Over the past two years, Christ Church Unity in Orlando, Fla., has successfully launched four spiritual social action teams. With about 200 members, this Unity church is focusing on green awareness, peace, diversity and community outreach.

The Green Team
Informing church members about new ways to conserve and protect natural resources is a top priority for the Christ Church Unity Green Team. Team coordinator and church chaplain Ron Habin has a passion for teaching people how to “go green.” He says, “We don't necessarily need green churches as much as we need green congregations that bring their consciousness out into the world.”

A statement from Unity co-founder Charles Fillmore about spiritual coexistence provides the driving force behind the Green Team's vision:

“Divine Mind is inherent in all life, both animate and inanimate. Even rocks and all minerals have life. We should be speaking words of Truth, not only to humankind, but to vegetable and mineral kingdoms.”

Among other programs, the Green Team has successfully:
•    Installed a donated 100-gallon rain barrel to recycle water on campus.
•    Started a recycling program with classes for area residents.
•    Introduced nontoxic cleansers and lawn care.
•    Signed the Earth Charter, an awareness program sponsored by the United Nations.

The Peace Team
Another active group at the Orlando church is the Peace Team. It has become involved with 11 Days of Global Unity, a celebration of worldwide oneness, which begins with Unity's World Day of Prayer on September 10.

The Peace Team is participating in Orlando's annual Global Peace Film Festival by showing Playing For Change, a multimedia experience created to inspire, connect and bring peace to the world through music. The Peace Team's goal is to eventually have their church serve as the venue for the film festival as a way to promote peace.

In addition, the Peace Team has raised funds to pay for a peace pole on the church campus. It is made of recycled wood and has the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth” inscribed in several languages.

The Diversity Team
Established in 2008, the Diversity Team was created to ensure that Christ Church Unity welcomes all people and is free of discrimination. The team participates in area festivals and events to share Unity's belief that all people are created with sacred worth.

Last year the church hosted director Daniel Karslake to show his 2007 documentary For the Bible Tells Me So. The film explores perceived conflicts between homosexuality and religion. The Diversity Team is also responsible for bringing a sign language interpreter to the church's Sunday worship service.

The Outreach Team
Recent economic conditions have contributed to a dramatic increase in the number of homeless people in the Orlando area. Entire families are in need of assistance. Christ Church Unity's Outreach Team is working to assist these individuals.

The team's first major outreach effort was a post-Thanksgiving dinner for homeless individuals and families. The event, entitled “Survive to Thrive,” was announced a month in advance to area shelters, and transportation to the church was provided. Approximately 150 people enjoyed dinner, music and games for the children. Chaplains were available for prayer support.

Also to help homeless in the area, the group initiated a “snack pack” program where kits of healthy, nutritious snacks are assembled each month. Volunteers keep the snack packs in their cars, ready to share with anyone in need.

A World That Works for All
The Christ Church Unity Web site expresses the church's commitment to spiritual social action. It states, “Through service to our neighbor, church and world, we build a community of care and compassion through action, expanding and transforming ourselves as well.” Together these four teams are working to create a world that works for all.
 

---

To learn more about spiritual social action, explore these Unity resources:

Be the Change
A program from the Association of Unity Churches International

A World That Works
A social action oriented Unity.FM radio program with Deborah Olive and Kelly Isola, which airs every Monday

World Day of Prayer
Explore the new social action board for ideas about service projects.

 

Comments

Login to post a comment