Update from our Spiritual Leader
 By Rev. Dr. Kenn Gordon
Strategic Alliance Covenant Signed at Convention
One of the WOWs at the Spiritual Living Convention was Bishop Yvette Flunder, presiding bishop with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. Not only did Bishop Yvette give a talk during our general session that had everyone on their feet applauding, she also signed a Strategic Alliance covenant with Centers for Spiritual Living. In the covenant, Centers for Spiritual Living and The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries confirm our mutual commitment to creating a world that works for all and acknowledge the need for a collaborative, multi-disciplinary effort in awaking humanity to its spiritual magnificence.
Blessings,
Dr. Kenn Gordon
Read Dr. Kenn’s weekly blogs on Principles of Spiritual Living on Patheos.com.
Update from our President
 By Rev. Dr. John B. Waterhouse
As your President, fostering clear, open and multi-directional communication throughout our organization has been among my highest priorities. I believe the more well informed we are individually, the higher functioning we are as an organization. When first elected, I began the practice of sending monthly updates to you focused on my own initiatives and perspectives. These communications have since evolved into this Monthly Update email, which features contributions from our Spiritual Leader, each of our elected councils, all three of our directors and other areas of importance/relevance within our organization. Everyone in leadership wants you, our active ministers, practitioners and lay leaders, to know what’s going on in your organization. Still, the feedback I’m receiving about this Monthly Update is that many are still not reading it. Why this is remains unclear. So, in the spirit of greater understanding, I’m asking you to take a one-minute online survey to share your ideas on how valuable this communication is to you and how we can do this better. At the bottom of this article is a link to the survey. The questions you’ll be asked are as follows:
- How often do you read the Monthly Updates?
- Every month
- Once in a while
- Only when I need information
- I don’t read the Monthly Updates
- How often would you like to see Home Office issue an Update?
- Monthly
- Quarterly
- Not at all
- What, if anything, would you like to see changed about the Monthly Update to make it more useful? There’s a space here to share your thoughts.
That’s the whole survey. So, please take a minute, click the link and tell us what you think. Your thoughts are exceedingly valuable to me and our entire organization.
Here’s the link: www.surveymonkey.com/s/F9CGS3L
Thanks for taking the time to respond. You’ll receive information about what we learn from the survey in next month’s update.
So many blessings!
Dr. John
Member Support & Education Update
 By Rev. Gregory Toole, Director
EDUCATION
East Coast Ministerial Training Regional Campus – Request for Proposals
The Centers for Spiritual Living School of Spiritual Leadership, the newly named umbrella for all of ministerial education, desires to have a campus in one of the East Coast Regions to serve the great number of potential students who graduate from practitioner studies in that broad area. Our goal is to have this campus begin operations in the fall of 2014.
This Request for Proposals (RFP) is being conducted in a two-phase process. Phase I of the RFP will demonstrate the feasibility of having a Regional Center at your site. Phase II will call for more detailed information about financial, logistical and administrative resources that your site will have available for the establishment of the new Regional Center. Information about Phase II will be sent to you once you have successfully completed Phase I.
This RFP has been sent out via email in a separate email message. The deadline for proposals is March 31. For more information, contact Rev. Bob Deen, Ministerial Education Manager, at bdeen@csl.org or 720-279-8990.
Update to Education Catalog
The Education Catalog has been updated to reflect the requirement of six courses instead of seven for entering practitioner studies in 2015. This was approved by the Leadership Council and ratified by the delegates at the 2013 Spiritual Living Convention.
The other items updated were minor clarifications on the difference between audits and reviews. All changes are in red. Go to the internal password-protected website to find the updated Education Catalog. Contact Dianna Ferguson with questions at dferguson@csl.org or 720-279-8989.
