By Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 3, 2010; C01

In a matter of seconds 27 years ago in a crowded New York City hotel ballroom, David Moffitt's parents went from total strangers to an engaged couple after being divinely matched by Unification Church founder the Rev. Sun Myung Moon. It was the 1980s, when thousands of young people like them ditched their educations, careers and families to live out of vans, sell flowers at airports and follow a Korean who calls himself a messiah.

Flash-forward to a Bowie living room on a recent weeknight, when Moffitt and a few dozen other "blessed children" of Moon-arranged mass weddings were discussing something perhaps as revolutionary: going mainstream.

"Our parents' generation were much more all-out. . . . You could say they were fighting a war," said Moffitt, a 24-year-old University of Maryland junior who works part time as a personal trainer. "Our generation is more focused on happiness and prosperity, going to college, getting jobs. It's important to be part of the culture. If you're above the culture, you can't change the world."

Their quest for a less-radical version of their faith comes during great uncertainty and change within the Unification Church. With Moon turning 90 in February, how the movement will survive beyond him is unclear. Moon's children are at odds over how to run the church's business empire, including the money-losing Washington Times, which laid off 40 percent of its staff this past week.

For church members, figuring out how to stabilize the movement has a feeling of urgency, particularly for Moffitt and others his age. Church officials estimate there are 21,000 active Unificationists in this country, including 7,500 blessed children, who members believe were born free of original sin and have a special spiritual status. A significant number of blessed children live in the Washington area, long a hub for Moon businesses and church lobbyists.

The church's future lies with this second generation, who were born into a religion some view as a bizarre cult. Their own beliefs run the gamut from those eager to follow in their parents' footsteps to those who haven't attended a Unification worship service for years.

Miilhan Stephens, a 22-year-old studying food science at the University of Maryland, beamed as he talked about Moon pairing him by photograph with a young woman from Japan. Photos from the matching ceremony show him holding the hand of his fiancee, who's wearing a white dress and veil, in a Manhattan concert hall filled with couples.

By contrast, Marisa Rand, a 21-year-old art student whose Moon-matched parents divorced long ago, said the circumstance of their marriage was such a sensitive subject that it was barely mentioned when she was growing up in Cheverly. Her family no longer practices Unificationism, and she can't imagine marrying the way her parents did.

Then there's Moffitt, who represents the new, somewhat more moderate face of Unificationism. He didn't marry a stranger -- he and his wife, Kaeleigh, have known each other since they were children -- and their marriage wasn't arranged by Moon.

The two sat together in the Bowie living room with other blessed children for their weekly youth group. They discussed a book by Hyung-Jin Moon -- the Moon son leading the religious part of the movement --performed skits, ate potato chips and admired one another's clothes. Except for their biracial faces -- evidence of a theology that sees intermarriage as a cosmic way to end conflict -- and the photo of Rev. Moon on the wall, their lives are a world away from their parents'.

Where their parents were matched by Moon's divine inspiration, many blessed children are getting hitched using Web sites inspired by eHarmony that rate how much they like certain hobbies, such as cooking. And where their parents were spiritual seekers, rebels inspired to join a movement on society's fringe, blessed children were simply raised within a faith they have to find their own reasons to follow.

The images of the Unificationist Church that stick for the typical American are those from decades past, thousands of strangers in wedding garb at Madison Square Garden or RFK Stadium. Among them were Larry and Taeko Moffitt, who were working for the church in 1979 when Moon pointed to them during a matching ceremony.

In a memoir, Larry, now 60, wrote of being terrified of this "cute as a button" Japanese woman with broken English but of wanting that day to marry Taeko "to my bottommost corpuscle."

They believed in Moon's divinity, in his ability to judge people's nature and in his devotion to the institution of marriage. If they could commit to it, they were certain they could build love and passion. Thirty years and five children later, the Bowie couple say they succeeded, calling one another pet names and playfully teasing.

David's marriage last year to Kaeleigh, who heads the church's high school ministry program in Maryland, came about much differently. They asked their parents, separately, to match them but never discussed it with each other for fear of interfering with the process.

This somewhat more conventional approach to finding a spouse became possible in 2001 when Moon made the dramatic announcement that parents could match their own children. This was driven both by Moon's age and what church officials say was a natural evolution of Unificationist theology, one that sees Moon as a parent (he is called "True Father" by members) who established the rules and lineage and now is passing the parental responsibility of matchmaking to individual mothers and fathers.

Parents can now use Web sites with photos and biographical information to search for a suitable spouse or attend "matching convocations," during which they walk around with buttons showing the age and sex of their child (blue buttons for people with sons, pink for those with daughters).

Amanda van Eck, a sociologist who studies the second generation of new religious movements, said the changes the church is making will help Unificationism survive.

