Unification Church News

National

Call for News Stories and Ideas: Have a story idea or news tip that you would like published on http://www.familyfed.org/members/ and http://unificationnews.com/? Email news@unification.org to submit an article or to send...; Read More

Maryland Church Turns Outward on Mothers’ Day: On May 12th, Mothers’ Day, the Maryland Church decided to put its best foot forward and to invite the local neighbor to join in an Open House, including a speech from Landover Hills Mayor Lee Walker,...; Read More

Faith Leaders Gather for 10th Anniversary of the Jerusalem Interfaith Declaration: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Doug Burton Media Relations Middle East Peace Initiative Phone: (202) 203-9883 E-Mail: dburton@unification.orgFriday, May 10, 2013Faith Leaders Gather...; Read More

U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom Confirms Abductions in Japan: For years, religious freedom activists in the United States have appealed to the U.S. State Department and to the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to document the outrageous crimes against...; Read More

Family Values Banquet Honors Detroit Pastors: American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) pastors and Family Federation members joined in celebrating Detroit’s 11th Annual ACLC True Family Values Banquet on Saturday, April 27, 2013....; Read More

Seattle Unificationists Protest Religious Persecution in Japan: Visitors ambling at a leisurely pace into Seattle’s renowned Cherry Blossom Festival expected the sublime, and they got it, but there was also a jarring bump in the road for some. Past the gorgeous...; Read More

Gen Peace Academy Launches Ocean-Fishing Module: Every day for 10 days in December 2012 in Los Angeles young Unificationists hustled early each morning to load a 15-passenger van with the day’s lunch and scramble off to the Long Beach Marina....; Read More

Dr. Balcomb Speaks to Generation Peace Academy Workshop: On Friday April 12, 2013 amongst the breath-taking, snowcapped forest mountains in Estes Park, Colorado Generation Peace Academy (GPA) gathered for a Families...; Read More

CARP’s First Female President Bids Farewell: Victoria Roomet has recently announced to Headquarters Staff that she is moving on from her position as president of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP). The News team took...; Read More

Dr. Bo Hi Pak Gives a Sermon in Maryland: It was like old times for old timers and a rare opportunity for new timers when Dr. Bo Hi Pak, a legendary disciple of True Parents, mounted the stage to give a sermon on Sunday April 14, 2013. He spoke...; Read More

New President of Clergy Conference Calls for ‘New Wine for New Wineskins’: On Saturday, March 23, 2013 the American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC), together with the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS), co-hosted a prayer breakfast at 4 West 43rd Street in New York...; Read More

Washington March Draws Rainbow of Supporters for Traditional Marriage: The following is a letter from James Gavin, president of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) USA.The temperature was cool, but the sun was shining brightly on everyone as we marched for marriage down...; Read More

Unificationist Launches New Website: The REAL DEAL on Easter: Frustrated by conventional depictions of Easter and Jesus’ resurrection, Robert “Bob” Selle, a Unficationist in Bowie, Maryland, created a new website, “The REAL DEAL...; Read More

A Privilege of Membership: Access to Familyfed.org/members and the “UC Family News” Newsletter: If you are a registered member of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC), also known as the Unification Church or the Family Federation for World Peace, you are...; Read More

Kidnap Survivors Tell How They Found Faith, Family, and Freedom Far from Home: For the first time, a campus chapter of Amnesty International featured the survivors of religious kidnappings in Japan at a meeting at George Washington University’s Marvin Center on March 19, 2013.Ms....; Read More

Filipino Unificationists Reach Out With Panache: What started as a support group for Filipino Unificationist wives became one the largest Filipino organizations in the United States with a mission to create healthy families to resolve the complex problems...; Read More

Student Chapter of Amnesty International to Report on Japan’s Abduction Issue: Students at the George Washington University chapter of Amnesty International will host an event focused on the Japan deprogramming issue of Unificationists in Marvin Center, Room 311, 800 21st St NW,...; Read More

Generation Peace Academy Seeks Applications for 2013-2014: March 11, 2013Dear Families,We believe that Generation Peace Academy (GPA) provides a great opportunity for high-school graduates to participate in a transformational gap-year program. They will embark...; Read More

Dr. Balcomb Rallies the Faithful in Mid-States Area: Dr. Michael Balcomb recently returned from Korea and wasted no time picking up where he left off on his cross country speaking tour, dropping in to preach to the six congregations of the Washington,...; Read More

Dr. Michael Balcomb Calls for a Return to God’s Word at Inauguration Ceremony: Newly-inaugurated President of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), Dr. Michael Balcomb, has called upon Unificationists to “make all things anew” by preaching and...; Read More

