Rev. DeMett Jenkins

Director of Education and Engagement for Faith-Based Communities, International African American Museum

Rev. DeMett E. Jenkins was born in Chateauroux, France to Ret. Major Abraham B. Jenkins and Georgetta Jenkins and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. She holds a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Upon graduation, she relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina and for 12 years, Rev. Jenkins worked as a social worker for United Family Services’ Shelter for Battered Women as a Counselor, Volunteer Coordinator, Court Advocate and Program Coordinator. Rev. Jenkins developed an outreach program within the Charlotte public housing community, coordinated services with Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department with surviving family members of murdered victims and was a response advocate at a local hospital for sexual assault and domestic violence victims.

She received her Master’s of Divinity degree in 2007 from Virginia Union University Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology in Richmond, Virginia with a focus on Pastoral Care and Counseling.  Demett completed 5 Units of Clinical Pastoral Education and was hired as the Emergency Room Chaplain at Emory University Healthcare and was shortly promoted to Staff Support Chaplain, Contextual Education Supervisor with first year seminary students and Adjunct Professor at Emory University Candler School of Theology where she taught Pastoral Care and Domestic Violence courses. She has been ordained since 2011 and an Associate Minister at Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, SC.

 Demett is trained in emergency preparedness, disaster relief, CISM crisis management, death, dying, grief and bereavement and certified as a trainer for Education in Palliative and End of Life Care for Emergency Medicine. She volunteers her time with Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy organization that responds to deaths, homicides and other crisis situations with both Charleston and North Charleston Police Departments. Demett has a love for outreach development and community involvement and is currently the Director of Education and Engagement for Faith-Based Communities at the International African American Museum.

She is the granddaughter of the late Esau Jenkins, a civil rights activist from Johns Island, SC who was a leader, businessman, and community organizer. He was the founder and moving spirit of many organizations and institutions which helped improve the political, educational, housing, health and economic conditions of the people on the islands and Charleston at large. Jenkins’ bus with whom he transported many people and helped them to learn how to read  in preparation for the literacy test so that they would have the opportunity to vote, is now in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. Demett returned home to Charleston in 2016 and is very excited to be apart of building this world class museum, The International African American Museum, in her hometown and continuing the legacy of her grandparents Janie and Esau Jenkins in serving the community.

Rev. Soni Cantrell-Smith

Spiritual Leader, Centers for Spiritual Living

Reverend Soni Cantrell-Smith is the founding Minister of Ahava Center for Spiritual Living in Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from Holmes Institute under the Direction of Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith 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 philosophy.

Rev. 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. 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. Soni 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. Rev Soni has been serving the CSL Interim Ministers’ team for two years.

Rev. 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.

Rev. Michelle Arellano

Executive Director, Centers for Spiritual Living

Michelle is a licensed ordained minister with Centers for Spiritual Living and has 30 years of nonprofit executive experience serving as CEO, Executive Director and Director of Organizational Development as well as consulting.  Her previous career was in banking for 13 years, her last position in banking was Vice President, Branch Manager.  Her purpose in life is to be of service, aligned with her divine purpose.   

Michelle is currently the Executive Director for Centers for Spiritual Living, residing in Ashland, Oregon. Her hobbies are hiking, traveling and enjoying time with her family and friends.  She is a mom of 2 grown sons, Michael and Ryan, who bring great joy into her life.

Christal Brown Heyward with the Gullah Geechee Choir

Lead Psalmist, St. John's Chapel, Charleston

Psalmist, Christal Brown Heyward, is a native of John’s Island, South Carolina. John’s Island is a rural community near Charleston, South Carolina.  Her gifts and the grace of God have allowed her to walk through many doors of favor to share the gospel through song.  Currently serving as Lead Psalmist of Saint John’s Chapel in downtown Charleston since 2009, Christal has been a musician and singer for over 30 years.

Born to her loving parents, Christopher Warren Brown and Helen G. Middleton, Christal started playing the piano and singing in church at the age of 6. Some of her educational achievements include: Graduating from Saint John’s High School in 1989; Graduating from Southern Wesleyan University in 2009 (Bachelor of Science in Business Management; Graduating from Grand Canyon University in 2011 (Master of Arts in Christian Science); and currently pursuing a second Masters Degree at Marian University in Thanatology.

