Jesus did and called us to do as well.

You will not find a dogma or certain rites to follow in Unity. We honor the divine truth found in all spiritual paths. But since 1889, Unity has been exploring and applying these spiritual principles which have been organized into our 5 Basic Principles. (CLICK HERE to read our Beliefs.) The organization we call Unity is founded on prayer, and since the 1880’s Unity has provided a global prayer ministry that responds to your prayer requests and has been holding a vigil of prayer night and day, seven days a week.

Some of you may know Unity for its written ministry of Daily Word. Since 1924, this publication has been supporting the world with daily spiritual affirmations, scriptures and positive inspirations that remind us of God’s presence in our lives and how we might experience God’s divine qualities in our mind, body and spirit.

Unity also publishes the magazine Spirituality and Health and offers spiritual retreats at our world headquarters in Unity Village.

Unity educates and ordains Unity ministers through our seminary, Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute. The first ministerial class was ordained in 1906 and our founding minister, Rev. Kitty Benson was ordained 100 years later in 2006. Unity in Naperville was established in 2007 and is a member ministry of Unity Worldwide Ministries. There are now over 600 Unity churches and centers in the United States and another 200 worldwide.

Unity minister and poet laureate, James Dillet Freeman, may summarize Unity best when he wrote…

“Unity was not founded to separate people into another body, bounded by religious laws, doctrines, practices, and rituals. It was founded on the notion that God is within you, and therefore your purpose in life is to express your divine potential. Everything Unity has done as a church, it has done to help you achieve this purpose. It accepts you where you are and for what you are, and it helps you become the child of God you were born to be. Perhaps the essence of Unity’s meaning as a new and different kind of church is in its name. UNITY. This name leaves no one out.”