Johnnie Colemon
Born
Johnnie Haley[1]

(1920-02-18)February 18, 1920
Centerville, Alabama
DiedDecember 23, 2014(2014-12-23) (aged 94)
Chicago, Illinois
EducationBA (1943)
Alma materWiley College
OccupationTheologian & Megachurch Pastor
Known forNew Thought Movement
Spouse(s)Richard Colemon[2]
Don Nedd[2]
Leon C. Blair[3]
WebsiteUFBL Leadership
CUT Founder

Johnnie Colemon (February 18, 1920 – December 23, 2014) was an influential minister and teacher in the New Thought movement. She is often referred to as the “First Lady of New Thought”.[4] Colemon founded several large organizations within the African-American New Thought movement, including Christ Universal Temple (CUT)[5] and the Universal Foundation for Better Living (UFBL).[6] The Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary is named in her honor.[7]

Colemon was born to John and Lula Haley[8] in Centerville, Alabama, on February 18, 1920[9] but her family moved to Columbus, Mississippi, at an early age, and she identified more with that location as her birthplace, leading others to misidentify Columbus, Mississippi as her place of origin.[10] She attended Union Academy High School[11] and graduated from Wiley College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1943.[1] She then taught at schools in Mississippi and Chicago.[12]

After being diagnosed with an incurable disease,[13] Colemon had a crisis of faith deciding to attend Unity School of Christianity. Colemon was the third Black student ordained as a Unity Minister in 1956.[14] While a student at Unity School, Colemon like all Black students at the time, was told she could not live on campus. For two years, Colemon commuted 15 miles each way to the YWCA in Kansas City before the campus was desegregated.[14]

Colemon founded Christ Unity Temple, later Christ Universal Temple, a Chicago-based megachurch.[5] In 1974 Colemon founded the Universal Foundation for Better Living, in response to racism experienced as part of Unity,[14] "an international association of Bible-based New Thought Christian churches, centers, and study groups."[6] She received a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1987.[15]

Christ Universal Temple under Colemon became the largest and one of the most influential churches in Chicago. When built it became the first mega church on the South Side.[16] The church was the site of the funeral of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington.[17] Barack Obama spoke at the church both as senator and president.[18]

Colemon served as Director of the Chicago Port Authority and Commissioner of the Chicago Transit Authority Oversight Committee,[19] recognition as one of Chicago’s Living Legends by the Institute for African American Youth Development. She was honored by DuSable Museum as an African American History Maker.[20]

Colemon retired in 2006.[5][21] She died at Mercy Hospital in Chicago on December 23, 2014, at the age of 94.[9][22] She is interred in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.

References

  1. ^ a b Aaseng, Nathan (2003). African-American Religious Leaders: A-Z of African Americans. Infobase Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 9781438107813.
  2. ^ a b Smith, Jessie Carney (1996). Notable Black American Women. VNR AG. p. 130. ISBN 9780810391772.
  3. ^ Ihejirika, Maudlyne; O'Donnell, Maureen (December 24, 2014). "News Johnnie Colemon, founder of Christ Universal Temple, dies". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  4. ^ O'Connell, By Patrick M. (24 December 2014). "Rev. Johnnie Colemon, Chicago megachurch founder, dies at 94". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  5. ^ a b c Johnnie Colmon Archived 2014-08-10 at the Wayback Machine, CUT Founder Biography, accessed July 21, 2014.
  6. ^ a b UFBL Leadership, accessed July 21, 2014 Archived December 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ JCTS web site, accessed July 21, 2014. Archived July 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ "Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon". TheHistoryMakers. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Rev.Johnnie Colemon, Chicago megachurch founder, dies at 94". Chicago Tribune. December 23, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  10. ^ Banchero, Stephanie (June 27, 1997). "Self-fulfilling Faith Of Johnnie Colemon". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  11. ^ "Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon". TheHistoryMakers. June 15, 2000. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  12. ^ Simmons, Martha; Thomas, Frank A. (2010). Preaching with Sacred Fire: An Anthology of African American Sermons, 1750 to the Present. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 634. ISBN 9780393058314. Johnnie Colemon bachelor of arts.
  13. ^ "New Thought Branches: UFBL and Johnnie Colemon | Truth Unity". www.truthunity.net. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  14. ^ a b c "Unity Faces Its History of Racism | Unity Spiritual Center of Lansing". www.unitylansing.org. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  15. ^ "CANDACE AWARD RECIPIENTS 1982-1990, Page 2". National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Archived from the original on March 14, 2003.
  16. ^ "Mega Church Where Harold Washington's Funeral Was Held Turns 60". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  17. ^ "Mega Church Where Harold Washington's Funeral Was Held Turns 60". DNAinfo Chicago. Archived from the original on 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  18. ^ Hope, Leah (2015-01-05). "Dr. Johnnie Colemon, founder of Christ Universal Temple, remembered at memorial". ABC7 Chicago. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  19. ^ staff, Sun-Times (2014-12-24). "Johnnie Colemon, founder of Christ Universal Temple, dies". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  20. ^ Houston, Pastor Robert Earl (2014-12-24). "Homegoing of a Saint – Dr. Johnnie Coleman, Chicago, Illinois". THE WIRE. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  21. ^ Brachear, Manya (January 3, 2011). "Christ Universal Temple leader stepping down". Chicago Tribune. In 2006, after building a $10 million religious empire, Colemon retired with no succession plan in place.
  22. ^ staff, Sun-Times (2016-06-24). "Johnnie Colemon, founder of Christ Universal Temple, dies". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2021-10-21.

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