Fillmore: A New Christian Outreach
Last week, by a 9 to 1 margin, the membership of Unity Worldwide Ministries voted to move their organization into a department of Unity World Headquarters to be called Unity Community and Leaders. The vote shows that the vast majority of Unity churches, ministers, and teachers want to speak with one voice and to engage under one umbrella organization. Unity now speaks with one voice and is governed by one organization. I honor that decision and commit to engaging and working with my colleagues and fellow ministries through the new organizational model outlined in the charter.
The Problem As I See It
Many people associate the vote with a decision to clarify Unity branding, specifically Unity's identity as a Christian movement. I agree. From what I see, this vote is the culmination two events in 2023: (1) Shad Groverland's Power of Focused Ministry workshops given throughout 2023, promoting Christianity as one of Unity's "pillars," and (2) Jim Blake's video message in November 2023 stating that a branding agreement made in 2010 committed Unity Worldwide Ministries to agreeing that it would "not brand [itself] as primarily Christian." Shad is no longer the CEO of UWM, and UWM is now under UWH’s purview. It was clear then, and it is clear now, that the vast majority of people in Unity do not identify as primarily Christian.
There were other issues. Unity Worldwide Ministries had financial problems, its board of trustees had repeated resignations and appointments, and the number of brick-and-mortar ministries in the United States had declined from approximately 600 to 300 ministries since 2012, the date of the last UWM yearbook. I may be mistaken about the vote, but I am astonished that no one has linked these problems to the 2009-2010 decision not to brand as primarily Christian.
So it may be that 9 out of 10 Unity leaders no longer identify primarily as Christian and want their ministry branding to reflect that. Or it may be that 9 out of 10 are not asking why we have so many problems in Unity today. Regardless, what about the 1 in 10 who identify as Christian? I can tell you, this vote is not what I wanted for Christmas.
The Way Forward
Here is how I deal with that. I recognize that the vote was made by informed, intelligent, and well-intentioned leaders who sincerely believe it is in the best interest of the Unity movement. I also recognize that underlying the vote was a loving desire for greater harmony and cooperation. We are a blended family, but a family nonetheless; we disagree, but have the capacity to find harmony in disagreement; and, together, through the UWH portal, we will continue the educational movement inaugurated by you-know-who.
Do we have the capacity to find harmony in disagreement? I believe we do. Disagreements are resolved when one person takes the first step, allowing the other to respond positively. This is a simplistic, two-step dance, but it's what families do. The vote may have been decisive, but its consequences will only be known by how well we dance in the coming year. My advice is to set aside skepticism and judgment. Join the dance.
Let me share a positive sign that we are on our way to overcoming our difficulties. I recently shared with Jim Blake why it makes no sense for TruthUnity to carry the Unity brand in its logo and messaging, which I will explain in a moment. My concern was that the decision not to rebrand would marginalize me by denying full participation in the UWH portal. Soon after, the charter was tweaked to allow "people living the work" and "aligning with its spirit while participating fully in the shared ecosystem" full access to the portal, regardless of whether they "may carry the Unity brand or not." Jim listened, and he took a first step. I am grateful for that.
So, Why Have a Fillmore Fellowship?
Christian denominations have always been suspicious of Unity as another denomination, more so now that UWH has hundreds of affiliated brick-and-mortar ministries within its organization. For a Christian denomination, the promotion of Unity publications by another denomination is a red flag indicating poaching. Charles Fillmore had the same problem, so he repeatedly declared that Unity is not sectarian and refused to join what is now the National Council of Churches. Charles R. Fillmore resolved the issue in 1966 by splitting off the field ministries altogether.
I bring the Fillmore teachings to the Christian churches in the name of Fillmore, not Unity. I do that for two reasons. First, Fillmore is a truly nondenominational term. Many people are inspired by Fillmore’s teachings but have no interest in Unity as a denomination. Second, I respect those in Unity who do not identify as Christian and who object to my claiming on TruthUnity.net that "The Unity teachings are Christian". By using the name Fillmore, I honor their objection.
So it should be of no concern for me that Unity World Headquarters and its Community and Leaders declare themselves no longer branded as primarily Christian. What does concern me is that the Fillmore teachings have an identifiable name and that those who want to associate with other students of the Fillmore teachings have a way to recognize one another.
I reach Christians and their churches through the Fillmore Study Bible and the first of several Fillmore Bible Studies called Christmas Bible Lessons, the Fillmore Wings Study Program, the Fillmore Statement of Faith, and the soon-to-be-renamed website Fillmore.Faith, and the association I have named Fillmore Fellowship. Again, I bring the Fillmore teachings to the Christian churches in the name of Fillmore, not in the name of Unity.
That the Fillmore Fellowship is an association is no more significant than is the association called EarthCare, study groups called A Course in Miracles, non-Fillmore programs adopted by Unity such as Integral Christianity and Spiral Dynamics, or any other association that operates independently within and outside of Unity churches. Fillmore Fellowships may also evolve into churches. If, in their judgment, the Fillmore name is better aligned with their teaching than the Unity brand, we will also welcome them into our association. There is no reason why such an association should concern UWH or the Unity Community and Leaders, except fear. I ask skeptics to check your prosperity consciousness.
How We Serve the Best Interests of the Unity Movement
Some of you may think that, by and large, the Unity movement, its churches, and its congregants have never been Christian. That is a mistake. It may be true now, but it wasn't so 30 years ago. In fact, assuming Unity was never Christian may be the most significant mistake people in Unity have made in the past 30 years, or at least since its rebranding in 2010 to no longer identify as primarily Christian.
Others may think that the name Fillmore splits the brand and weakens Unity. We live in an age of disruption, when powerful brands fall because they protect their sacred cow at the expense of reaching the unserved flock. Look around. We see many "First Baptist" this and "United Methodist" that. They're there, but they're struggling. The explosive growth is in ministries with names like Gateway, Crossroads, and Elevation. Further, all these names are followed by "Church," a practice highly discouraged by the 2010 brand guidelines.
Still others may think that my Fillmore focus or outreach to Christians and their churches is inappropriate or divisive. The fact is that we are focused on the same objective the Fillmores devoted themselves to accomplish: to provide an understandable pathway that leads to non-Unity churches and congregants who understand and adopt their metaphysical teaching. We are a distinct and authentic expression of the historic Christian faith.
Mark Hicks
Sunday, November 16, 2025
Founder and Developer, TruthUnity.net
