David Guthrie has been a seeker of Truth all of his life.  From his earliest remembrances, he questioned the doctrines of traditional Christianity.  He has explored many religions and paths of enlightenment.  When David discovered the Truth principles as espoused by the Unity movement in 2004, he realized he had found his Spiritual home.

After thirty years of professional sales and managerial experience the call to teach these exquisite principles led David to resign from his sales agency in March of 2009 to invest fully in the work of expanding consciousness.  He is currently the Spiritual Director of Unity Center of Pittsburgh and is pursuing a path of education that is leading to ordination within the Unity movement.  David lives in Pittsburgh with his beautiful and beloved wife, Donna Belajac, and their extraordinary fifteen year old daughter, Shay.

ISYS:  David, thank you for sitting down to visit with our readers today.  You are the Spiritual Director of the Unity Center of Pittsburgh.  Tell me a little bit about Unity and about the role you play?

David:  Unity is a great Spiritual movement teaching the Jesus Christ principles of Life and expanding our awareness of our own unique expression of Divinity founded by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in the late 1890’s.  My role is to guide those who are willing to an ever more clear realization of their own Divinity, their authentic nature of Christ (God essence).

ISYS:  As New Thought religions go, what are the primary similarities and differences between them?

David:  First, let us be clear that Unity was never founded as or intended to be a religion.  To place those preconceived parameters on a beautiful teaching of Spiritual freedom limits the power of the message.  In my experience, there is little difference between the two major New Thought schools of thought.  (These are Unity and Science of Mind, aka Religious Science, aka Centers for Spiritual Living.)  Both teach the Divinity of the human soul.  Unity emphasizes Jesus Christ as the Master Teacher.  SOM does not.

ISYS-  You have a grand vision for Unity Center of Pittsburgh.  Please share with our readers what is entailed in that vision.

David:  The founders were inspired to teach the Jesus Christ principles as the Unity philosophy because of a dramatic shift in consciousness that brought about a physical healing for Myrtle.  We experience the healing power of Holy Spirit when we claim the Christ consciousness as our own.  Our vision in Pittsburgh is to build a Unity Center that houses the consciousness of Christ embodied in the field of energy generated by our congregation as the center of a Home for Holistic Practitioners.  We believe that grounded in the Peace of God, the healing energies will be amplified and magnificent results will be manifested.

ISYS:  David, was there anything in your background that would have led you to a ministerial position?  How did you come to this “religion” (more aptly, “path”) and this position?

David:  It is interesting how all of my life experiences and training have led me to be uniquely qualified as a Spiritual leader.  I have been involved in professional sales for over thirty years.  I have led successful small businesses.  I am a trained actor.  I am a black belted martial artist.  I am a singer.  Roll all of these talents into a Spiritually guided mission and a “Minister” unfolded.  My wife, Donna, and I found Unity in September of 2004 on the gentle persuasion of the Liscensed Unity Teacher.  The sense of Love that I felt being generated by that small group was palpable, and felt really good!  When I turned the bulletin over and read the five basic Unity principles, as was dumbstruck that someone had written down the principles by which I attempt to live my life.  I was hooked!

ISYS-  What are some of the key areas of consciousness-raising techniques you are practicing presently, and how have they assisted you in raising your own level of consciousness?

David:  Meditation and prayer are the fundamental practices endorsed by Unity.  These meditative techniques are recommended by all paths of Spirituality.  Denials and affirmations as put forth by Unity also have been helpful in destroying false beliefs and increasing my awareness of Truth.

ISYS:  Much is happening here in the New Thought movement in Pittsburgh.  What areas are most exciting to you?

David:  There is an urgency developing to expand our realm of Conscious activity as quickly as possible.  New opportunities continue to appear for cooperative action between diverse groups of thought.  It is this willingness to cooperate by dropping the barriers of protective self-preservation that is most exciting to me, and an indication that the light of Truth is beginning to infiltrate many darkened corners.

ISYS:  David, having attended your services, I can speak to the level of joy and fellowship which is a part of every service.  What plans do you have to further share this with the Pittsburgh community?

David:  We would love to expose this sense of joy and fellowship to as many in our community as possible.  We are developing a new web site that will contain our message of Hope in the written word, audio and video.  Podcasts will become the norm, with radio and television exposure on the horizon.  Personally, I must write more and become more visible as a leader in this movement of “Revealing ourselves to ourselves (Charles Fillmore, co-founder Unity)”.

ISYS:  The support you receive from the congregation is contagious and the assistance is so clear to observe.  How have you managed to create so many wonderful volunteers?

David:  It surprises me that you note this support and assistance, for creating volunteerism may be likened to herding cats.  Our group is held together by the passionate desire to have and hold a personal experience of God.  We offer many different venues to facilitate this desire.  This common goal is the glue that binds us.  We have one rule within our group of volunteers that must be followed, “If you say you are going to do something, it is done!”  The insistence on maintaining the integrity of our word creates self-responsibility and empowers individuals to do their best.  I adhere to this rule, and lead by example.

ISYS:  Having recently attended a Unity Regional meeting in Virginia, what is your perspective on the future of Unity?

David:  I was blessed to spend time with members of ERAUC.  The fundamental Unity teachings are very strong within this group, and I was pleased to sense a commitment to the teaching of Truth, our Christhood.  As a movement, we have attempted to become all things to all people, which is an impossible mission.  We must come back to the original teachings of Charles and Myrtle, and those teachers who have a clear understanding of the powerful Jesus Christ principles.  We must stand firm in our position of strength in the Truth (One God, Infinite Paths) and teach from our hearts, not from our intellect or our pocket books.   If we do this, the movement will continue to grow.  At this moment, the national Association and Unity Institute are experiencing an appearance of lack because of the years of variance from and watering down the Unity principles.  We as a nation and as a planet are ready and hungry for the Truth.  We must hold firm to the knowing that even in the appearance of lack of any kind, God is all there is!

ISYS:   David, thank you for the time.  What message would you like to leave for our readers who are pursuing their own path to conscious growth?

David:  Do not adopt a “Guru”.  Let your own Divine Wisdom guide you on your own path of Awakening.  Your path is unique, and your discoveries of your Power are essential to the health of yourself and of the planet.  If any person or group insists that their way is the only way, run away!  Jesus is quoted as saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”  Know that you have access to that same wisdom and guidance, go into the silence, discover yourself, and follow your own path.

To learn more about David Guthrie and Unity Center of Pittsburgh, please visit www.unitycenter.com.