LETTERS AND CORRESPONDENCE

General

To: <lonewolfpress@kc.rr.com>
Subject: Good Work!
Date: Saturday, July 03, 2004 3:58 PM

Dear Coworkers in Unity:

What a pleasure it is to read intelligent discourse on your website. It is necessary for those of us who love and serve the Unity teachings to be reminded of the basic tenets of our faith, and to practice in all our affairs what it is our privilege to represent. I am especially pleased that you also publish material sent by Unity Institute to outline their plans and projects. My hope is that an informed Unity Movement will pray us through the dramatic changes necessary to reemerge as guardians of our Fillmore legacy.

Blessings of love and light,
Mario de Ferrari
Minister-Christ Church Unity, Anaheim CA

Please add me to your e-mail list.  Blessings on the wonderful work you are doing for all of us.
A Unity minister from the South West

The Place of Jesus Christ in Silent Unity Prayers

To: <lonewolfpress@kc.rr.com>
Subject: Re: Certain Events in the Silent Unity Prayer Room
Date: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 5:36 AM

LUCADANO, Patricia
10208 East 20th Street
Independence, MO 64052

July 5, 2004

To the Editors:

I am writing this letter in response to the request that I document in writing my experience in the Prayer Room as an employee of Silent Unity as previously related verbally.

I was employed by Silent Unity in April of 1992 as a Telephone Prayer Associate; my duties consisted of praying with all who called for prayer, taking a turn in the Prayer Vigil Chapel each shift, and filling out a form called a "topper" which contained information about the caller and the request for prayer for the purpose of generating a letter to follow up.

The prayers were contained in a book under topics, and were to be used as a format for all with whom we prayed. The format was loose, and deviation from it in more than a moderate way was strongly discouraged.

After approximately two years of employment (1994), I was selected to join a group of Silent Unity Prayer Associates for the purpose of re-writing the prayer book. The group consisted of about 25 persons, and we were addressed by Richard and Mary Alice Ja Folla, who were the Directors of Silent Unity.

The meeting was held to welcome us to the project, and to give us a "vision" of what was required of us. We were told, among other things, that the use of the name "Jesus Christ" was no longer to be used in the prayer work. It was explained that, while Unity was a Christian denomination, Silent Unity was not–it was to be truly non-denominational so that we would be able to pray with anyone of any faith without offending them. Our guiding premise was simple: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

The deletion of "Jesus Christ" from our prayer format distressed me greatly, and I was very close to resignation. I met with the Ja Follas personally to discuss it with them. I was told that the principles of Silent Unity were indeed Christian, but Christian language, i.e. using the name of Jesus, prevented us from being of service to those whose faith was other than Christian. Since the mission of the Prayer Room was to reach out to all persons, I was able to accept this and continue with the work.

I was one of only two people of the initial twenty-five that began the prayer book project who continued to the end of the project, and wrote two prayer books. The task took more than two years. Many persons left the Prayer Book Committee after one or two meetings; none were replaced until the committee consisted of six persons. When a resignation occurred from this point on, the vacancy was filled. All members were active Prayer Room Associates.

From time to time, when issues of "doctrine" or policy came up, the Ja Follas were requested to clarify any confusion concerning the work. Their consistent replies to the committee were to pray in the name of the "Living Christ Presence" and the unifying idea behind all of the prayers was to be "Love, love, love." My membership in the Prayer Book Committee was continuous from the first meeting until the second Prayer Book was completed and placed on the work stations in the Prayer Room.

I hope this information is sufficient for your purposes. If not, I will gladly answer any questions or fill in any details that you require.

Yours in Christ,
Patricia Lucadano

Editor’s Note: This policy defining the place of Jesus Christ in the Unity prayer ministry was in effect during the mid 1990’s. The former Senior Directors of Silent Unity are no longer with unity® and the standards then in place do not necessarily reflect the position of subsequent prayer ministry management. An understanding of the historical context explains the reason for contentions made that "Jesus" has for the most part been removed from the prayers of Silent Unity. It is because he was.