"The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it." - Chief Joseph
Statement on U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord
June 5, 2017
As news of President Trump’s decree that the United States is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord spread across the globe, many citizens of the world were shocked and dismayed. The international agreement represents a positive beginning toward solving the problem of worldwide excessive carbon dioxide emissions and thus, climate change.
Unity stands with those who support the Paris Climate Accord, and like millions of others, we know our choice is made relevant through the amalgamation of individual action. Each of us can do our part, on small scales and large, and together, we can make a difference. No political action can prevent or hinder the positive impact of global citizens who are committed to the care of our earth.
Unity Worldwide Ministries and its EarthCare Ministry Team have long been involved with raising awareness of earth care issues and encouraging conscious choices that help to heal our planet. We will continue to do so with renewed fervor as we know spiritually, it is our responsibility to live in harmony with nature and to respect the gift of earth’s resources we are given.
The following statement was created by our EarthCare Team in 2015. Now, more than ever, Unity commits to “advancing the growth of environmental consciousness and right action.” Please join us as we affirm our interconnectedness and our collective power to affect positive change.
Climate Change
As humanity has been primarily responsible for climate change, we affirm that it will be humanity which will co-create a vision of the environmentally conscious use of energy and our planet’s fragile resources. We joyfully participate in our God-given role as good stewards of the Earth. Through prayer, mediation, church or spiritual center-inspired activism, and the skillful use of media, we affirm that the Unity movement is a world leader in advancing the growth of environmental consciousness and right action.
Statement for Diversity
Unity teaches that all people are created with sacred worth and that no one exists outside the heart of God. We recognize and honor the Divine within as the one common denominator that we share on our human journey.
"We believe that all people are created with sacred worth. Therefore, we recognize the importance of serving all people within the Unity family in spiritually and emotionally caring ways. We strive for our ministries, publications and programs to reach out to all who seek Unity support and spiritual growth. It is imperative that our ministries and outreaches be free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, physical disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. Our sincere desire is to ensure that all Unity organizations are nondiscriminatory and support diversity.
In our effort to reach out to all people as did our Way Shower, Jesus Christ, we support the modification of our facilities to make them accessible to all people and respect the wonderful variety of human commitments and relationships.
We encourage ministers, teachers and others within Unity to honor the strength of diversity within their spiritual communities. It is with love and in celebration of our unity, in the midst of our wondrous diversity, that we affirm this position.”
MARRIAGE RIGHTS
Though Unity takes no official position on political issues, Unity churches are free to support same- sex marriages. Unity Village, the world headquarters of the Unity movement, and many churches and centers perform holy unions and marriages where they are legal.
LGBTQ MINISTERS
The Unity movement accepts and welcomes LGBT ministers, licensed Unity teachers, and ministerial and licensed Unity teacher candidates. While no specific data is available, a sizeable percentage of Unity ministers and congregants are connected to the LGBT community.
Statement for Peace
Unity stands for peace in the presence of conflict; for love in the presence of hatred; for forgiveness in the presence of injury. Unity honors the many names for God, the many paths to God, the many ways to worship God; for there is only one power and presence of God and that God loves each one of us equally. It is therefore the position of Unity Worldwide Ministries and Unity World Headquarters at Unity Village to urge all nations, their leaders and their people to turn to God by whatever the name for guidance during these challenging times and pursue peace, not war, for this is what honors the God of all our faith traditions. Unity stands for peace in our lifetime.
Statement for Social Action
Webster defines the word “unity” as “the state of forming a complete and pleasing whole....” At this time in the evolution of the planet and the lives of human beings upon it, the task of “forming a complete and pleasing whole” is the imperative for positive evolution and harmonious existence for all.
is perspective has seemingly been lost—our wholeness, our oneness, our same-ness as a human race. We must now remember more than ever, that we have much more in common than that which divides us.
The Unity movement stands for and will tirelessly work for harmony so all people may know the freedom of peaceful expression; so they may know their own inner worth and essential contribution to the whole of life.
- Where there are divisions of opinions, beliefs and perspectives, Unity embraces curiosity, exploration and expanded awareness of the gifts of diversity.
- Where there is fear of “the other,” Unity stands for inclusivity and peaceful acceptance of another’s right to create the life of his or her choosing.
- Where there is oppression and hatred, we stand for justice and understanding, and for extending compassion, kindness and forgiveness to restore balance.
- Where there is discrimination, we stand for inclusivity and equality. We pledge to be an advocate for the wellbeing, respect and civil freedom of every human being.
Any proposal or action that seeks to discriminate against individuals or classes of individuals based on prejudiced, stereotypic pro les of national origin, class, creed, race, ethnicity, physical ability or sexual orientation is in opposition to the core beliefs and values established by our founders.
We choose Unity. In harmony with the divine Spirit we stand, so we may live in a spiritually awakened world that is continually evolving.
This is our prayer and our decree. rough our actions, we let it be.
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