"It's more feasible to be a long-lasting movement if you adapt," she said. Many of the church's oldest blessed children -- those born in the early 1970s -- fell away, she said, because the movement was too isolated and had no activities or groups for the young.

Even so, not all young Unificationists support the less-rigid approach to marriage. They debate on private Web sites (including one called "Something in the Unification Church Needs to Change") whether it's theologically acceptable for an outsider or newcomer to marry a blessed child and what that means for the pure lineage Moon had preached early on was mandatory for erasing sin.

Michele Burton, a 23-year-old D.C. public school teacher who grew up in the church but no longer considers herself a member, said the movement's drive toward the mainstream can only go so far.

"All that period of living in a van, having people yell at you, being poor -- they want that period to be over," she said. "There is a gravitational pull toward appearing normal. But you can't be normal in this movement. You're going to be different."

David Moffitt went to Unificationist schools and said he doesn't have many close relationships with people outside the church. Asked if he would have considered marrying someone outside the church, Moffitt's animated tone became serious.

"That's, like, not cool," he said.

But Moffitt's older sister, Kathy Mehlman, did marry outside the church two years ago -- a choice that initially troubled her family, she said. They've since accepted her decision, and she still attends special events at the church.

Nevertheless, Mehlman, 25, said she is looking into getting her marriage blessed by Moon. "I always felt I was a disappointment to my family because I chose this way, so I want to do it for my Mom," she said.

Her brother characterized their parents as pioneers, people who made "sacrifices" necessary to establish the movement. Moffitt sees their marriage -- one built first on commitment, then love -- as an ideal.

"What I really wanted was a relationship like my parents had," he said. "If my marriage is half of theirs, I'd be happy."

Washington Times lays off top editor, dozens of staffers

The Washington Times slashed its 170-member newsroom staff Wednesday, laying off its top editor and scores of reporters, editors and photographers at the 27-year-old newspaper.

By Ian Shapira and Michelle Boorstein
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, November 23, 2009

Inside the imposing Unification Church in Adams Morgan, past the lobby photograph of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon on a fishing yacht, soothing melodies beckoned worshipers Sunday morning. Churchgoers listened to a recorded sermon by Moon's daughter, In Jin Moon, about a Harvard study on happiness, then nodded along as Senior Pastor Zagery J. Oliver asserted that "true happiness" comes from "who we are."

But outside the church walls, the quest for inner contentment is overshadowed by a fractious Moon family dispute. This month's abrupt purging of top executives at the Washington Times, which Moon founded and subsidized, and downturns at some Moon-connected businesses in the Washington area have rattled some Unificationists already worried about what will happen to their movement after the passing of its 89-year-old founder.

"It's a shock, a surprise," said Andrew Sices, a Maryland sculptor and longtime church member who created the logo displayed in the New York Avenue NE building that houses the Times, which Moon has long trumpeted as an emblem of his political might. "I'd like to know what happened."

Outside experts on Moon's empire and church officials say it's unclear how Unificationism will fare when "True Father," as Moon is known inside the church, dies. Moon is the theological center of the movement he founded in 1954, as well as a global business magnate who for decades has sought to win recognition from political leaders, especially in Washington. Followers of the church believe that Moon is a messiah sent by God to complete Jesus's unfinished work of creating heaven on Earth.

The ranks of the church's U.S. followers have thinned since the movement's heyday in the 1970s, according to church officials. In an attempt to retain young members, the church recently liberalized its marriage policies so parents, not just clergy, can match men and women to take part in the movement's mass weddings. Worldwide, the church has about 110,000 "adherents," according to a report in the Times in October. Church officials, however, have cited membership figures in the millions in recent weeks.

Last month, the church announced that Moon was passing day-to-day control to his three U.S.-educated sons.

But an apparent feud broke out this month between two of them when Hyun Jin Moon, often known by his American name, Preston, and Hyung Jin Moon, known as Sean, issued dueling memos asserting competing claims of control over portions of their father's empire.

Unification clergy are trying to stay above the fray. Angelika Selle, pastor of New Hope Family Church in Prince George's County, said she avoids news about controversies within Unificationism. Her congregants are "surrounding the whole issue in prayer because it's not clear what's going on," she said.

"I don't think it's my responsibility to know," Selle said, adding that "things are normal" and that there is no need to "get into all that drama."

Joshua Cotter, the church's executive vice president, declined a request for a phone interview. In response to a list of Washington Post questions about the church and Moon-linked businesses, Cotter wrote: "Rev. Moon has inspired many activities and projects with the goal of promoting world peace. He and our Unification Church members in America and worldwide continue to pray for the success of these projects."

