Jump to the different voting sections here:
Leadership Council – Minister Candidates
Rev. Dr. Deborah Gordon; Kelowna, B.C., Canada; Centre for Spiritual Living Kelowna, Kelowna, B.C., Canada
Dr. Deborah Gordon discovered the teaching of the Science of Mind in 1986 and has been an avid student ever since. She attained her practitioner license in 1991 and became officially licensed as a minister in 1997 whilst co-founding the Centre for Spiritual Living with her husband, Dr. Kenn Gordon (which began in 1993). She was ordained in 2001 and received her Doctorate of Religious Science from International Centers for Spiritual Living in 2010. Her background, previous to her call to ministry, includes a degree in Psychology, experience in entrepreneurial administration, as well as 12 years as a stay at home mom. She retired in January 2023 from the Centre for Spiritual Living in Kelowna, B.C. Canada, after 30 years of ministering to a beautiful community, which had a large staff and practitioner ministry. She taught Science of Mind classes over those years, which also included six Practitioner courses and four Ministerial training programs. She currently serves as the chair of the Leadership Council for Centers for Spiritual Living, as well as Treasurer of the Science of Mind Archives and Library Foundation. She is also a member of the Retired Ministers Committee, the Doctoral Committee, as well as the events team. She is a Minister Emeritus with Centers for Spiritual Living
Rev. KC Taylor; Oklahoma City, OK, United States; United Life Center for Spiritual Living, Oklahoma City, OK
Rev. KC Taylor (they/them) is the senior minister of the United Life Center for Spiritual Living (CSL) in Oklahoma City. They have spearheaded events like drag shows, retreats, WitchFest, Singo and two weekly events: “Spiritual AF” and “Spirit & Spirits.” Under their leadership, Sunday services have been re-branded to “Spirit Uncuffed.” Since 2021, Rev. KC has worked as a Youth Care Coordinator at SisuYouth Services. They also manage the TikTok channel for CSL. Rev. KC’s ministry began in 2018 as the senior minister and co-founder of Spirit Uncensored. During Rev. KC’s tenure, Spirit Uncensored became home to NextGEN, CSL’s community for people between the ages of 18-35. Rev. KC founded #BestDayEverMovement, a social media movement designed to inspire celebrating each day as the best day ever. The Facebook group has grown to over 600 members and the hashtag can be found across multiple platforms. Prior to Oklahoma City, Rev. KC served as a TV Creative Executive at JuVee Productions, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s production company in Los Angeles. At JuVee, Rev. KC developed TV and film projects told from marginalized perspectives. Examples include the blockbuster film “The Woman King” and the TV series “The First Lady” on Showtime.
Leadership Council – Practitioner Candidates
Deborah Gayle, RScP; Los Angeles, CA, United States; Center for Spiritual Living Los Angeles (Founders CSL)
I have been involved with Religious Science and New Thought for over 50 years. I am currently a member of Founders Center for Spiritual Living, where I am president of the Practitioner Core, on the Board of Trustees, and a teacher of CSL coursework. I have served on the CSL Practitioner Council for six years. I have been co-chair, secretary and active a member while on the council. My life experiences have taught me to collaborate and communicate with individuals and groups. I have the ability to follow, lead, listen, and implement large and small projects. I know how to empower others and engage them in implementing an organization’s goals and mission. I look forward to using these skills to be of sacred service on the Leadership Council.
Leadership Council – Member Candidates
Justin Thomas Arbuthnot; University Place, WA, United States; Center for Spiritual Living Tacoma, Tacoma, WA
Justin is a longtime member of the CSL community since 1988 with a strong background in leadership, organizational development, and personal empowerment. He’s worked across nonprofit and corporate spaces and volunteered with an international ontological organization focused on helping people live more consciously and authentically. Justin brings a grounded, heart–centered approach to everything he does, shaped by both professional experience and the ups and downs of real life. He’s someone who’s walked through challenges, celebrated successes, and learned to trust that everything unfolds for the greater good.
Rev. Marilyn Sprague; Vancouver, WA, United States; Portland Center for Spiritual Living, Portland, OR
Rev. Marilyn Sprague, M.Ed., MA (she/her) inspires brilliant breakthroughs for exuberant living. An award-winning educator, she serves as Director of Education at Portland Center for Spiritual Living and is the immediate past Minister-in-Residence at Camp Cedar Ridge. During her distinguished service at CCR, she designed and launched the innovative Summer Intern Program, a residential experience empowering CSL’s NextGEN young adults to gain real-world hospitality skills through Sacred Service while deepening their understanding of Science of Mind principles through Sacred Study.
