Universal Foundation for Better Living

Universal Foundation for Better Living
Classification Universal Foundation for Better Living
Orientation New Thought
Origin 1974
Chicago, Illinois
Separated from Unity Church
Congregations 30
Official website Official UFBL website

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The Universal Foundation for Better Living, or UFBL, is a New Thought denomination that was founded in 1974 by Johnnie Coleman in Chicago, Illinois. Coleman founded the foundation as an association for African American New Thought ministers after breaking away from the Unity Church for "blatant racism".[1] Rev. Coleman is often referred to as "the First Lady of New Thought".[2]

History

After founding the first predominantly African American Unity Church in 1954, Coleman broke away in 1974. Named the Universal Foundation for Better Living, the foundation had 22,000 members in the late 1980s, with a 32-acre facility in the Chicago-area.[3] The foundation adheres closely to the principles taught by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore.[4]

Today the denomination has more than 30 churches across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, with a majority of African American members. The Rev. Mary Tumpkin has served as the leader of the UFBL since 2007, when Rev. Coleman retired.[5]

References

  1. ^ DuPree, S.S. (1996) African-American Holiness Pentecostal movement: an annotated bibliography. Taylor & Francis. p 380.
  2. ^ Finley, S.C., Alexander, T. (2009) African American religious cultures, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. p 280.
  3. ^ Payne, W.J. (1991) Directory of African American religious bodies: a compendium by the Howard University School of Divinity. Howard University Press. p 125.
  4. ^ Neusner, J. (2009) World Religions in America: An Introduction. Westminster John Knox Press. p 278.
  5. ^ Finley, S.C., Alexander, T. (2009) African American religious cultures, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO. p 281.

External links