Bay Family Area Church Hosts “Stand up for Marriage” Event: With a little bit of creativity and initiative, Unificationists of the Bay Area Family church successfully took an original idea and hosted the “Stand Up For Marriage and Family” banquet on...; Read More

Barrytown College to Welcome First Class of Students This Fall: After two years of intensive efforts, Barrytown College of Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) has finally been approved by the New York Board of Regents, accredited by the Middle States Commission...; Read More

Unconventional Love: Unificationists Say "I Do": Holy wine, unison vows, a procession down a grand staircase, dinner and dancing. Smiles light up the grand ballroom as cameras capture the new couples on their marriage night. A gathering of good-looking...; Read More

Protest against Adultery Billboard Generates Media: The small but determined gathering of approximately 20 Unificationists and local ministers in Philadelphia, who joined forces to protest the placement of a billboard on I-95 that reads “Thou shalt...; Read More

Rally against Pro-Adultery Billboard Draws Clergy, Activists and Media: Approximately 20 Unificationists and clergy from various congregations gathered at the Steen Outdoor Advertising building on 3201 South 26th Street in Philadelphia, to protest a billboard that reads “Thou...; Read More

Dr. Balcomb Shares the Word with Four Communities in North Carolina: Ever the traveler, Vice President of the Unification Church USA Dr. Michael Balcomb arrived at the Charlotte Airport in North Carolina on January 18, 2013 to visit four communities within the state. His...; Read More

Blessed Teens Academy Renews Effort to Study Divine Principle: Blessed Teens Academy (BTA), an international leadership academy for young Unificationists located in Blanco, Texas, participated in a three-day "Kick-off Divine Principle Workshop" presented...; Read More

Biographies of Men Selected for National Council Released: As previously announced, the following brothers were selected by the District Councils of the Unification Church USA to represent the 12 districts as a National Council of advisers to the president. The...; Read More

Archbishop Stallings Appointed Chairman of ACLC, Rev. Tom Cutts as Executive Director: The American Clergy Leadership Conference (ACLC) welcomes Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, Jr. as its new Chairman and Rev. Tom Cutts as its National Executive Director, according to a statement...; Read More

Biographies of “At Large” Female National Council Members: District 1: Libby HenkinLibby joined the church in 1972, and her church roles have included National Mobile Fundraising Team (MFT) member; pioneer and center leader for the Collegiate Association for...; Read More

Unification Church USA Selects National Council: A Unification Church USA National Council of 18 elected policy advisers has been approved by National President Rev. Hyung Jin Moon and will hold its first meeting by conference call on Monday, January...; Read More

Dr. Michael Balcomb Continues Divine Principle Trainings: Initiated in December of 2012, Dr. Michael Balcomb’s tour to explain Foundation Day and host Divine Principle training sessions with the new PowerPoint presentation produced by Headquarters continued...; Read More

Rev. Hyung Jin Moon Shares Personal Revelation with Ministers in Chicago: On Saturday evening, December 29, 2012 hundreds of Christian pastors and evangelists joined Unificationists at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church on Chicago’s west side to honor the legacy...; Read More

Freedom Society Conference Plots Strategy to Win the War of Ideas: Thirty-three leaders from New Jersey and tuning in from several other states through Skype came together at the Unification Church Center in Clifton, New Jersey on December 15, 2012 to discuss the...; Read More

Unificationists in Ohio Host First Successful Christmas Gala: The Unificationist community in Ohio showcased their holiday spirit by hosting the first locally-organized and nationally attended Christmas gala at the Grand Valley Dale Ballroom in Columbus, Ohio on...; Read More

Dr. Michael Balcomb Shows Bay Area Church that Anyone Can Lecture: Dr. Michael Balcomb, vice president of Unification Church USA, visited the Bay Area Family Church in San Leandro, California and the Sacramento Church on Saturday and Sunday, December 15 and 16, 2012...; Read More

Unificationists in New Jersey and Ohio Prepare to Strap on Dance Shoes: Unificationists in New Jersey and Ohio cordially invite everyone and anyone to partake in the holiday festivities on December 14 and 15, 2012, respectively. The following blurbs are taken from the Facebook...; Read More

The Kingdom-building Bus Was Leaving in 1972, and They Got on It: Church pioneers from 1972 or even earlier were treated to applause, awards and hugs from their children on Sunday, December 9, 2012 at the Maryland congregation of the Unification Church. For many, the...; Read More