One of Christal’s life passions is training, mentoring, and assisting young musicians in the area of Church Musicianship.  To this end, the Gibsong Academy of Music is located in Charleston and has offered instruction in piano, voice, and violin for the past 10 years to children ages 6-17.

She is married to Samuel Heyward, Jr. (USMC Retired) and together they have 4 children.  It is because of God’s tremendous favor and much sacrifice that several worship experiences have been recorded. Some of these recordings include: Beauty for Ashes (2005), “Bringin’ It Back Home (2008), “Tonight We Worship (2011), and “Beside Still Waters (2016).

Christal has appeared on Bobby Jones Gospel in Nashville, TN; Showtime at the Apollo in New York; sang in California, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Texas, North and South Carolinas, Tennessee, New York, and various other states. Internationally, Christal has sang in Bermuda and Italy.

Rev. Darrell Jones

Spiritual Director, Soul Gym

Darrell Jones is a minister, spiritual director, author and mindfulness coach who brings 20 years of personal practice and over 14 years of professional experience inspiring, teaching and coaching individuals, spiritual communities and business groups to begin and maintain a life of spiritual practices to deepen connection with life.  Darrell published the heart of his work in 2021 with the book Soul Gym: A manual to connect mind, body & spirit for soulful living.

Rev. Staci Hylton

Co-Minister, Las Vegas Center for Spiritual Living

As great-granddaughter to Reverend J. Arthur Twyne, who founded what was
known as Eastside Church of Religious Science, (currently known as LA Third in Los
Angeles, CA); Religious Science has always been a part of her life. 
In the early 90s, Staci formerly started a business called Commuter Computer where she helped kids with their computer and reading skills, she also worked at Prudential Securities as a sales assistant, and then as an Operations Manager in Beverly Hills and Downtown Los Angeles, prior to moving to Las Vegas and becoming a Realtor and being drawn to the Ministry.

Growing up attending Founder’s Church in Los Angeles, CA and as an adult attending Agape International Spiritual Center in Culver City, CA, it was not until attending classes at the Las Vegas Center for Spiritual Living did she truly understand the principles that have always been with her.

Meeting people on their spiritual path has provided an even greater sense of purpose and intention for her own life. Licensed as a Professional Practitioner in 2010, she then became a member of the Center’s Board of Trustees and completed her Ministerial studies in June 2014. 

Rev Staci Hylton currently serves as Co-Senior Minister along with best friend, Rev.
Cheryl Bell. Currently, one of her main focuses has been being the Minister of
Professional Licensed Practitioners. The last few years have been focused a great deal upon spiritual leadership as well as diversity and inclusion. She currently takes on the responsibility to ensure that they are well-informed leaders that are spiritually and culturally aware so that they can appreciate, uplift, and inspire others.

Rev Staci currently was elected to serve on Centers for Spiritual Living’s Ministers
Council for 2 terms, she also serves on Centers for Spiritual Living’s Awards Committee, and several Task Forces. In addition she works part time as Family Advocate for ClarkvCounty’s Truancy Diversion Program which is offered by the Eighth Judicial DistrictvCourt to reduce absenteeism in Clark County schools in an effort to reduce the number of youth entering the formal juvenile justice system. 

With the desire for all people to live from a place of authenticity and realize that each and every one of us is love and loved, Rev Staci believes that we all have special gifts to share. 

Rev Staci demonstrates her unique gifts and talents and the tools learned in Science of Mind to be a model of spiritual awareness. As she continues to uncover her
magnificence and allow the light that she is to shine more brilliantly, Rev Staci trusts that others will be attracted to that light and want to learn how to access the truth of themselves. She believes AUM embodies her values and principles and is excited to be a part of its growth in serving her Las Vegas spiritual community she truly loves.

