"Controversial Dominionist Group 'Unity City' Sparks Concerns in South Carolina"

 

by Javar Juarez

Thursday, May 23rd, 2024

Charleston, S.C. (CUBN) -  Well-Funded Dominionist's Hold Rally in Charleston this Weekend!

A growing number of religious congregations are embracing an ideology called Dominionism, which advocates for Christians to control or significantly influence American government.

In South Carolina, many are already familiar with the controversial group Moms for Liberty, known for its significant political gains and efforts to ban books related to LGBTQIA+ themes and African American history. This group's tactics echo the early 20th-century efforts of Mildred Lewis Rutherford, a prominent advocate of the Lost Cause mythology. Rutherford's "A Measuring Rod to Test Textbooks and Reference Books in Schools, Colleges, and Libraries' ' set criteria for how Southern history should be portrayed, rejecting any texts that did not align with her revisionist views.

Today, Dominionist groups like Moms for Liberty continue to push similar agendas. However, with the public now more aware of their tactics, they no longer have the element of surprise. In Charleston, Rev. Thomas Dixon is shedding light on a new movement: Unity City. This group openly uses the Christian church to attract radicals and unwitting sympathizers to support what appears to be a dominionistic approach to government control.

Who are the Dominionists and what do they mean for the future of democracy?

The Seven Mountain Mandate, also known as 7M or Seven Mountains Dominionism, is a conservative Christian movement within Pentecostal and evangelical Christianity. It posits that believers should seek to influence seven key areas of society: Family, Religion, Education, Media, Entertainment, Business, and Government.

Unity City, aligning with these values, will hold its first event in Charleston on May 25th, 2024, at the Charleston Music Hall. The event will feature speakers such as Dr. Lance Wallnau, Reneta DaSilva, Chad Connelly, Rick Green, and Emanuel 9 survivor Reverend Anthony Thompson.

Unity City claims to be a non-denominational, non-political group that believes Christians can positively impact communities by working together. Their core focus areas include Education, Family, Government, Media, Faith, Arts & Entertainment, Business, and Science & Technology according to its website.

Operating under the Capstone Legacy Foundation out of Wayne, Pennsylvania, Unity City presents itself as a unifying force for Christians in the LowCountry. However, members of the Defense of Democracy, including Denise Talbert, express concerns that the group is merely a front for advancing a radical agenda.

An internal email from John Reese within Unity City states their mission is to unite Christians and work with local authorities to make positive community impacts. Despite their claims of inclusivity and non-political intentions, many view Unity City as continuing the efforts of groups like Moms for Liberty, especially in gerrymandered districts that disenfranchise Black voters.

We reached out to Rev. Jamey Graham, The newly elected president of the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina, which represents over 1,000 churches and more than 200,000 members. However, he has not publicly addressed the issue. This has led some to believe that the Black church, the largest religious group in America, has not done enough to counter the radical right's evangelical movement, which often aligns with the Black church's conservative views on LGBTQIA+ issues and abortion.

Alt-Right figures, largely backing Donald Trump, argue against the separation of church and state. This sentiment was starkly refuted by North Carolina pastor Rev. Loran Logan Livingston, who condemned the idea of combining the U.S. Constitution with the Holy Bible as "disgusting" and "blasphemous."

As Unity City prepares for its rally in Charleston, the community remains divided. While some see the group as a positive force for Christian unity, others fear it represents a dangerous step toward a dominionist takeover of the government in an era where the U.S. Supreme Court continues to hand victories to the white nationalist evangelical movement.

Work Cited:

1. Unity City. Retrieved from https://www.unitycity.net/.

2. Uncommonwealth Virginia Memory. (2022, September 14). The Measuring Rod for Southern History. Retrieved from https://uncommonwealth.virginiamemory.com/blog/2022/09/14/the-measuring-rod-for-southern-history/. 3. YouTube. (2023). Rev. Loran Logan Livingston's Sermon on the Conservative Christian Bible. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXo3JgKQY4I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXo3JgKQY4I. 4. Capstone Legacy Foundation. History. Retrieved from https://capstonelegacy.org/history/ 5. Wikipedia. Seven Mountain Mandate. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Mountain_Mandate. 6. Heritage Foundation. (n.d.). Project 2025. Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org/conservatism/commentary/project-2025?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0ruyBhDuARIsANSZ3woAoScaCaC-4wQKSzI7Ic9tpUOUWe6NjWenhrhAWrbJMcXimqmpkPsaAkxtEALw_wcB.

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