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Who Wrote the Unity Creed? The Author and His Vision

Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.
By Rev. C•D•F• Warrington, M.Div.

Ordained Minister, M.Div.

March 28, 2026

2 min read

A pastor writing at a desk with a Bible and papers, warm study with bookshelves in the background

The Unity Creed of 2020 was authored by Rev. Christopher D.F. Warrington, MDiv — a minister writing from Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America. Unlike the ancient creeds of the Church, which emerged from councils of bishops gathered to resolve theological controversies, the Unity Creed came from a single pastor’s deep conviction that the global Church needed a clear, contemporary statement on the biblical mandate for unity.

The Vision Behind the Creed

Rev. Warrington’s concern was not doctrinal controversy between denominations, but something more fundamental: the fracturing of the Body of Christ through division, competition, and indifference. The Church, he believed, was failing its greatest calling — to be a visible sign of the love and unity of the Trinity — not because of wrong doctrine, but because of broken relationships between believers. The Unity Creed was his response to that failure.

The Christian Chain

The creed was endorsed by The Christian Chain, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, with the mission to see the Christian Church United and Unleashed. The organization operates a network of ministry resources designed to encourage and equip the global Church to live out the biblical call to unity, including the Unity Accord — a formal agreement that individuals, churches, and organizations can sign as a declaration of their commitment to Church unity.

The Unity Accord website hosts the full Unity Creed, the biblical support for Church unity, and resources explaining why unity matters to God, to the Church, and to the world. It is an ongoing invitation to every believer to affirm what Christ commanded: that His disciples would be one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote the Unity Creed?

The Unity Creed was authored by a contemporary Christian writer seeking to articulate a confession of faith that emphasizes the shared core convictions of orthodox Christianity across denominational lines. The creed is associated with the Unity Accord project, accessible at unityaccord.org, and represents a vision for confessional unity grounded in historic Christian doctrine rather than doctrinal minimalism. It draws on the language and theology of the classic ecumenical creeds.

What is the Unity Accord and what does it aim to achieve?

The Unity Accord is a confessional project aimed at identifying the doctrinal common ground shared by Christians across the broad spectrum of historic Protestant and evangelical traditions. Rather than papering over real differences, it seeks to articulate the essential beliefs that define orthodox Christianity and provide a basis for cooperation in mission and witness. The project reflects a concern that denominational divisions can obscure the genuine unity that all true believers share in Christ.

What theological convictions does the Unity Creed express?

The Unity Creed expresses convictions rooted in the historic Christian faith, including the authority of Scripture, the doctrine of the Trinity, the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, his atoning death and bodily resurrection, and the necessity of faith for salvation. It follows the structure and substance of the classical ecumenical creeds while using language accessible to contemporary Christians across denominational traditions. The creed is designed to be something believers from Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, and other evangelical backgrounds can affirm together.

How does the Unity Creed relate to the historic ecumenical creeds?

The Unity Creed draws on and stands in continuity with the three ecumenical creeds — the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed — treating them as authoritative summaries of the apostolic faith. While the classical creeds were produced in response to specific fourth- and fifth-century controversies, the Unity Creed applies their doctrinal substance to a contemporary context of inter-Christian dialogue and evangelistic mission. It does not replace the historic creeds but builds on their foundation.

Why is a new creed needed when the historic creeds already exist?

While the historic ecumenical creeds remain foundational, a contemporary creed can address questions and contexts that the ancient creeds did not directly face, including modern theological challenges, the proliferation of denominations, and the need for a confessional rallying point for cross-denominational mission. The Unity Creed attempts to identify the non-negotiable core of Christian belief that persists across traditions and centuries, providing a basis for Christians to recognize one another as members of the same body of Christ even amid secondary differences.

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