Dr. Michael Balcomb Launches New Lecture Approach in Denver: Dr. Michael Balcomb, vice president of Unification Church, arrived in Denver, Colorado in the early morning of Saturday, December 8, 2012, for a three-day visit to evangelize and to coach church activists...; Read More

“Three-Day University” Coming in January of 2013 to Barrytown: Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) is offering a program called “Three-Day University” at its Barrytown campus on January 9-11, 2013, using the model of one-day university workshops at...; Read More

Dr. Michael Balcomb to Visit Unificationists in Arizona, Colorado and Texas: Since November 11, 2012, Dr. Michael Balcomb, vice-president of the Unification Church USA, has been invited to visit, preach to, and meet Unificationists across the country. Following his recent visits...; Read More

Hectic Four-day Training in Washington, D.C in 1972 Left its Imprint: During the holiday season of 1972, young Unificationist David Hill attended the first day of a four-day training program in Washington, D.C. that he never forgot. Forty years later, even though most of...; Read More

OSDP to Educate 5,000 Faith Leaders through National Broadcast: For the first time, the Unificationist commentary on the Bible, known as the Original Substance of the Divine Principle (OSDP), will be broadcast nationwide, and thousands of American clergy are expected...; Read More

Foot-Washing Ceremony Marks District Pastor Ordination at East Garden: Taking a page from the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon ordained 12 newly elected district pastors by washing their feet at an unprecedented East Garden ceremony Nov. 26, 2012.Rev....; Read More

Movie Theater Churches Report Their Successes: By nearly all accounts, an accomplishment of the Unification Church (UC) USA in 2012 is the establishment of successful theater churches in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Chicago. The pastors of these churches...; Read More

Leadership Program Honors Graduates of the Professional Practicum Lessons: Hurricanes and leadership changes may have rocked the Unification Church recently, but the Manhattan-based Leadership Program for young Unificationists keeps on rockin’, according to some who graduated...; Read More

Spanish-speaking Ministries Expand in the Unification Church USA: The fruits of a national effort to create a “Hispanic Ministry” for the Unification Church in the United States are becoming evident. The purpose of such a ministry, which was initiated on...; Read More

Church Vice President to Preach at Churches across the Nation: Dr. Michael William Balcomb, the newly-appointed vice president of the Unification Church USA, is scheduled to preach for 12 Sundays to at Unificationist congregations across the United States, beginning...; Read More

Generation Peace Academy Aids Victims of Hurricane in New Jersey: The costliest Atlantic hurricane in the US after Katrina, Hurricane Sandy swept through the tri-state area (NY, NJ, CT) at the end of October 2012, bringing a grislier meaning to Halloween for those whose...; Read More

True Community Hero in Washington D.C.: Dedicated Unificationist, political activist and character educator Richard Urban will host a breakfast reception November 7 at the Washington Times to introduce his character and abstinence-centered...; Read More

Unification Church Members Battered but Resourceful during Storm: With millions of New Yorkers and New Jersey residents without power in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, scores of families are taking shelter with relatives or church families or at churches after a...; Read More

Women’s Federation Convocation Concludes with Gala: After a heartfelt message of re-determination from the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, attendees of WFWP’s 20th Anniversary National Assembly took...; Read More

Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon Urges Women Leaders to Evangelize: More than 1,200 women welcomed WFWP Founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at the 20th Anniversary National Assembly of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) in the...; Read More

Women Activists Mull Ideas Changing the World: Ideas that harm, help or empower women were the focus of the plenary session for the Women’s Federation for World Peace’s (WFWP) 20th Anniversary National Assembly Oct. 26, 2012 in Las Vegas....; Read More

20th Anniversary Celebration of Women’s Federation Kicks off in Las Vegas: Distinguished women leaders and Ambassadors for Peace from various walks of life convened at the M Resort Spa Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, October 25, 2012 to participate in the Opening Session...; Read More

Results of Historic Unification Church Elections Released: The long awaited results for the Interim District Council elections are now tabulated and have been officially released on Oct. 25, 2012 The collective wisdom of the electorate was demonstrated by the...; Read More

Panelists Report Information Seep Changing North Korea: Subject experts on information technology flowing into North Korea discussed their findings at a panel briefing at the Learning Center (4 West 43rd Street) on October 18, 2012, raising topics such as...; Read More

Women’s Conference to Launch Global Peace Network in Las Vegas: The 20th Anniversary Assembly of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP)*, to be held in Las Vegas Oct. 25-27 at the new and lavish M Resort Spa Casino, is expected to stand out from other...; Read More

