What is a Unity Church?

Unity of the Triangle is North Carolina’s biggest Unity church. We are Raleigh’s open, accepting community of spiritual seekers from different faith backgrounds. A metaphysical church that recognizes the Divine presence in every person. Seeking personal transformation through meditation, affirmative prayer, and service to others. Offering Sunday services, spiritual education classes, small social spiritual groups for young adults, millennials, mature congregants, the LGBTQ+ community and allies, plus groups with common interests. Searching for triangle churches that are the right fit for you? We’d love to welcome you. Together, we are the light.

What are Unity of the Triangle’s Core Beliefs?

At the center of the Unity new thought movement, you’ll find a dedication to love without judgment and an emphasis on personal spiritual practice. Because of this core understanding, there is a place here for everyone, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey. While Unity is sometimes referred to as “practical Christianity,” it is rooted in the wisdom of many traditions applied through a Christian lens. Unity was founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in the 1800s as a movement rather than a religion. As the community has grown, the beliefs surrounding it have continued to develop. Each Unity Church is unique in how it delivers on Unity’s core beliefs.

At Unity of the Triangle, we believe:

The message of Christianity is love, and the key to love is forgiveness.
Love is more than loving a person or thing. It is being love — unconditional love that does not depend on preferences or circumstances.
Service is more than volunteering. It is going through the day with an open heart, an awareness of the needs of others, and a willingness to share what we can.
Personal transformation means becoming open to change, learning to see the world through different eyes, and acknowledging the divinity within ourselves and everyone.
Our thoughts have power to shape our experience of the world.
Affirmative prayer — prayer that affirms the potential for good — can influence our thoughts and experiences.
There are many spiritual paths that lead to the truth, and we honor all paths.
We are one in God, and all are welcome here.

The Five Principles of Unity:

God is.
God, by whatever name, is the source and creator of all. There is no other enduring power. God is good and present everywhere. God is not a far-off ruler on a throne. God is wherever we are because God is within us. Each of us is a unique expression of God.
I am.
We are spiritual beings created in God’s image. The spirit of God lives within each person; therefore all people are inherently good. Our truest nature is divine. Our greatest gift to others is to recognize the Christ consciousness and limitless potential in everyone.
I create it.
The way we think and feel determines how we deal with and experience events and circumstances in our lives. Our thoughts take shape, develop, and grow into what we focus on.
I pray it.
We connect with and know God through affirmative prayer and meditation. The place where we meet God is within ourselves, the inner sanctuary, the heart temple. Positive prayer is the way to form a permanent attitude of mind that reflects the eternal, benevolent activity of God. What is an example of affirmative prayer?
I live it.
Knowledge of these spiritual principles is not enough. We live them so we can strengthen our spirit. When we live our best according to the truth we know, we become a light to others. We can make a difference in the world.

Questions? Read our FAQs

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Our Unity of the Triangle Community Welcomes You!

Spirituality

Unity of the Triangle is an inclusive, LGBTQ-friendly church that’s home to a diverse mix of spiritual seekers. We offer connection and community through inclusive programs, spiritual community groups, and special events and activities focused on spiritual growth and enlightenment. In addition to Sunday and special services, we have regular book studies, personal transformation workshops on topics ranging from the Bible to the Enneagram to metaphysics, and holistic healing classes on prayer, meditation, and yoga. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, you’ll find support and inspiration here.

Upcoming Classes

Acts of Service

For those who want to put their faith into practice, we offer a wealth of volunteer opportunities and outreach programs, partnering with organizations like Oak City Cares, Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina and as a Faith Partner of Habitat for Humanity of Wake County. We’ve also developed our own initiatives to spread love in the community and combat the loneliness that often divides people. Please visit our Unity in the Community page.

Volunteer Outreach

The Arts

Raleigh’s church for creatives is Unity of the Triangle. We host art exhibits in our Fellowship Hall Gallery. Our bookstore hosts meet-the-author events and carries books, music, art, and craft items by congregants and visiting authors, artists, and musicians. Our music program is unparalleled. Monthly open mic night draws performers from across the community. The annual talent show is raucous fun and always full of surprises. Come express your creativity with us!