As a current member of the CSL Ministers Council, Rev. Marilyn serves as the Council’s representative to the Nominating Council and contributes to the Sponsor and Mentor Handbook development subcommittee, creating essential resources to support Licentiate Ministers on the Pathway to Ordination. Her work continues to shape the next generation of spiritual leaders, blending practical guidance with deep spiritual insight.
Rev. Jerry Hobby; Live Oak, CA, United States; Spiritual Enlightenment and Truth Focus Ministry (Virtual Ministry)
Rev. Jerry Hobby is a transformational spiritual leader, visionary coach, and founder of Spiritual Enlightenment and Truth Focus Ministry (SEATFM), a vibrant virtual ministry rooted in Science of Mind principles. With over 25 years in ministry, she has served in a variety of leadership roles, including mentoring new ministers, designing spiritually based programs and creating inclusive spaces for healing and growth. A certified HeartMath® facilitator, she integrates science–based emotional regulation tools with spiritual practice to support individual and collective resilience. Rev. Jerry is a founding member of the People of African Descent New Thought Group (PADNTG), which successfully created two Celebrating Our Soul conferences and is now preparing the 2026 gathering to be held August 13–16 at Unity Village. She brings a strong background in nonprofit leadership, organizational development, and community empowerment. Her passions include spiritual education, intergenerational collaboration, and uplifting diverse voices within New Thought. Known for her warmth, creativity and grounded presence, Rev. Jerry is committed to CSL’s vision of a world that works for everyone—through sacred service, spiritual practice and collective healing.
Rev. Kathy Fernandes; Chico, CA, United States; Center for Spiritual Living Chico, Chico, CA
I have been devoted to the Science of Mind teaching since 1989, when I found CSL Chico and immediately felt I had “come home.” After becoming a Practitioner in 1998 and a Minister in 2000, I served as staff minister for 16 years while working full-time at a university. Since 2016, I have been honored to serve as Spiritual Director at CSL Chico. Together our community has navigated great challenges—fires, floods, and the pandemic—emerging as a thriving, loving, and growing community. My professional background includes 36 years as a Director and Administrator at a mid-size university, with a master’s in Instructional Design/Communications. I am experienced in leadership, organizational change, administration, budgeting, facilitation and innovation. I have guided diverse groups of faculty through complex transitions, skills that translate directly to working collaboratively with ministers. My passion is to inspire and empower people to discover their inner wisdom so they may shine their light in the world. I believe each individual is a unique expression of God, to be seen, heard, and valued. With joy, skill, and commitment, I am ready to serve the greater CSL organization—helping us live our mission and realize our vision of a world that works for everyone.
Martha Martinez, RScP; Bay Point, CA, United States; Napa Valley Center for Spiritual Living, Napa, CA
My name is Martha Alicia Martinez, RScP. I am a licensed Science of Mind counselor and over the years, I have developed unique techniques and practices for personal growth and expansion. My passion and mission are to help people awaken and transform their awareness of their own Divinity and bring radical joy to their own lives and the world. From 2019 to the present, I have served as the Spanish community liaison for the Napa Valley Board of Directors. I was Vice President of Napa Valley from 2023 to 2024. I have hosted a Spiritual Circle from 2021 to the present, and I am a very valuable practitioner for the Spanish community.
Maria Teresa (Maite) Cortez Santana, RScP; Barranco, Lima Peru; Centro para la Vida Espiritual Mérida
I am a storyteller, therapist, facilitator, consultant and cultural manager with 18 years of experience integrating the Science of Mind teachings with expressive arts. Throughout my career, I have worked independently with companies, institutions and families, creating therapeutic stories and interdisciplinary projects that empower communication, inclusion and creativity. I hold a degree in Communication Sciences and Arts, a bachelor’s in Contemporary Dance and a diploma in Cultural Management from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. I am also trained in expressive arts therapy (TAE Perú) and currently studying at the School of Spiritual Leadership (ELE) to become a minister. I am registered with the Ministry of Culture of Peru as a professional storyteller (REN-TC 002959-22). My mission is to transform challenges into opportunities through playful strategies that strengthen expressive and communicative skills. Rooted in my identity as a woman from the Peruvian coast, I integrate pre-Hispanic wisdom into my creative process, having also been initiated in the Q’ero tradition as a Hampeq (healer of oneself). I am committed to cultural accessibility, ensuring my performances include the voices and needs of audiences with cognitive or visual disabilities. I am also the founder of Creatividad Empoderando Infancias, a virtual platform offering stories and workshops for children and for the inner child of adults.