Job Opening – Manager of Spiritual Development Education
The Education Department seeks a new Manager of Spiritual Development Education. This is an important new position that reflects our re-emphasis of Education as the core competency of Centers for Spiritual Living. The new manager will be responsible for what we have known as the certificated courses and their evolution, but also for expanding our reach in the world through the use of technology to make Centers for Spiritual Living Education available to a much broader audience.
The official announcement for this position was issued in a separate email. Applications are due by March 31. To receive the open position announcement, contact Rev. Gregory Toole at gtoole@csl.org.
Holmes Institute’s Master’s Degree in Consciousness Studies accredited for five more years
The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), the No. 1 prestigious national accrediting agency for distance education in the United States, has accredited the Holmes Institute’s Distance Education Master’s Degree in Consciousness Studies for another five years. That means our degree is fully recognized and qualifies one to apply for doctoral work at schools and universities across the nation. It also means that graduates of this program have accomplished significant study and developed a depth of knowledge and understanding. This is recognition that Holmes Institute is a place for quality education. Congratulations to Maureen Thurston, Dr. Christina Tillotson, the Deans, and Rev. Bob Deen for their tireless and meticulous work.
LICENSING AND CREDENTIALING
Payment of Ministers’ Annual Professional Fee
It is time for Centers for Spiritual Living Ministers to submit their annual Ministerial Professional Fee. The information below will assist you in making your payment.
Key Information:
- The amount of this annual fee is $100
- Fees are payable from January 1 through March 31 each year
- Fees paid after March 31 are subject to a $50 late fee
- Payment of fee includes acknowledgement of Practitioner licensing renewal fee for Ministers
- Fee is paid by all active Centers for Spiritual Living Ministers (licensed or ordained)
- Inactive retired Ministers in our records are not required to pay the professional fee
- New cards will not be issued this year as the card issued last year is valid through the end of 2016. If for any reason you need a new card, you can request one from our office.
How to submit your Ministerial Professional Fee:
The preferred method is to use a credit card to pay online at CSL.org via the “Online Net Community” area of our website. This process also allows you the opportunity to review and update contact information for yourself in our records. The following short video will walk you through the process of logging into Net Community, updating your profile and paying your fee:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL2jc-gN7oU
IMPORTANT NOTE: Although the video includes a description of the option on how to create a new Net Community registration, almost all ministers should by now have a Net Community log in already established. Please do not use this new registration option without first contacting our office to check your record and verify that you do not have an existing Net Community log in. After your payment is submitted, you will receive an email confirming receipt of your payment.
If you have any problems logging into or using the Net Community area of the website, you need to pay offline, or you have any other questions about this fee, please contact our office via email at lc@csl.org outlining your concerns and a staff member will respond to you shortly.
Love & blessings,
Rev. Gregory |
Operations Update
 By Steve Burton, Director
Old Cars Yield New Tithing Opportunities for Centers
A nonprofit organization started by a member of Mile Hi Church in Lakewood, Colo., has resulted in almost $60,000 donated to the church and now your center can benefit from this program, too! Steven Morrow founded Cars Helping Charities in 2002 and to date the organization has taken in over 35,000 unwanted vehicles, and raised more than $5 million for 250 charities.
Since Mile Hi Church joined the program, congregation attendees have donated $20,000 for the general fund and $39,000 for the foundation, just by donating their unwanted cars, trucks, boats and RVs to Cars Helping Charites. To find out more about your center participating in the Cars Helping Charities program, contact Morrow at Steven.Morrow@CarsHelpingCharities or (303) 423-2277. Visit the website at www.CarsHelpingCharities.org.
Blessings,
Steve
Science of Mind Foundation News – The best time to start an endowment is now!
Communications Update
 By Rev. Judy Morley, Ph.D, Director
Centers for Spiritual Living is proud to be a sponsor of the Awakened World International Film Festival, October 27-30, 2014, in Santa Barbara, California. Watch for more information at csl.org or www.agnt.org/awfilmfest.
