Methods and Ideals

METHODS AND IDEALS for CONDUCTING CENTERS AND STUDY CLASSES

BY

The Field Department of Unity School of Christianity

917 Tracy, Kansas City, Mo.

This document was sent to me by Rev. Eleanor Fleming, my friend and mentor, when I announced my intention to start a study class in Round Rock, Texas based on the Correspondence School Course.  Thank you, Eleanor!

Here is my summary of the six parts:

The mission of a Unity center or study class is a fuller expression of Christian principles by helping others obtain a clearer realization of the working power of God within them.

There are three states of consciousness of those who come:
  1. A desire for Truth
  2. Accumulating thoughts and ideas about Truth
  3. Gaining a clear realization of Truth in those ideas and the development of self-expression
The success of a center or study group depends on getting those who attend to the third state of consciousness. Therefore:
 
Part One - Introduction: The primal object of a center's ministry is the development of coworkers, rather than the teaching of many ideas about truth. Those who have established a "conscious relationship with the power and the presence of God within themselves" will "automatically become teachers and healers" and function as the "strong point in the organization."
 
Part Two - Teaching: Self-expression is gained by the assimilation of Truth rather than the assimilation of many ideas about many truths. The center or study class should teach "a simple truth thoroughly applied" instead of teaching "maze of ideas" that only "scatters one's ideas and forces."
 
Part Three - Healing: A very high form of the third state of consciousness (self-expression) is healing -- and healing must be a practical part of all persons who participate in the center's ministry. Unity stresses Spiritual Healing, which is healing through the Word as taught by Jesus, as opposed to mental healing, which rests on the power of the practitioner and the laying on of hands.
 
Part Four - Co-operation and Ethics: Having "strong spiritual realizations" is not sufficient for leading a center or study group. In order for a center or study group to be successful, those with strong spiritual realizations must obtain co-operation with others in every phase of a spiritual ministry. They do this by holding to high ethical ideals and being "true to the name Unity."
 
Part Five - Finances: The center or study group should see finances as an opportunity to teach Truth principle rather than as a means of carrying on the ministry. For the student, this means learning about the real Source of supply and the importance of justly compensating teachers and healers. For the leader, this means understanding that "supply comes very largely in accordance with the fullness of service that he gives to the students that come to the class or center."
 
Part Six - Miscelleneous Suggestions: One or two members of a center or study class who have a conscious realization of the power and presence of Spirit working in their lives is more important than large numbers, social functions or organizational structure. "Each center and study class is an independent unit of service" who's "primal purpose is to give forth the message of God to man, in order that man may be lifted above the sense of limitation and into the consciousness which was his in the beginning."