Social Life

This is a spirited congregation, and we enjoy getting together for pure fun. We have potlucks at every opportunity. Taking full advantage of our beautiful church located in Northwest Raleigh, we regularly use the Fellowship Hall for parties and dances that feature live music. Nearby local greenways and trails, including nearby Umstead State Park, are part of our hiking social club, and wonderful spots for get togethers. As Rev. Neusom says, come to Unity to pray and to play!

Membership

Joining the church is a way to commit to your own spiritual growth and the growth of our spiritual community. You will help set the direction of the church by voting on the budget and bylaws, and the opportunity to serve on the Board and key committees. Unity of the Triangle members are each assigned a personal prayer chaplain who will call you monthly to pray with you or offer affirmative prayer to you. The Sacred Prayer Circle will pray with or for you in person or online.

Membership requirements

Attend a New Member class.
Participate in a spiritual session with the Senior Minister.
Complete eight hours of volunteer service.

Member Classes

New member classes are held in the Spring and Fall. Our required pre-membership class offers videos, presentations, and activities to prepare you for membership. You’ll learn Unity’s core principles, the basics of meditation and affirmative prayer, and the ideas that gave rise to the Unity movement. For a schedule of upcoming membership classes, check our calendar, email Mary Graham, or call her at (919) 832-8324, ext 105.

Mission statement: We are a spiritual community awakening to our Divine nature through love, service, and personal transformation.

FAQs

What is Unity?

Unity is a positive, practical, inclusive approach to Christianity. Our spiritual teachings focus on love and forgiveness; our practices include affirmative prayer and meditation. We believe that all people have sacred worth and we honor the divine in everyone.

What religion is the Unity church?

Unity Church is a spiritual movement within the New Thought tradition, often described as a “practical Christianity” that blends Christian teachings with metaphysical ideas, emphasizing spiritual growth, healing, and universal truths found in other religions. While it honors Jesus as a master teacher and uses Christian language, it’s not a traditional denomination, focusing on personal spiritual development through prayer and affirmative thought rather than strict dogma or creed.

Is Unity a denomination?

Yes. Unity has its own seminary, its own headquarters, and its own beliefs, which honor and draw from the universal truths in all religions.

Is Unity exclusively Christian?

We draw from all faiths and traditions to find universal truths that help us grow spiritually, and we try to apply these truths to our lives in practical ways.

Are all Unity churches alike?

Each Unity church has its own flavor. Unity of the Triangle draws heavily from the Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu texts.

Is there any connection between Unity and Unitarianism?

Only in the sense that both are approaches to spiritual growth and understanding. Otherwise, the churches are not related, despite the similarity in their names. Each is a distinct organization with its own set of beliefs and practices.

Is Unity an offshoot of Christian Science?

No. While Unity, Christian Science, and many other New Thought groups had their beginnings in the late nineteenth century, the groups differ in their core principles, methods of teaching, and organization.

What is God?

In Unity we believe that God is the source of all that is—one power, all good, everywhere present. God is divine energy expressed in each of us.

What does Unity teach about sin and salvation, heaven and hell?

We believe that sin is our separation from God—or our mistaken belief that we are separate. Salvation is now, not something that occurs after death. Salvation happens when we turn our thoughts away from fear, anxiety, worry, and doubt, and think instead of love, joy, and peace. As Paul wrote to the Philippians: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is praiseworthy, think on these things.” We do not view heaven and hell as geographic locations but as states of consciousness, and we believe we are divinely imbued with the power to shape our consciousness.

How does Unity view Jesus?

In expressing his divine potential, Jesus showed us the way to do likewise. We honor Jesus as a master teacher of universal truths. In Unity, we use the term “Christ” to refer to the divinity present in humankind. Jesus is the great example of the human expression of Christ.