Tips for Using the CSL.org Website
Finding information applicable to all Centers for Spiritual Living
This will be on the “Internal Website.” This is an archive site, and has documents and materials that are used by all our communities. This is where you can find information on branding, marketing, curriculum, youth programs, new ministry applications and a host of other resources. To access this site, you can log in at the bottom of the home page. There are different levels of access for ministers, practitioners and laity, but each of those categories has a generic password. For example, the user name for laity is “member,” and the password is “Holmes” (case sensitive).
Finding information that’s unique to you as an individual or center
This is in Net Community. To access Net Community, click on the tab on the left of the home page at csl.org, and then enter your unique user name and password. This takes you directly into our database and allows you to update your personal information, renew your practitioner or ministerial license, or fill out information regarding your community.
Questions? Contact me at jmorley@csl.org.
How does Home Office communicate with you?
The primary way that Home Office communicates to the field is through Net Community. This method takes email addresses from our database and sends information directly to your inbox. This is one-way communication, and you can identify these emails because the sender is identified as “Home Office.” For ministers and practitioners, this is the only way we communicate important information, such as licensing renewal requirements, policy changes, and organizational updates. Although there is an “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the page, if you unsubscribe from this email, you will be completely removed from all communications from Home Office.
For ministers and practitioners, there is a second communication format, and that is the Google Group. This is a chat format, and consequently is interactive. The Google Group is completely optional, and anyone of the appropriate standing (i.e. minister or practitioner) may join or unsubscribe from his/her particular Google Group at any time.
Love & blessings,
Judy
Convention News – WOW! Our Spiritual Living Convention had something for everyone!
Publishing News – Science of Mind is available at all Barnes & Noble bookstores this month! Plus advertising discounts, free subscriptions for new members, and a gift from Creative Thought – respond immediately and you may win a free one-year subscription!
Let’s stay in touch!
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Science of Mind Archives and Library Foundation
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Science of Mind Archives & Library Foundation Update
 By James Abbott
The Science of Mind Archives and Library Foundation is pleased to announce that Phase I of the Library expansion is complete! The Archives Board of Directors and the Library Expansion Committee have voted to convert the current display library into a research library. Phase I included the construction remodel for this project, which was recently completed. The Science of Mind Archives now occupies the lower east wing of the Home Office’s building in Golden, Colo. The remodel provides comfortable space for reading, research, meetings and classes to be conducted in the Library.
If you would like to make a donation to help support the Library Expansion and Phase II, please click on the link below or mail a contribution to the Science of Mind Archives. A few of the projects in Phase II include purchasing cataloging software for books and furnishing the new research library. Stay tuned for developments on Phase II.
www.scienceofmindarchives.org/donate
The Science of Mind Archives is also excited and proud to announce that we were a “Bronze Sponsor” for the 2014 Spiritual Living Convention.
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Leadership Council Update
By Rev. David Alexander, Chair
 Wow! What a week we had in Orlando! Those of you who joined us know how powerful it was and for those who could not make it, I know you’ve heard the stories.
Let me start off by letting you know that I'm honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve on the Leadership Council for three more years. This honor to serve is extended further with being chosen by the Leadership Council to serve as Chair for the next year. I'd like to make one of my first acts on record as Chair to be recognizing and honoring Dr. Heather Clark for her exceptional service as Chair for the last two years. It is never easy to be first in a new role. Dr. Heather was the perfect person for the job as the council went through its early formation and finding its voice in our new organization. She brought grace, patience, and commitment to inclusivity and clarity to our council. I am also grateful that Dr. Heather will continue to serve for another year on the council. As we welcome two new officers and retain two previous officers in our third year, we are modeling shared leadership, one of our organizational values.
Serving with me as vice-chair is Tracy Brown RScP, treasurer is Walter Drew, and Secretary is Geoff Sindon. Together with our entire elected council, directors, Spiritual Leader and re-elected President, we are committed to serving the highest possible vision of Centers for Spiritual Living. Expect great things from this exceptional group of people!