Robert Leeds; Oakland, CA, United States; Oakland Center for Spiritual Living
I am excited about the opportunity to serve a second term on the CSL Member Council. Here is additional information about my spiritual and professional background. I sometimes describe my spiritual orientation as Jewish-BuddhistScientist-Shaman, as I have drawn on many traditions and practices in my pursuit of higher consciousness. That’s one of the things I respect about the Science of Mind community — its openness to all paths of truth. I have been attending the Oakland Center for Spiritual Living since 2005. From my family’s first visit we felt like we had found our spiritual home. My beginning of sacred service with OCSL was as an announcer/host during Sunday services. I eventually became the facilitator of that group of volunteers. I am currently helping to coordinate the sacred service opportunities Center-wide. I served on the Board of Trustees for six years, two consecutive terms, starting in 2017, the last five of those as President of the Board. During my time on the Board we had many challenges including responding to the pandemic and shutdown and losing our beloved Rev. Jeffrey Anderson to cancer. It was a difficult time, but I am grateful I was able to serve and support my community during that time. I have a BA in literature and a certificate in Human Resource Management, both from the University of California. I worked for the State of California for 33 years in a variety of positions and retired at the end of 2023. My passions are literature, film, travel, music, and the arts. I am an omnivorous, life-long learner who is interested in everything from science to art to history to politics to psychology to spirituality.
Zita Johnson-Betts; Catonsville, MD; Columbia/Greater Baltimore Centers for Spiritual Living
One thing you should know is that writing an autobiographical summary is never my favorite task. But here goes. I grew up in a racially segregated society. I did not fully understand what that meant, however, because I felt loved and supported in my community. My earliest memory of God was thinking at about three years old that people I had not seen before were placed by God on Earth that day. These influences were pivotal in my life as I became a civil rights lawyer devoted to ensuring fair treatment and equal application of the law. I also became a spiritual seeker with a growing awareness that all things flowed from the One and that separateness was an illusion. Blessed with many wonderful teachers, I sought spiritual communities that celebrated both my search for societal justice and understanding my relationship to creation. Eventually, I was drawn to Centers for Spiritual Living and became a member of Columbia CSL about five years ago. I serve as President of the Center’s Board of Trustees and was appointed to CSL’s Member Council, where I served two years as secretary and co-chair. Service in these roles has been truly joy-filled.
Rev. Dr. Soni Cantrell-Smith; Lexington, KY; CSL Organization
Reverend Doctor Soni Cantrell-Smith is the founding Minister of Ahava Center for Spiritual Living, Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from Holmes Institute in 2006 and was ordained in 2011. Rev. Soni is steeped in the principles of Science of Mind and is a lifelong student of the Science of Mind philosophy. Rev. Dr. Soni began her studies in 1992 at Huntington Beach Church of Religious Science, in Huntington Beach, California. For ten years she was the Music Director at Namaste CSL in Long Beach, California. She has co-written a successful musical titled, “Last Call” which has been performed in numerous venues throughout the country. Rev. Dr. Soni has been active in twelve step work for over thirty years. She teaches spirituality classes at the Hope Center Rehabilitation for Women and is a co-founder of Bluegrass Rainbow Faith Communities, dedicated to supporting faith communities in becoming open and affirming to all. Rev. Dr. Soni has also been active for several years in Black Pride as well as ongoing participation in Kentucky Fairness, whose primary goal is comprehensive civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and to dismantle systemic racism. She has served the CSL minister council for six years, two of those as co-chair. She has previously served on the Nominating Council as well as the CSL Task Force. She has been serving the CSL interim minister’s team for several years. She received the Ministers Meritorious award in 2023 and was elected as the Centers for Spiritual Living Spiritual Leader in February of 2023. Rev. Dr. Soni believes we are all spiritual leaders. We, as leaders, must be able to articulate our vision and keep it alive through our faith in it, and we must create a sense of belonging and hope that this vision can transform our world.