Does Unity believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ?

Yes. Unity teaches that Jesus embodied the spirit of God, and that the same spirit lives in each of us. Every person has the potential to express the perfection of Christ as Jesus did, by being more Christ-like in everyday life.

Does Unity practice baptism and communion?

Yes. Instead of baptism by water, we practice baptism as a mental and spiritual process of opening to the spirit of God. We celebrate communion by breaking bread and drinking juice together to acknowledge the Christ presence in each of us.

What does Unity teach about the nature of humanity?

We are expressions of God, each of us divine and inherently good, and we are here to express our divine potential. We learn to do this through prayer and meditation and by studying the teachings and examples of Jesus and other spiritual masters.

Does Unity Church accept LGBTQ+?

Yes! Unity of the Triangle is an inclusive spiritual community. ALL ARE WELCOME here! The church has a growing LGBTQ+ population, and a special small group called Worthy for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. You do not have to attend Unity of the Triangle to attend the group. Worthy meets the first Monday of every month at the church. Come see us and be welcomed!

Our Leadership

Our ministers, staff, and board of trustees work closely together to create meaningful and inspiring services and programs and to make Unity of the Triangle a beacon of hope, compassion, and peace in the local community.

Reverend Neusom Holmes wearing black nehru style jacket, hands raised in front of his chest, preaching at Unity of the Triangle

Senior Minister

Rev. Neusom Holmes

Neusom’s background reflects his lifelong interest in universal divinity. An ordained Unity minister, he also holds a Masters in Divinity from the Presbyterian seminary and has studied Eastern religions and meditation. He came to Unity of the Triangle in 2002, returning to his North Carolina roots after serving as minister at Unity of Corvallis, Oregon. Neusom is a gifted speaker who inspires newcomers as well as seasoned students of Unity. He shares his own spiritual journey with humility and self-effacing humor. He is our wise elder and calm center.

Neusom introduced many of the programs that distinguish our church, including the prayer chaplain program, home study groups, and meditation retreats. He has led us through a long period of growth, from a small sanctuary on Whitaker Mill Road to the Long View Center downtown to, finally, our current beautiful church in Northwest Raleigh.

Before becoming a minister, Neusom was a professional river guide, the first to descend twelve rivers on four continents.

(919) 832-8324, Ext. 102 | Email

Spiritual Education Director

Rev. Michael Gadway

Michael is a minister, teacher, poet, and writer focusing on yoga, meditation, common-sense spirituality, and radical acceptance for emotional and spiritual health. At Unity of the Triangle, he teaches classes and workshops on mindfulness, meditation, holistic healing and spiritual growth.

Ordained by Roy Eugene Davis into the Kriya Yoga tradition, Michael has made a lengthy and profound examination of the Vedic sciences under the guidance of New Thought authors and Ayurvedic practitioners including Dr. David Frawley, Joel S. Goldsmith, Emmet Fox, and Ernest Holmes. Michael’s teachings are grounded in Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, The Bhagavad Gita, Samkhya Philosophy, and The Upanishads. Michael is also a Chiropractic Physician with a degree from the University of Western States. He specialized in Ayurvedic and Functional Medicine at the Ayurvedic Institute, and was an attending physician at a clinic for auto-immune disorders, assisting patients back to optimum health.

For books Michael has authored, visit https://www.revmichaelcgadway.org/

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Community Engagement Director

Rev. Tami Johns

Rev. Tami is an ordained interfaith and interspiritual minister. Guided by a deep calling to foster spiritual connection and unity, she creates sacred spaces where individuals from all walks of life can come together in love, healing, and shared purpose. At Unity of the Triangle, she leads the the small group ministry based on life experiences and interests, and Unity in the Community partnership programs. With nearly three decades in the Unity and New Thought movement, Tami also draws deeply from her roots in the Baptist and African Methodist Episcopal traditions.