David Alexander
www.revdavidalexander.com
By Dr. Heather Dawn Clark, Former Chair
 By the time you read this article, we will have had our election and started the next year of our organization. I trusted Divine Mind collectively and individually to people every council with exactly what the organization and the councils need. It is the Creative Process in manifestation. We are evolving into the next greatest expression of the Leadership Council.
By now you know that I am no longer the Chair of the Leadership Council. I decided not to run again because this is my third and last year on the Council and I believe that continuity at the chair level is a good idea. So welcome to our new Leadership Council, and to our new Chair. I repeat what I said last issue; it has been an honor to serve our organization in this way.
Richest blessings,
Heather
Ministers Council Update
Rev. Linda Reppond, Chair
 We are pleased to offer this year’s Minister’s Gathering, Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, hosted by the Capistrano Valley Center for Spiritual Living, San Clemente, CA. All ministers – active, retired, senior, staff and focus ministers—are invited to join us for a lovely week of inspiration and connection. There is no registration fee; your only cost will be in getting there and any expense related to hotel and meals. Information about this conference will be sent within the next few weeks. All ministers, please mark your calendars now.
New Council members were elected at the convention in Orlando, and new officers elected. The council composition now includes:
Rev. Linda Reppond, Chair, from the Launching Pad, Berkeley, CA
Rev. Michelle Wadleigh, Vice Chair, from CSL North Jersey, West Orange, NJ
Rev. Karyl Huntley, Secretary, from Golden Gate CSL, Corte Madera, CA
Rev. Michele Senegal, Treasurer, from Spiritual Empowerment Center, Baltimore, MD
Rev. Sunshine Daye, from the Revealing Center, Long Beach, CA
Dr. Barbara Waterhouse, from CSL Ashville, Ashville, NC
Our goal is to increase connection between and among ministers. As such, we will be reaching out to connect individually with as many ministers as possible by phone and email over the next several months, and to provide resources that support increased connection. |
Practitioner Council Update
By Linda Watson, Practitioner Emeritus, Chair
 Greetings Dear Practitioners,
Happy Spring! What a joy it was to connect with and meet so many of you at our wonderful week of WOW in Orlando for the 2014 Spiritual Living Convention. On Tuesday afternoon, the Practitioner Council convened our Practitioner Gathering with 80 Practitioners in attendance from all over the globe, including Canada, UK, Jamaica, Mexico, Belgium and Peru! After engaging in a sacred ceremony honoring all Practitioners, we shared in small groups, welcomed our newly elected Council members Linda Jackson and Charlie Sheppard, and thanked and presented gifts to our outgoing members Jeanette Vinek and Deborah Ford.
The Practitioner Council met for our initial planning meeting with new Council members after the convention. The officers for the 2014 Council are: Chair Linda Watson, Vice-Chair Baji Daniels, Secretary Susan Pahnke and Financial Liaison Charlie Sheppard. The Council is completed by Dee Sermons and Linda Jackson.
Many of you joined us for our Practitioner Quarterly Calls on March 8, 10 and 15. Steve Burton shared information about the insurance program, and Eugene Holden spoke with us about the direction of the WMOP. We also shared some of the inspiring ways Practitioners are serving in their Centers and out in the world. The calls were recorded and archived. (712-432-1088, Access Code 836448#)
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Pacific Northwest where I was invited to share with some of our Centers in the Seattle area. What a delight it was to visit the Genesis Global Spiritual Center with my dear friend, Rev. Charles Hall, and to be in the presence of the phenomenal practitioners during our workshop and to experience their amazing rockin’ Sunday celebration. Joining in sacred circle with members of the Seattle CSL Practitioner Core (Rev. Kathianne Lewis’ extraordinary community), led by Karen Ramsey, was a wonderful blessing. It was an honor to once again facilitate a visioning for the Ravenna CSL community and their talented musical minister, Rev. Sonia Vargas, and to witness their continued expansion. Being in the entertaining presence of the Tacoma CSL minister, Rev. Frances Lorenz and her husband, Mario, was one of the highlights of my trip!