Rev. Dr. Raymont Anderson

Founding Minister and the Spiritual Director, The Center for Spiritually Integrated Arts

Rev. Dr. Raymont Anderson is an ordained Centers for Spiritual Living minister and serves as the founding minister and the Spiritual Director of The Center for Spiritually Integrated Arts which is a Centers for Spiritual Living Teaching Center. He brings his years of being a professional educator, visual artist, performer, ASL interpreter, author, and lover of comics and film to all areas of his life and his ministry.  He is a frequently sought-after guest minister/speaker at various Churches, Centers, and events.  For him, ministry extends beyond the church/center. He facilitates workshops related to Radical Self-Care, Living with Purpose, LGBTQ Empowerment, Exploring and Expressing Creativity, and more. He is both the co-lead for his local Moms Demand Action and the chapter’s interfaith lead and a participant in the Survivor Fellowship. When he is not teaching, speaking, writing, creating, performing, etc., he loves spending time with family which includes harassing his amazing grandkids.

Dr. David Alexander 

Spiritual Director Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta, Atlanta GA

David Alexander had a profound awakening at age 13, after which he dedicated his life to helping others. He became a licensed Religious Science Practitioner in 1999 and graduated from the University of New Mexico with honors in child development and family relations in 2000. In 2004 David co-founded the New Thought Center for Spiritual Living and served as its Senior Minister for 15 years. Dr. David currently serves as Spiritual Director of the Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta, in Atlanta, GA.

A social justice activist, he has served on numerous community boards including 11 years on the Board of Directors for the Community of Welcoming Congregations, a Portland-based alliance with the mission of providing a voice for LGBTQ and allied people of faith, eight years on the Leadership Council for the Centers for Spiritual Living, including two terms as chair, and in 2012 on the Diversity, Equity, Race Commission for the City of Brookhaven, GA as well as the Leadership Council for the Association for Global New Thought.

He was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in 2009. Dr. David writes a monthly column called "Philosophy in Action" for Science of Mind Magazine and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Centers for Spiritual Living in 2014. In 2015 Dr. David aws inducted into the Colleges of Bishops and Affirming Faith Leaders by the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries and in 2016 was recognized with a Force for Good Award from Unity of Sacramento.

Dr. David has served as director of Strategic Alliances for the Centers for Spiritual Living where he helped direct and coordinate partnerships between organizations in order to foster the creation of a world that works for all.

Dr. David is the author of forthcoming "Attained by All; a case for New Thought Liberation Theology" and the visionary of the innovative workbook "Recovery from the Lie of Whiteness; a 12-Step Healing Approach".

David has two sons, William and Josh and wife, Patience who serves as his greatest cheerleader and motivation for his work.

Rev. Ryan Alexander 

Co-Founder and Co-Director, Soul Evolution Collaborative

Rev. Ryan Alexander (they/them) is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Soul Evolution Collaborative, a Centers for Spiritual Living Teaching Center. As a Spiritual Leader, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a proud member and advocate of the Transgender community, their work has its foundation in social activism, striving to create inclusive spaces of empathy, compassion, authenticity, and belonging.  With a passion for engaged spirituality, Ryan is dedicated to exploring the impact of applying universal principles to our daily lived experiences. Their commitment to foster our interconnectedness is evident in their ongoing work to bridge the gap between individual spiritual growth and collective social change. They seek to inspire others to embrace the path of holistic transformation, one that harmonizes personal evolution with the collective pursuit of equity, compassion, and connection.

Rev. Dereca Blackmon 

Senior Minister, East Bay Church of Religious Science, Oakland, CA

Re, Dereca Blackmon is the new Senior Minister at the East Bay Church of Religious Science, a Center for Spiritual Living in Oakland, CA where she has dedicated over 25 years of service to the spiritual transformation of the entire planet.

Her sermons, lectures and workshops have provided over 100,000 participants in 20 countries with opportunities to expand their consciousness around issues of inclusion, forgiveness, self-love and radical healing. She has taught the Science of Mind philosophy in a wide variety of settings ranging from Teen Church to Holmes Institute. She has delivered over 75 talks at Spiritual centers in Oakland, Sacramento, Dallas, Detroit and many others including serving as the Fall Opening Lecture at Stanford University's Memorial Church.