Before answering her soul’s call to full-time ministry, Tami cultivated a distinguished 25-year career in Human Resources, serving as a transformational leader in organizational and leadership development, talent strategy, diversity and inclusion, and executive coaching. Tami holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Human Resources Development and a master’s in Administration. A veteran of the United States Army, she brings strength, resilience, and service to everything she does.

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Meemie Lohmueller wearing white dress standing in front of a microphone in a church sanctuary

Pastoral Care Minister

Rev. Meemie Lohmueller

Meemie has been steeped in Unity principles since 1992. She is an ordained Interfaith/Interspiritual minister. Her unwavering faith is grounded in the power of prayer and meditation. She holds sacred space for our spiritual community as she leads the pastoral care teams with compassion and a deep understanding of Unity principles. She leads training sessions in affirmative prayer and mediation facilitating volunteers’ spiritual growth. As a Pastoral Care Minister, she supports congregants through challenges in their lives. Rev. Meemie leads the Prayer Chaplain Program, Sacred Prayer Circle, Extended Care Team, and Friends in Deed. Read more about Unity’s prayer ministry here.

(919) 832-8324, Ext. 110 | Email

Operations Director

Mary Graham

Mary has been part of our Unity community since 2012. A former librarian, she oversees day-to-day operations at Unity, including congregant relations, events, and hospitality. She is also responsible for facility management and management of the office staff.

(919) 832-8324, Ext. 105 | Email

Youth Education Director

Tia Redman

Tia was raised in Unity and graduated from the Y.O.U program in 2016, originally from the Delray Beach, FL, chapter. After graduating, she moved to Orlando to pursue her dreams of working at Disney World and Universal Studios, as well as receiving her degree in dance and the performing arts. Today she continues her journey in the circus arts while also raising her daughter. After moving to Raleigh and becoming a parent, she wanted to go back to her roots in Unity. She is excited to lead the Unity of the Triangle Youth Ministry that celebrates every young person as a unique, creative expression of the divine.

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Music Director

Tim Smith

Tim earned his music degree at Oberlin College, where he studied voice and jazz theory. He has been a fixture in the local music scene for more than twenty years. A gifted vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, writer, conductor, and teacher, Tim leads and performs with the Unity adult choir. To learn more about him and our music program, visit our Music page.

(919) 832-8324, Ext. 107 | Email

Music Director

Jay Wright

Jay trained as a jazz pianist at East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University. He has performed all over the world and is now a mainstay in the local jazz community. At Unity, he co-conducts, arranges for, accompanies, and mixes sound for the Unity Virtual Choir. For more, visit our Music page.

(919) 832-8324, Ext. 107 | Email

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AV Director

David Johnson

David makes the Unity livestream come to life! We appreciate his dedication, creativity and humor. He’s also a past member of the Unity Board of Directors and co-leads Unity’s Open Mic Night!

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Audio Manager

Sandy Johnson

Sandy is a fan of music, soccer, and animals. She lives with her son Ian, who is 9 years old and studies Chinese Mandarin, as well as her 4 rescued cats. On her free time, she loves spending time with her family watching TV series and helping anyone in need.
Sandy was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico until 17 before moving with her parents and siblings to Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

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Volunteer Coordinator

Barbara Holloman

Barbara is the merry engine behind the army of volunteers that make Unity of the Triangle run! See all the volunteer opportunities here.

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Accountant

David Kramer

David has served as our accountant since 2005. He earned a B.S. in Economics from Lebanon Valley College, an M.B.A. from Elon University, and a Masters in Divinity from Drew Theological School. During the day, he works for the State of North Carolina as Business Officer for Disability Determination Services. A former minister and missionary, an Eagle Scout and a marathon runner, David enjoys working evenings at Unity—especially Wednesday evenings, when he can hear the choir practicing.

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Board of Trustees

As the governing body of Unity of the Triangle, the Board of Trustees sets the direction, annual budget, and organizational policies for the church. The board includes our Senior Minister and six members chosen by a committee elected by the congregation. Members serve three-year terms. Here are our current Board members: