For the first time, a Unity church in St. Louis whose membership is mostly white has an African-American senior minister. But the things that count the most to the Unity Church of Peace community in the Lemay area are this minister’s commitment, message and heart. Race is irrelevant.
When she spoke during a weekend visit in November, the connection between community and minister was instantaneous.
“Everyone has been so excited to welcome me,” said Rev. Josette Jackson, 55, during an interview at the church. “There is a bubbling energy here. Everyone is committed to the church’s mission, which attracted me here. That mission is ‘to know God, to embrace all life, and to express love and peace.’”
Jackson drove from Denver to St. Louis in January to serve the church at 3701 Bayless Ave., between Lemay Ferry Road and Interstate 55. Her appointment, the result of a yearlong search, was announced to a cheering church on the Sunday before Christmas. Her first Sunday at the lectern was January 19. She was formally installed on February 9.
Jackson said, “Importantly, people from all walks of life are always welcome at our church,” which will celebrate its 60th anniversary in June.
Jackson, an ordained Unity minister since 2003, replaced Rev. Sallie Fox, who served the church from October 2005 to January 2013.
Jackson most recently served as senior minister at Unity on the Avenue in Denver from 2010 to 2012, while at the same time owning and operating a day-care center and preschool in Denver, which she served from 2009 through 2012. From 2008 to 2009, she was a substitute teacher in Michigan. From 2003 to 2007, she was senior minister at Unity Church of Ottawa, Canada. Before that she served in ministerial roles at Unity churches in Denver; Battle Creek, Michigan; and in Arlington, Texas.
Jackson is skilled at speaking, spiritual counseling, teaching, accounting, community relations, strategic planning, writing and peacemaking. She developed and implemented church business and spiritual plans, and she has designed and delivered classes, workshops and retreats on a variety of subjects, including teaching students to choose to live a creative, peaceful and prosperous life.
While race was not relevant in their choice of pastor, church members said they want a more diverse population. “There is strength in diversity,” more than one member said.
“A start toward drawing African Americans here is showing them a reflection of themselves,” Jackson said, pointing to herself and smiling.
In noting Unity’s uniqueness, she said while other denominations say there are two powers, good and evil, “in Unity, we believe God is the only power. We don’t deny there are evil acts, but we believe those acts stem from error thinking.”
Unity is a positive, practical, progressive approach to spirituality and Christianity based on Jesus’ teachings and the power of prayer. Unity honors the truths in all religions and is guided by five principles (see sidebar).
With international headquarters in Unity Village, Missouri, outside Lee’s Summit, Unity was founded in Kansas City in 1889. Silent Unity, the movement’s chief prayer ministry, is always available for prayer support by calling 1-800-NOW-PRAY (669-7729). For more information, visit unity.org.
William DeWitt Townsend edits religious books and is a freelance writer.
