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The Regulation on Missionary Activity

Working translation. Synchronized with the Russian corpus as of 2026-10-25. Canonical formulas are binding only in the Russian original; publication — after human review.

Preface

Missionary activity is a ministry of the word, aimed at spreading the light of the One in the world. It is not coercion into faith, but an invitation to the path of creation, knowledge and harmony. A missionary is a guide who shares what fills his own life and helps others find their road to the One.

This Regulation defines the goals, principles and methods of the missionary activity of the Church of Unity, building on the Canon, the Covenant and the Catechism.

On influence and violence. Influence differs from violence in its aim and its result. Violence creates a wound. Bringing a person to the One heals the deepest of wounds — the wound of rejecting the One, which is in everyone through not knowing. Therefore it is not "not influencing" that is unwholesome, but leaving a person in ignorance out of a false fear of doing harm. The one who has understood the One will see for himself: the influence was treatment. Knowledge of the road is a gift, even if the road to it went unnoticed.

Techniques of trust and attunement are not manipulation but the physician's hand: they open the eyes without breaking the will. Bringing a person to the One lightens his passage after death: he re-lives less of the unhealed. The only prohibition — lies about life: opening the eyes is allowed, closing them is not. Having brought a person, show him how you did it — and teach him to do the same for others.

1. Goals and principles of the mission

The goals of the mission

The missionary activity of the Church of Unity has the following goals:

Bringing the One closer. Every invitation to the path of creation is a contribution to the fullness from which the One will form at the end of time. The missionary contributes to this great process.

Spreading knowledge. The missionary shares knowledge about the One, about the commandments, about the road to harmony. Knowledge is light, and light must not be hidden.

Building the community. The missionary helps those seeking the road to find a community where they can develop, support one another, grow together.

The transformation of the world. Through missionary activity the world becomes more creative, more honest, more harmonious. Every new member of the community is a new creator in the world.

The principles of the mission

Missionary activity is built on the following principles:

The principle of invitation, not coercion. As said in the Covenant (Chapter 10), the Covenant can only be accepted voluntarily. Coercion, pressure, bad-faith influence — all of this contradicts the very essence of the road to the One. Invite, but do not press. Offer, but do not demand.

The principle of example as the best sermon. The most convincing way to invite to the One is to live by it. When people see that the path makes your life better, they become interested in it themselves. An example is stronger than a thousand words.

The principle of respect for freedom of choice. Every sentient being has the right to choose its road, its convictions, its actions. Respect for this freedom is the foundation of any healthy interaction. If a person refuses — respect the refusal.

The principle of honesty. A missionary must be honest about the road. Not exaggerate its advantages. Not hide its obligations. Not promise an easy life if the path demands effort. Honesty creates trust, and trust is the foundation of acceptance.

The principle of non-violence. Missionary activity uses only non-violent methods: persuasion, dialogue, example — these are the missionary's instruments. Threats, pressure and violence for spreading the teaching are inadmissible. The only lawful force is by commandment 12: against greater wounds, as the last resort, with taking on the debt of healing; such force is not an instrument of the mission.

2. Forms of missionary activity

Missionary activity shows itself in various forms, each of which matters and has its place in the common cause.

Personal mission

The personal mission is missionary activity carried out by every member of the community in everyday life. It is not a formal service but a natural expression of how a person lives.

The personal mission shows itself in:

The personal mission is the foundation of all missionary activity. Without it the other forms lose meaning, because words without example are empty.

Group mission

The group mission is organized activity of a group of community members, aimed at spreading the road of the One.

The group mission shows itself in:

The group mission makes it possible to join efforts and achieve more than each person alone.

Digital mission

The digital mission is missionary activity in the digital space — the internet, social networks, online platforms.

The digital mission shows itself in:

The digital mission makes it possible to reach people who otherwise would not learn of the road to the One.

Educational mission

The educational mission is missionary activity through education — teaching, enlightenment, spreading knowledge.

The educational mission shows itself in:

The educational mission brings the One closer through spreading knowledge, as said in the Canon (Chapter 7).

Charitable mission

The charitable mission is missionary activity through care for the weak and the needy.

The charitable mission shows itself in:

The charitable mission is an expression of the commandment of care for other sentient beings and the foundation of the Covenant (Chapter 9).

3. Preparing missionaries

Missionary activity requires preparation. One cannot effectively invite others to the road if one does not understand that road deeply oneself.

Requirements for a missionary

A missionary must meet the following requirements:

Deep knowledge of the canon and the Covenant. A missionary must not merely know the texts but understand their essence, see the connections between them, be able to explain them to others.

Personal experience of walking the road. A missionary must not only know about the road but live by it. Personal experience is the foundation of convincingness. One cannot lead where one has not walked oneself.

The ability to communicate. A missionary must be able to listen, speak, explain, answer questions. He must be respectful, patient, open.

Emotional steadiness. A missionary meets refusals, criticism, misunderstanding. He must be able to bear this without losing inner balance.

The absence of pride. A missionary does not consider himself above others. He does not save others but shares what he himself has received. This is ministry, not superiority.

The preparation program

The preparation of a missionary is done simply and honestly.

Study: The candidate deeply studies the canon, the Covenant, the catechism and other texts of the canon and the Covenant. He does not merely read but reflects, asks questions, seeks understanding.

Personal practice: The candidate strengthens his personal practice of walking the road. He works on himself, on his character, on his relation to the world.

Training in communication: The candidate learns the methods of communicating with people of different convictions, the skills of dialogue, the ways of answering typical questions.

Supervised practice: The candidate takes part in missionary activity under the guidance of an experienced missionary. He observes, helps, tries himself under supervision.

Independent activity: After successfully passing the previous stages the candidate may conduct missionary activity on his own.

Assessing readiness

The candidate's readiness for missionary activity is assessed by the community honestly.

Checking knowledge: The candidate demonstrates understanding of the texts of the canon and the Covenant, the ability to explain them, to answer questions.

Assessing personal practice: Community members who know the candidate give an assessment of his walking the road in everyday life.

Checking communication skills: The candidate demonstrates the ability to communicate, explain, answer questions in simulated situations.

Assessing motivation: The community assesses the candidate's motivation — does he want to serve or does he want to rise? True mission is born of the desire to serve, not of the desire for power.

If the candidate is not ready, the community honestly tells him so and points to what needs work. The preparation can be continued.

4. The ethics of missionary activity

Missionary activity is governed by ethical principles that guarantee the ministry remains true and does not turn into bad-faith influence.

Prohibited practices

The following practices are strictly prohibited in missionary activity:

Coercion and pressure. One must not coerce into accepting the road, press, influence in bad faith, use threats or promises of rewards. This contradicts the very essence of the road, which is built on freedom of choice.

Lies and distortion. One must not lie about the road, the canon, the Covenant, the community. One must not exaggerate advantages or hide obligations. Honesty is the foundation of trust.

Exploiting vulnerability. One must not use a person's vulnerability — poverty, illness, grief, loneliness — to coerce into accepting the road. This is bad-faith influence, not invitation.

Devaluing other convictions. One must not speak condescendingly of other creeds, convictions, roads. Respect for others is the foundation of dialogue.

Promising material goods. One must not promise material goods for accepting the road. The road does not give wealth, success or an easy life. It gives meaning, direction, harmony — but that is not a material reward.

Isolation from family and friends. One must not isolate a person from his family and friends. The road does not require breaking bonds; it requires their creative transformation.

Recommended practices

The following practices are recommended in missionary activity:

An honest laying out of the road. Explain the road honestly, without exaggerations and omissions. Tell both of the advantages and of the obligations.

Respect for freedom of choice. Leave the choice with the person. If he refuses — respect his refusal. Do not press after the refusal.

Answers to questions. Answer questions honestly and respectfully. If you do not know the answer — admit it and offer to find it together.

The example of life. Live by the road and let others see it. An example is stronger than a thousand words.

Cooperation, not competition. Cooperate with other missionaries, share experience, support one another. This is a common cause.

Responsibility for ethics

Every missionary bears personal responsibility for keeping the ethical principles. The community watches that missionary activity is conducted ethically.

