National Unity Day, 2027
A national Christian movement to reclaim the compassionate, peaceful message of Jesus—and help build the Beloved Community.
About / The FilmAt a time when Christianity is too often associated with division, judgment, and political power, another Christian voice is rising. A movement rooted in the teachings of Jesus.
National Unity Day is a growing movement of Christians and Christian communities committed to reclaiming this message—and living it publicly in a divided world.
Each year, the movement culminates on April 4, the anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., when people and communities across the nation are invited to gather in the spirit of nonviolence, reconciliation, justice, and what Dr. King called the Beloved Community.
At the
heart of National Unity Day is the annual premiere of a new
feature film exploring the spiritual vision at the center of the
movement. In 2027, that film is Thomas Merton's
Dream, illuminating Merton's prophetic vision of peace,
compassion, human unity, and our essential connectedness.
Following the film, audiences across the country will be
invited to join a live online forum with leading spiritual voices,
reflecting on the film's message and exploring a vital question for
our time: How do we turn this vision into action and help build
the Beloved Community today?
We believe the way of Jesus is not a politics of fear. It is not a
weapon against those who are different. It is not a justification
for hatred, exclusion, or domination. It is a way of
compassion, courage, mercy, justice, forgiveness, and
peace.
National Unity Day brings together Christians
from across
traditions—progressive churches, historic denominations,
independent congregations, clergy, artists, activists,
contemplatives, and people who may have walked away from organized
religion but still find something profound in the teachings of
Jesus.
We are coming together around a simple conviction:
The answer to division is not more division.
The answer to hatred is not more hatred.
There is another way.
On
April 4, 1968, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was
assassinated in Memphis.
His life demonstrated what Christian faith can look like
when it leaves the sanctuary and enters the suffering of the
world: courageous, nonviolent, compassionate, demanding justice
while refusing to surrender to hatred.
Each April 4, National Unity Day will invite communities across
America to carry that witness forward.
Not simply by remembering Dr. King.
By practicing what he lived.