Unity Becoming More Socially Engaged?

A few months ago Unity minister, Rev. John Strickland, wrote a brief article on Unity.org entitled "Genesis of Spiritual Social Action" about how an Atlanta, GA Unity congregation became more involved in "missions" or ministerial outreach to impoverished parts of Peru, building orphanages and things of this nature. He also comments that this kind of activity is the genesis of something new in Unity.

I agree. For most of its history, Unity has been largely concerned with attuning itself to the personal growth of individuals. Engagement through social action has not been of utmost importance to Unity communities.

As a person thoroughly committed to the convictions and work of the Unity Church, I feel that transformation, however, can't be conceived as confined simply to the individual person; spiritual development is also a communal process, as well, which requires individuals actively participating in society, working towards social progress. Individual-personal spiritual growth is basic and important, but so is extending this activity into the social sphere. In fact, since the society in which a person lives is his/her fundamental context, this social atmosphere also plays a part in impacting personal spiritual growth. Thus, people are able to better ignite their own transformation when they are supported by a loving and caring community, living in an equal and just society. Upholding and practicing social action and community building is part and parcel of spiritual transformation.

For too long our Unity movement has focused more on the individual in terms of spiritual growth, and this is truly important. But, Unity has the capacity to be a wonderful force of social transformation, as well. This involves Unity people becoming even more active in "missions" - community outreach, social justice issues, human rights advocacy, among a plethora of other avenues of societal development. I'm sure there are already movements in this direction (I can think of a couple particular instances from my personal experience), but I would love to see the Unity movement lead the way in living Jesus' example of an egalitarian attitude as well as action of attending to the poor, downtrodden, outcaste, and oppressed of the world.

Along with Rev. Strickland, I believe that this preoccupation only with individual transformation is beginning to alter. For Unity groups are recognizing the potential that Unity beliefs and practices have for social engagement in the world.