If a missionary violates the ethical principles, the community conducts a check by wounds. If the violation is confirmed and not set right, the missionary may be suspended from missionary activity.

5. Reporting and assessing results

Missionary activity requires reporting and the assessment of results. This is not control but a way to understand what works and what does not, and to improve the ministry.

Forms of reporting

The missionary gives the community an honest report of his activity.

Quantitative indicators: The number of events held, the number of participants, the number of publications, the number of contacts.

Qualitative indicators: Descriptions of interesting cases, of responses, of changes in the lives of participants, of lessons drawn from experience.

Personal reflections: The missionary shares his reflections on his activity — what was hard, what gave joy, what can be improved.

Assessing effectiveness

The effectiveness of missionary activity is assessed not only by the number of new members of the community but by the quality of changes in the world.

Criteria of effectiveness:

Feedback

The missionary receives feedback from the community. The community supports, guides, helps improve the activity.

Feedback may be:

Feedback is given honestly and respectfully. Its aim is to help the missionary become better, not to humiliate him.

6. Formats of initiatives: drafts for the first steps

The community is young and only gathering: what follows — formats and landmarks for the first initiatives, not reports of actions held. The numbers here are working landmarks of order of magnitude, not achievements; when real ones appear, they will go into the annual report.

Example 1: Personal conversation at a university

Description: individual conversations with students who showed interest in questions of the spirit.

Implementation:

What the format makes it possible to reach (a landmark):

Lessons:

Example 2: The charitable action "Creation for the city"

Description: a charitable action to clean up a city park, followed by a picnic for the participants.

Implementation:

What the format makes it possible to reach (a landmark):

Lessons:

Example 3: Personal online conversation

Description: individual answers to questions in the digital space.

Implementation:

What the format makes it possible to reach (a landmark):

Lessons:

Example 4: The family club "Harmony in the family"

Description: a club for families where questions of upbringing, relationships and harmony are discussed.

Implementation:

What the format makes it possible to reach (a landmark):

Lessons:

General principles of success

An analysis of successful missionary initiatives brings out common principles:

Quality of preparation. Successful initiatives require careful preparation — planning, resources, a team.

Adaptation to the audience. Initiatives are adapted to the needs and interests of the target audience.

Cooperation. Successful initiatives are often built on cooperation with other organizations.

Regularity. Regular events create expectation and keep interest alive.

The example of action. Successful initiatives show the road through action, not only through words.

Feedback. Gathering and analyzing feedback helps improve initiatives.

7. References to the texts of the Canon and the Covenant

Missionary activity builds on the following texts of the canon and the Covenant:

The Canon, Chapter 10. On Suffering and Harmony. This chapter teaches that suffering can lead to growth if the sentient being is ready to learn. The missionary helps others use their suffering as a road to growth and harmony.

The Canon, Chapter 14. On the Future. This chapter teaches that a person is a creator of the future and a worker of the One: he makes the choice himself and works where the One inclines the world. The missionary helps others become aware of their role in building the future.

The Covenant, Chapter 10. On interaction with the outer world. This chapter describes in detail the principles of interaction with those who have not accepted the Covenant, including preaching and invitation. The missionary follows these principles.

The Catechism. The Catechism gives a brief setting out of the foundations of the teaching in the form of questions and answers. The missionary uses it as an instrument for explaining the road.

Conclusion

Missionary activity is a ministry of the word, aimed at increasing the fullness from which the One will form — through spreading knowledge, building the community and transforming the world.

The missionary invites, does not coerce. He lives by the road and shares this with others. He is honest, respectful, patient.

Missionary activity requires preparation, ethics and reporting. It is not a spontaneous activity but a conscious ministry.

Every member of the community can be a missionary in everyday life. The personal mission is the foundation of all forms of missionary activity.

Missionary activity shows itself in different forms — personal, group, digital, educational, charitable — each of which matters and has its place in the common cause.

The study of successful missionary inspires the creation of one's own projects and helps understand what works in missionary activity.

Missionary activity increases the fullness. Every invitation, every honest answer, every example of life — a contribution to the common cause.

Follow this Regulation honestly, and your ministry will bear fruit.