In honor of Women's History Month, Unity would like to pay tribute to the many powerful women that have shaped Unity's history and continue to lead Unity into the future. There are many influential women in leadership positions at Unity's World Headquarters and around the world leading ministries. A few of their voices are captured here and we honor the inspirational work of all Unity's female leaders—past, present and future.

By Lysa Allman-Baldwin

Unity began with founders Myrtle and Charles Fillmore in the late 1800s. Myrtle's compassion, dedication and faith were the foundation of what would become the Unity movement. In the decades that followed, there were numerous female Unity and New Thought pioneers including H. Emilie Cady, May Rowland, Johnnie Colemon, Rosemary Fillmore Rhea, Connie Fillmore, Martha Smock and many others. Together they were instrumental in developing Unity into a worldwide movement of prayer and spiritual enrichment. Unity's first group of ordained ministers was comprised of all women in 1906.

Nurturing a Worldwide Movement
Today Unity continues to develop and attract worldwide appeal under the leadership of several contemporary, dynamic women ministers. As spiritual leaders of large congregations, founders of alternative New Thought ministries and authors of best-selling New Thought books, these women play a significant role in empowering others to live healthy, prosperous and meaningful lives.

Rev. Ellen Debenport, senior minister at Unity of Wimberley in Wimberley, Texas, says women are integral to ministry because they represent half of the world's population. “Studies show that women are far more likely to attend church, read spiritual books, and openly pursue a spiritual path, therefore we need to have women as leaders and role models.”

In addition to nurturing a thriving congregation, Debenport's leadership includes serving on the Board of Directors at Unity World Headquarters at Unity Village, and co-hosting the program Absolute Living, on Unity Online Radio. She is also the author of The Five Principles: A Guide to Practical Spirituality.

“Women are on the cutting edge of Unity's future,” says Debenport, “yet I am grateful it was founded by a couple—Charles and Myrtle Fillmore. They represent the masculine and feminine qualities of the divine that exist in every person. Part of Unity's appeal is that it offers understanding for women and men, as well as for different generations.”

According to Rev. Rhonda Gola, a Unity minister and director of Silent Unity and Daily Word in New Zealand, female energy plays a powerful role in the transformation of consciousness. “The heart energy of women has the power … to bring about the forgiveness, acceptance, compassion and wisdom needed to lift the human mind and heart to a higher soul awareness and acceptance,” she says. 

Over the years, Gola has observed more women embarking upon a spiritual path in their careers and personal lives. As a result, she anticipates that women will be instrumental in bringing about a significant shift toward a higher global consciousness. “A strong universal energy is what is needed to take us to the next dimension of living life as a child of God,” she says.

Rev. Felicia Blanco Searcy, senior minister at Unity Church of Life in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and author of Do Greater Things: Following in Jesus' Footsteps, says that as spiritual role models, women nurture their own natural power and strength while empowering others. “As more women step forward into ministry, claim their divine birthright as leaders, and answer the call of ministry, the Divine Feminine awakens. This brings to life compassion, strength and intuition.”

Searcy also notes that women bring a unique voice and experience to the realm of spiritual development, one that she says has been missing for millenniums. “Our input is sought and valued. The world as a whole seems to be waking up to the reality that all voices are needed and women ministers add tremendously to the conversation.”

Men, Searcy says, are equally blessed by female spiritual leaders. “Men can also claim and express their Divine Feminine. As a result, order is established, setting the stage for our next evolutionary leap. The male and female energy can then integrate, complement and empower one another.”

In addition to Unity's early female pioneers, Searcy also credits contemporary Unity and New Thought leaders—Wendy Craig-Purcell, founding minister of The Unity Center in San Diego, California, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Louise Hay, Jean Houston and others—for their contributions to global spiritual development. “These women have overcome great odds in their own lives, claimed their voice and encouraged all of us to find ours,” she says. “They have paved the way and those of us coming after them … will continue what they have started.”

Inspiring Women at Unity Village
Women in leadership are evident at Unity World Headquarters. The current president and CEO, vice president of Communications, vice president of Silent Unity and Development, the director of Silent Unity's telephone prayer ministry, the network director of Unity Online Radio, and the editors for Unity's classic daily devotional Daily Word, and Unity Magazine are all women.

“Unity is blessed to have many competent women in leadership positions at Unity World Headquarters and on our Board of Directors,” says Charlotte Shelton, president and CEO. “We are blessed to have many competent men in leadership positions as well. I am grateful for this movement's commitment to diversity. My personal intention is to create a balanced organization where masculine and feminine qualities are fully appreciated and expressed.”

 

Learn more about Unity's female co-founder, Myrtle Fillmore.