Her work is rooted in a tradition of sacred activism that seamlessly bvlends spiritual and cultural principles that foster personal and social liberation. Whether her ministry is in juvenile hall or corporate conference rooms, she is committed to providing loving comfort to those facing oppression and "constructive discomfort" to those resting in their societal privilege.

She served as a nonprofit executive for 20 years, developing nationally-adopted experiential curriculum and raising over $5 million for Bay Area youth. She also served six years as the Assistant Vice Provost and Executive Director of the Diversity and First-Generation Office at her alma mater, Stanford University, where she introduced groundbreaking work allowing participants to engage in deep, authentic and meaningful dialogues.

She currently serves as President and Co-Founder of Inclusion Design Group, where she has consulted with a wide variety of corporate, educational, nonprofit and community-based groups to facilitate "uncommon conversations" on issues of race, gender, class and social justice. She and her team have supported industry leaders including LinkedIn, Harvard University, YouTube and many others in activating their vision for diversity and inclusion in the organizations and the world.

She is the mother of four bold and beautiful daughters who she raised in the spiritual principles of New Thought and who continue to be her life's best teachers.

Rev. Elisha Christopher 

Senior Minister, Center for Spiritual Living, Santa Cruz

Rev. Elisha Christopher is the Spiritual Director and Senior Minister at the Center for Spiritual Living Santa Cruz. Rev. Elisha began their career in Spiritual Leadership while serving in the innovative Berkeley and Oakland youth adult international spiritual community called The Launching Pad. It was a thriving residential site where young people could affordably live together and support each other in living and learning Science of Mind principles while tending to an open door ministry.

In 2013 Rev. Elisha was selected as one of the first young people to receive the Re-Generation scholarship from the Centers for Spiritual Living to attend the Holmes Institute & School of Spiritual Leadership. Rev. Elisha licensed as a minister with CSL in 2020.

Rev. Elisha has served as a speaker, retreat and workshop facilitator and guest minister online and in person at many CSL centers, conferences and events all over the United States in the past decade. Their emphasis has been teaching skills for transformative living and exploring ways to apply spiritual living to the issues of today's world.

Rev. Elisha is also known for their use of contemporary neuroscience to help eople understand modern day stress and the tendencies of the unconditioned mind. They teach how the mind works to construct a narrative or story about ones circumstances and prospects that might be limited. Rev. Elisha is also known for their innovative curriculum, classes andd workshops and the original work called "SYNTHESIS" a "Now Age, Next Thought Phiosophy" that brings Spiritual Principles into practical application in one's life.

Rev. Elisha is a per-missionary, an evolutionary and an apocaloptimist, and is someone who is dedicated to possibility thinking and the awakening of humanity to its spiritual magnificence.

Rev. Dr. Petra Weldes 

Spiritual Leader, CSLDallas, Dallas, TX

Dr Petra has been walking a spiritual path for over 40 years and empowered countless students into a richer, spiritual grounded life. She is a dynamic and inspiring speaker and teacher, presenting in spiritual and leadership settings nationally and internationally.

She writes for national and local DFW magazines and has co-authored the Joyous Freedom, Joyous Living and Joyous Abundance Journals with Rev. Dr. Christian Sorenson. She leads retreats on spiritual living, community development and leadership training. Dr. Petra has a passion for youth, service, inclusion, peace, environment, conscious leadership, global transformation and expanding consciousness.

She is currently serving as Spiritual Leader at CSLDallas, a Center for Spiritual Living.

Moderated by: Rev. Stephen Rambo

Senior Minister & Spiritual Director, Center for Spiritual Living Simi Valley

Bio coming soon! 

Rev. Sunshine Michelle Coleman

Spiritual Director and Senior Minister, Oakland Center for Spiritual Living

Reverend Doctor Sunshine Michelle Coleman has been in New Thought for more than four decades in Religious Science and Unity.  She became a licensed CSL Practitioner in 1987, and is an ordained CSL minister in her tenth year as a licensed minister.  Rev. Sunshine Michelle has served in 10 New Thought spiritual communities, including founding the CSL Focus Ministry, Authenticity Journey of Renewal in 2016. After a 25+ year career in Human Resources, she turned her full attention to ministry in accepting the appointment of Spiritual Director and Senior Minister of the Oakland Center for Spiritual Living in 2022. This is her fourth year serving on the CSL Global Themes Team, and she chairs the CSL Spiritually Motivated and Social Engagement (SMSE) Committee. Rev. Sunshine Michelle has a passion for authentic self-expression and convening sacred circles, which is the focus of her doctorate. She is working towards publishing a deck of circle cards, illustrated by her son Freddie, with a supporting book that is based on her original concepts in her dissertation. She is a native of the Northern California Bay Area, where she currently resides.

