Johnnie Colemon

Johnnie Colemon (February 18, 1920 – December 23, 2014) was the founder of several large organizations within the African-American New Thought movement, including Christ Universal Temple (CUT)[4] and the Universal Foundation for Better Living (UFBL).[5] The Johnnie Colemon Theological Seminary is named in her honor.[6]

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

Colemon was born in Centerville, Alabama on February 18, 1920[7] 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.[8] She attended Union Academy High School[9] and graduated from Wiley College with a Bachelor of Arts in 1943.[1] She then taught at schools in Mississippi and Chicago.[10]

Colemon was ordained as a Unity Minister in 1956 and promptly founded Christ Universal Temple, a Chicago-based megachurch.[4] In 1974 Colemon founded the Universal Foundation for Better Living, "an international association of Bible-based New Thought Christian churches, centers, and study groups."[5] She received a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1987.[11]

Colemon retired in 2006.[4][12] She died at Mercy Hospital in Chicago on December 23 at the age of 94.[7][13]

References
  1. Aaseng, Nathan (2003). African-American Religious Leaders: A-Z of African Americans. Infobase Publishing. p. 45. ISBN 9781438107813.
  2. 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. Johnnie Colmon Archived 2014-08-10 at the Wayback Machine, CUT Founder Biography, accessed July 21, 2014.
  5. UFBL Leadership, accessed July 21, 2014 Archived December 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. JCTS web site, accessed July 21, 2014. Archived July 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Rev.Johnnie Colemon, Chicago megachurch founder, dies at 94". Chicago Tribune. December 23, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  8. Banchero, Stephanie (June 27, 1997). "Self-fulfilling Faith Of Johnnie Colemon". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  9. "Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon". TheHistoryMakers. June 15, 2000. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  10. 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.
  11. "CANDACE AWARD RECIPIENTS 1982-1990, Page 2". National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Archived from the original on March 14, 2003.
  12. 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.
  13. https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/johnnie-colemon-founder-of-christ-universal-temple-dies/
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