Edward R. Miller, the first president of Youth of Unity (YOU), recently made his transition at the age of 94. Miller helped to build a strong YOU foundation and left a legacy of love, support and spiritual empowerment for youth in Unity that has lasted for decades.
Finding Unity
Born in 1915, Miller stumbled across Unity as a teenager. Although he had a Christian Science background, he was drawn to Unity's principles. His involvement in Unity eventually led him to become a student of Unity minister and author Ernest Wilson—one of Unity's foundational leaders who served the movement for more than 60 years.
In 1936, Lowell Fillmore (son of Unity's founders Charles and Myrtle Fillmore) founded Chi Lambda Epsilon to ”establish spiritual cooperation among the youth of the world.” A year later, the group's name was changed to Youth of Unity. Miller, a member of the YOU organizing committee, was elected as the organization's first president.
Miller worked at Unity Farm (now Unity Village) in the 1930s, and filled his home with Unity books, magazines other references. In addition to being the first YOU president, he served as co-editor (along with his wife) of the Unity youth publication The Forum News.
According to his son, Kirk Miller, Unity played an important role in their family. “The Unity teachings and philosophy were very much alive in our house growing up,” he said. “Unity was an important part of my parents' life. He met my mother at Unity, and … Unity was really their playground. My dad played golf there and my mother used the pool. … My grandparents on my mother's side also attended Unity.”
A very spiritual man, Edward Miller lovingly typed pages of Unity affirmations which helped him find an inner strength to face challenges throughout his life—unemployment at midlife, stroke and colon cancer. The younger Miller says these affirmations helped his father remain positive and hopeful.
The Early Youth of Unity
YOU experienced exponential growth in the early years as new chapters formed across the country. An annual national conference at Unity Farm brought together scores of delegates and members for business sessions, meetings with Unity teachers and leaders and other activities. By 1939, the number of attendees reached nearly 300.
A souvenir program from the 1937 annual conference offers this perspective on the organization at that time:
“(YOU) … is a group of young people banded together … to live a Christian life to the best of their knowledge and ability through application of the principle as taught by Jesus Christ … It has spread beyond the confines of the Center or the Sunday School, and we find we are attracting those who desire a truer concept of God in all ways, that they may have more of Good.”
Edward Miller once wrote, “Being the first and second president of YOU … has always been a highlight in my life. I can look back upon it as a very happy and rewarding experience.”
Empowering Youth to Discover, Lead and Experience
YOU continues to flourish today and provides youth ages 14-18 the opportunity to explore Unity's principles and other truth teachings, and to demonstrate them in daily life.
YOU members meet weekly, usually Sunday mornings at a Unity center, and discuss spiritual teachings, social interaction and church and/or community activities.
In the United States there are eight Unity regions. Each year YOU groups come together regionally to participate in leadership events, fundraisers, service projects and rallies.
Over the years, many YOU graduates have gone on to lead their own youth groups or have become Unity ministers. The work of Edward Miller and the many YOU leaders since his time have built a strong system to help youth in Unity become spiritually empowered and find fellowship with like-minded people.
Read more about the Youth of Unity.
Learn about the upcoming Peace Be Still International Youth of Unity event.
