Universal Foundation for Better Living

Last updated
Universal Foundation for Better Living
AbbreviationUFBL
Classification New Thought Christianity
Scripture Bible (interpreted metaphysically)
Theology New Thought
FounderReverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon
PresidentReverend Dr. Sheila McKeithen
Past PresidentReverend Dr. Mary Tumpkin
Associations International New Thought Alliance
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters Miami Gardens, Florida, United States
Territory United States, Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad, The Bahamas, Guyana
OriginJune 1974
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Separated from Unity Church
Member Ministries17
Seminaries Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary
PublicationsDaily Inspiration for Better Living
Official website https://ufbl.org/
Slogan"It Works If You Work It"

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

Contents

History

After founding the first predominantly African American Unity Church in 1954, Colemon 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]

In 2009, the denomination had more than 30 churches across the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, with a majority of African American members. Colemon appointed Mary A. Tumpkin as President of the foundation in 1995, where she served until she died in November 2013. [5] In 2015, Rev. Sheila R. McKeithen became the foundation's third President.

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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.