Another highlight of my month was being on the March 19th President’s Call when Dr. John hosted Rev. Barbara Leger sharing about Ukraine from a spiritual perspective. If you missed the call, I highly recommend it!! (605-475-4700, Access Code: 183892# - #91)
Our regional Practitioner Representative program is moving forward with renewed vitality and excitement. We’re seeking representatives from Region 4 (N. Calif. and Oregon), Region 5 (AK, MT , WA and Western Canada) and Region 12: International (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and Middle East) This is an opportunity to support Practitioners in your region get connected, collaborate and build community. (Additional information available at www.csl.org)
There are some great events for practitioners taking place on the West coast. In Northern California (SF/Oakland area), the Vallejo CSL will be hosting their 5th Annual Practitioners Retreat April 25-26. Contact Richard Watts at 707-644-5971 or richardwwatts@gmail.com.
In Southern California, the Practitioner Council is launching our Practitioner Leadership program (PLUS) June 27 - 28 in Los Angeles, hosted by Guidance Church and our beloved Rev. Nirvana Gayle. More information will be available soon.
Continuing to hold the highest for Centers for Spiritual Living, each ministry, our ministers, practitioners and laity—we are blessed to be walking this extraordinary path together! You can reach me at Lindajoy99@aol.com or by calling 714-585-5070.
Wishing you a month filled with richest blessings! Linda Watson |
Laity Council Update
By Layne Taylor, Chair
What an extraordinary week we spent in Orlando at the Spiritual Living Convention! We were inspired, entertained, productive, connected and sprinkled with pixie dust!
I’ll tell you more, but first I’d like to welcome the new members of the Laity Council for 2014 – Neil Pinkman, Neil Williams and Jackie Martin join current members Pam Lambert, Crystal Davis, and me in bringing a greater level of communication and connectedness to the lay members of our organization.
So what did we do all week? We met the candidates and voted, then prepared for our Laity gathering, early in the week. At the gathering we shared our progress and vision with a standing- room-only audience. We rolled out our new foundation documents that describe the process and function of becoming a center or regional representative. We were treated to impromptu appearances by Dr. John and Dr. Kenn, and shared a heart-centering exercise led by outgoing council member Mari Avicolli. Mari was also awarded a well-deserved Laity Leadership award.
As the week progressed, we came together as a council with new chemistry, skills and energy, and began to develop our roadmap for the coming year. We participated in and helped to facilitate the general session where we worked in groups to identify priorities in all areas of our organization. Some of us shared a breakfast with our counterparts on the Young Adult leadership team. It was so wonderful to exchange ideas with these bright minds and spirits, and explore the potential synergies in our visions. And we did leave a little time for food, fun, fireworks and roller coasters!
It was a rich experience, one that I envision being enjoyed by many more of us in the future, as the Laity Council works to connect and share with our communities. Check us out on our Facebook page – just search for CSL Laity.
In Light, Love, and Joyful Service,
Layne Taylor
Chairperson – Laity Council
Celebrating our good!
Employee Recognition Award
If there is a Home Office employee whom you believe deserves recognition, let us know! Home Office employees can be nominated for this program for showing exceptional creativity and inspiration through their work in support of our organization’s vision of bringing Science of Mind and Spirit to the world. Nominations can be submitted either by fellow home office staff or by those in our member communities who recognize the contributions the individual has made. Our Awards Team reviews all nominations and selects the recipient(s) of the award every three months. You can nominate an individual by submitting an email to commendations@csl.org.
Important Dates to Remember
2014
September 14: World Day of Service
October 27 - 30: Awakened World International Film Festival
2015
Feb. 16 – 19: Spiritual Living Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada
Where in the world is our Spiritual Leader?
Follow Dr. Kenn on Twitter and find out! |
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