In the Washington area, several organizations with ties to the church have suffered financially over the past year, including Moon's media holding company, News World Communications, which owns the Washington Times, the United Press International wire service and the Atlantic Video TV production facility.

As of August 2008, analysts estimated that Moon had subsidized the Times by at least $1 billion since it was launched in 1982; analysts have also estimated that the newspaper has lost close to $2 billion since it was founded.

"The Moons have a lot of businesses that don't make money, and they are having to shutter the losing businesses," said Richard Miniter, 42, the recently departed Times editorial page editor and vice president.

Atlantic Video, which provides production services for two ESPN shows, laid off more than half of its 63 employees in March and increased its use of freelancers. In an interview, company President Ed Milligan blamed the struggles on some media outlets doing more work in-house. UPI executives did not return calls, but Miniter described the wire service as "hollowed out."

Some of Moon Inc.'s New York-based operations remain profitable, according to a church media relations consultant who said he was not authorized to speak publicly. The seafood company True World Foods and Washington Times Aviation do well, according to a former executive at a major Moon enterprise who declined to be named, citing confidentiality agreements in his contract. (Spokesmen for the companies did not return calls.)

At the nonprofit Kirov Academy of Ballet in Northeast, a church-backed school that sends some graduates to top ballet companies, Executive Director Michael Beard said the church's annual subsidy has dropped by about half, to $1 million, this year. The Christian Bernard jewelry chain, which other news outlets and private investigators have linked to Moon, went bankrupt shortly after Christmas, according to multiple news accounts.

At New Hope Academy, a private school in Prince George's founded by Unificationist parents in 1990 with a donation from Moon of more than $150,000, enrollment has dropped from 285 to 210 in about the past five years, said Principal Joy Morrow. The percentage of Unificationist families at New Hope has plummeted from 100 percent to about 7 percent since its inception, she said.

New Hope, like many private schools in the region, is struggling to survive in a weak economy. The school no longer relies on the church for major funding, although it rents its auditorium on Sundays to Unificationist congregants. "We can't handle being any smaller than we are," said Morrow, who joined the church in the early 1970s. "We're fighting like crazy to keep our school afloat."

She said she is pained by the internecine battles within the church. "I don't think this is what Reverend Moon wanted," she said. "I am just praying that people treat each other well."

Three top Times executives were ousted two weeks ago: president and publisher Thomas McDevitt, finance chief Keith Cooperrider and chairman Dong Moon Joo, who all declined to comment. The executive editor, John Solomon, a former Post reporter, resigned; he did not return phone calls for comment. The shakeup has left many in the newsroom worrying whether the paper will still be rolling off the presses by year's end.

     Women of Peace, Prosperity, and Purpose

Weekend Retreat 

Come relax in the beauty of nature, enjoy informative presentations on topics of relevance and interest.  There will be time for discussion, sharing, fireside chats and plenty of delicious food. 

Presentations will focus on;

finding peace within ourselves, our families,  and the world, discovering our  true value and purpose, and understanding the principles of creating a life of  abundance, joy and happiness. 

November 20-22, starting at 7:00pm Friday evening with dinner, through  Sunday lunch. 

Retreat located in Barrytown, New York at the former campus of the Unification Theological Seminary on the grounds of the historic Messina house where Teddy Roosevelt spent time in his youth. 

Accommodations are double room with shared bath in newly renovated rooms and bathrooms.

Registration includes two nights stay, 6 meals plus coffee, tea and snacks between meals. 

What to bring; casual clothes, personal health and beauty items, towel, and open mind and heart, Linens are provided but you may bring your own if you prefer.   
 

Registration fee is $120 preregistered on line or $150 at the door.  Register online using secure Paypal by clicking on the following link. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9031673 

Transportation; Amtrak train from Penn Station, NY 

to Rhinecliff ,10 minute cab ride from retreat. 

Driving directions on Google maps. 

Address is: 30 Seminary Drive, Barrytown, NY  

Further questions please email:

Kim Barry~  kimpbarry@...   

Registration form on following page:  (please scroll down) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Women of Peace, Prosperity, and Purpose

Weekend Retreat Registration form 
 

Name_____________________________________________ 

Address_______________________________________________________ 

Phone_________________________________________________________  

Cell phone___________________________________  

Email:_______________________________________ 

Invited by___________________________________________________  

Registration includes two nights lodging in double rooms and 6 meals and retreat printed materials and all activities and presentations.  Registration fee is $120 prepaid online or $150 registration at the retreat. 

 To register using secure Paypal by clicking on the following link. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9031673 

I   ___________________________________________________________  have my own  medical and accident insurance and take full responsibility for my health and safety during the retreat and release UTS and retreat organizers from any responsibility or liability. 

Food allergies, special diet concerns;

Please email the registration form to kimpbarry@...