Unificationist Creates Treasury of Testimonies from Couples Blessed in 1982: Unificationist Rob Sayre, who was Blessed in marriage to Sally West Sayre in the now famous 1982 mass-wedding ceremony at Madison Square Garden, is calling upon the other 2,075 couples who exchanged vows...; Read More

Full Text of Rev. Hyung Jin Moon's Speech at the Washington Times 30th Anniversary Celebration: “Good evening distinguished guests. I am very honored to be here tonight. I am only three years older than The Washington Times, so I can truthfully say I have been reading this newspaper my whole...; Read More

Rev. Hyung Jin Moon Invokes Vision of the Founder at Washington Times 30th Anniversary Celebration: Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, head of both the International Unification Church and its North American branch, called upon religious and civic leaders to heed the vision of his father, the late Rev. Sun Myung...; Read More

Generation Peace Academy Tours Korea to Honor Unification Church Founder: Although the trainees of Generation Peace Academy’s (GPA) class of 2012-2013 had been aware that the year-long program included international service work, many had not anticipated traveling to...; Read More

Rev. Hyung Jin Moon Tours East Coast to Respond to Concerns of Unificationist Communities: As the second and third stop of his 12-city tour, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon, newly-appointed President and CEO of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (HSA-UWC) USA together...; Read More

New Jersey Parents Honored during Parents’ Day Awards Banquet: More than 220 clergy, community leaders, educators and local residents gathered at the Best Western Regency Hotel in Pompton Plains, NJ to honor 17 couples and three individuals at New Jersey’s...; Read More

Town Hall Meeting in Washington, D.C. Draws Enthusiastic Response: Friday, September 21, 2012 was a day of healing and new beginnings for members of the Unification faith in the Capital area district. More than 600 members from all over Maryland, Virginia and the District...; Read More

800 Unificationists Gather to Say Goodbye to Their Founder in Tarrytown, NY: More than 800 mourners gathered at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown, NY Friday evening, Sept. 14, 2012, to witness a live broadcast of the Seonghwa (funeral) ceremony for Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the founder...; Read More

Rev. Sun Myung Moon, the Founder of the Times, Dies at 92: Reprinted courtesy of the Washington TimesThe Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, the leader of the Unification Church and founder of The Washington Times, died early Monday morning in South Korea. He was 92.He...; Read More

Teens Hung Their Pride Banner over Interstate 50 in Bowie, Maryland: Three Unificationist youth were as stunned as most church members by the news of the passing of Unification Church Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon on Sunday, but they acted quickly to show their pride in...; Read More

Statement of Tribute to Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Condolence: For Immediate ReleaseFrom: Archbishop George Augustus Stallings, Jr., Patriarch and Founder of the African-American Catholic Congregation and its Imani Temple, on the passing of the Reverend Dr. Sun Myung...; Read More

God Bless the Life of Rev. Sun Myung Moon: The Reverend Sun Myung Moon, revered by millions as the Messiah and True Parent, who was born in Korea but who lived more than 40 years in America, and who is loved by families of peace the world...; Read More

"Liberate True Parents!" Says Rev. In Jin Moon in Chicago: Good evening. Hello, brothers and sisters. It’s such a beautiful day in the city known to be the Windy City of America. I’m terribly delighted to be here with all of you. As...; Read More

30,000- and 360,000-Couples Anniversaries Remembered at Manhattan Center in NY: An intimate gathering of approximately 50 families celebrated the 20th anniversary of the 30,000-couples Blessing in 1992 and the 17th anniversary of the 360,000-couples Blessing in 1995 in...; Read More

Eight-City Speaking Tour Lands on the West Coast: As the second of eight stops of her “We Love True Parents” speaking tour in the United States, Rev. In Jin Moon, senior pastor of Lovin’ Life Ministries (LLM), arrived at the Radisson...; Read More

Rev. In Jin Moon Launches National Tour to Report to Members: Rev. In Jin Moon, senior pastor of Lovin’ Life Ministries (LLM) began a national speaking tour titled “We Love True Parents” in New York, NY, in the Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center...; Read More

Sunday's Blessing-Anniversary Celebration a Family-Bonding Opportunity: An anniversary celebration of the two Marriage-Blessing ceremonies that took place in 1992 and 1995 will take place in the Hammerstein Ballroom of the Manhattan Center this Sunday, August 26, 2012. The...; Read More

Lovin’ Life’s Leadership Program Celebrates Doubling of Enrollment: After a certificate ceremony, the Leadership Program graduation officially concluded with a group photo.Lovin’ Life Ministries’ (LLM) Leadership Program graduated its second summer class of...; Read More