The Applied Unificationism Blog went live on May 1, 2013, sponsored by Unification Theological Seminary (UTS). Over more than ten years, the AU Blog has explored the application of Unificationism to the wider world.
Since that time, the AU Blog has posted 400 articles and over 4,500 comments. We have received over 472,000 page views from 228,000 unique visitors in 215 countries and territories around the world. Since 2015, 80 of our articles have been re-posted on a sister site, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification international headquarters website in Korea, which has greatly increased our visibility.
We deeply appreciate our loyal readers, whether you followed Applied Unificationism since the beginning a decade ago or only discovered us this year.
Unification Theological Seminary has decided to conclude its sponsorship of the Applied Unificationism Blog at the end of its fiscal year on June 30. On July 1, UTS will adopt a new institutional name. In addition, UTS will be initiating some new projects that may include a new journal and a conference series.
The Applied Unificationism Blog will remain live as a site through the end of 2023 and at least into early 2024. Comments submitted to any article after June 30 may continue to be posted after moderation. However, the AU Blog will no longer be accepting new article submissions for publication after that date. This could change if a new sponsor is found.
We invite you to express your thoughts and reflections about the Applied Unificationism Blog in the comments section below.
In closing, we express our appreciation to UTS for its generous support of Applied Unificationism over the years.
Sincerely and with gratitude,
The editorial committee of Applied Unificationism:
Mark P. Barry, Managing Editor
Michael Mickler
Keisuke Noda
Andrew Wilson
Kathy Winings
Photo at top: By Melissa Cassar (courtesy Unsplash)
Applied Unificationism 
Does the fact that the Barrytown Seminary property (UTS) is being sold later this year have anything to do with the Blog closing down? If so, why isn’t it mentioned here?
The Barrytown property sale has no bearing on the AU Blog’s closing. The school intends to direct its resources toward publications in the field of peace studies.
If today I’m a better Unificationist, if today my understanding of the value of our Founders has increased, it’s because Applied Unificationism has existed.
To the editorial committee of Applied Unificationism: THANK YOU!
Editors,
You were an intellectual beacon through dark providential storms, a ballast in the midst of church turmoil.
Now where do we turn for enlightenment and insightful, thoughtful interpretation? Facebook groups? The Divine Principle book has remained the same for 50 years. This makes me sad.
Thank you for hosting our articles and discussions throughout the years, at the risk of the feedback and scrutiny you certainly received.
I just read that the Applied Unificationism Blog will no longer post new articles after June 30 due to loss of sponsorship.
I really hope the AU Blog will find a way to continue in some form. It served a real need for many years. The Blog was triggering and stimulating research and a quest for deeper answers. It was forcing us to think outside of the box. It was conceived in order to attract those with creative ideas about the practical applications of our teachings.
Unfortunately, it was the only forum of such a quality for our movement worldwide. Some important leaders could grasp its importance, but maybe not enough. I feel deeply worried about the prospect of maintaining this kind of forum.
Sorry to hear this news. I would hope that there could be some way for the Blog to continue. It was very stimulating to read the essays and comments on such a broad array of topics.
First of all, thank you for hosting and providing this Blog over the years. Many contributions were insightful and helped me gain additional understanding.
Are the budgetary needs confidential, or would its disclosure perhaps stimulate sponsors so it could be kept alive?
Too many valuable initiatives in our (Western) movement have been scaled down or closed altogether in past decades. It makes me sad and sentimental to see another such initiative disappear.
Special shout-out to our contributing writers over the past decade, many of whom are UTS alumni or current students. There would have been no Applied Unificationism Blog without their thoughtful articles.
😦 This is sad that UTS has decided not to sponsor the AU Blog anymore. I would love if our church’s international headquarters would pay for the probably small server costs for this website to continue to operate. This is a unique forum for discussing Unification Church theology that I think has almost no alternative/competitor, other than discussions on Facebook or other social media between individuals. The articles posted here have been very thought-provoking and I will sincerely miss this forum to share many types of ideas.
Thank you all so much for your efforts over the years of the AU Blog. Clearly an era has ended — the name of UTS, Barrytown, and our beloved Blog are no more. Sadly, the blinded Gloucester’s lines as he wandered on the heath come to my mind: “As flies to wanton boys are we to th’ gods, They kill us for their sport.” (King Lear, Act 4, Scene 1)
I like the Shakespeare reference. Sadly, it’s apt.
What do you need to continue as a separate online blog from the Seminary?
Annual site hosting and domain registration costs of the AU Blog on WordPress.com are very nominal. The site would require a new sponsor capable of sustaining it long-term, and one or two part-time employees, depending on skills and how often new articles would be posted. It would need an editor and also perhaps someone with modest web technical skills.
Having UTS as the AU Blog’s institutional sponsor, for what may be regarded as “in-reach” in contrast to “outreach,” has been a major factor in attracting loyal readers since Day 1.
Perhaps the key to this site, however, is the top-notch editorial committee, of current and former UTS faculty, which makes recommendations on submissions. Over 20% of submissions have not been accepted for reasons of quality or germaneness over the years.
Overall annual costs, mostly of part-time salary or salaries, would be very, very modest.
In my view, you cannot put a price on the value of UTS institutional sponsorship and a top-flight editorial committee to review submissions.
Just posted, a FAQ on the name change from UTS to HJ International Graduate School, which takes effect July 1 — “Building on our Past, Looking to the Future: From Unification Theological Seminary to HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership.” Also, a letter from its President on the name change.