Rev. KC Taylor

Senior Minister and Co-founder, Spirit Uncensored

Rev. KC Taylor (they/them, formerly known as Rev. Karen Frost) is the senior minister and co-founder of Spirit Uncensored, described as “a spiritual playground highlighting the value of choice, faith and gratitude.” They also serve as the office administrator of the Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL), the assistant minister at United Life CSL and as case manager at Sisu Youth Services in Oklahoma City (OKC). Sisu Youth Services is a low-barrier, LGBT+ affirming youth homeless shelter. Prior to OKC, Rev. Taylor was a TV Creative Executive at JuVee Productions, Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s production company in Los Angeles.

Rev. Ryan Alexander

Co-Founder and Co-Director, Soul Evolution Collaborative

Rev. Ryan Alexander (they/them) is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Soul Evolution Collaborative, a Centers for Spiritual Living Teaching Center. As a Spiritual Leader, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a proud member and advocate of the Transgender community, their work has its foundation in social activism, striving to create inclusive spaces of empathy, compassion, authenticity, and belonging.  With a passion for engaged spirituality, Ryan is dedicated to exploring the impact of applying universal principles to our daily lived experiences. Their commitment to foster our interconnectedness is evident in their ongoing work to bridge the gap between individual spiritual growth and collective social change. They seek to inspire others to embrace the path of holistic transformation, one that harmonizes personal evolution with the collective pursuit of equity, compassion, and connection.

Gabrielle Claiborne

Co-Founder & CEO, Transformation Journeys Worldwide

Trans woman Gabrielle Claiborne joined the Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta in 2016. The year before, she cofounded Transformation Journeys Worldwide, an inclusion training and consulting firm with a transgender and gender expansive focus. Ever since then, her award-winning firm has been providing training to companies, corporations, non-profits, medical and mental health care providers, government agencies, and religious and educational institutions to support them on the journey of transforming their environments into trans and nonbinary inclusive cultures.

Gabrielle previously served on the Board of Atlanta Pride, the Atlanta’s Mayoral LGBTQ Advisory Board, the National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce’s TGXI Initiative, the OUT Georgia Business Alliance and currently serves on the boards of four local, national, and international LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. She is the author of a memoir-meets-self-help book, Embrace Your Truth: A Journey of Authenticity,  and a dynamic trainer, keynote and TEDx speaker whose cutting edge work has been featured in Forbes. Gabrielle was honored by Emory University as the 2022 Georgia Speaker of the Year and by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as their 2019 Outstanding Voice for Diversity and Inclusion. In 2015, she was recognized as Atlanta’s Best Trans Activist.

As a trans-owned certified LGBT Business Enterprise, Transformation Journeys Worldwide was honored to be chosen as the Out Georgia Business Alliance 2018 Small Business of the Year, and to receive the Atlanta Hawk’s prestigious 2019 True Comes in All Colors award for their cutting-edge inclusion work.

Dr. Shawn Ginwright

Author, The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves

Dr. Shawn Ginwright is the Jerome T. Murphy Professor of Practice at Harvard Graduate School of Education. His groundbreaking work on trauma, healing, and the empowerment of African American youth has earned him a reputation as an innovator, provocateur, and thought leader in the field of education.

Dr. Ginwright's vision is rooted in his extensive experience working directly with young people in urban communities. From grassroots initiatives to serving as the chairman of the board of a $5 billion foundation, he has consistently demonstrated his passion for empowering marginalized youth.

Dr. Ginwright's research has been instrumental in reshaping the discourse surrounding youth development. His introduction of the concept of "healing-centered engagement" in 2018 has revolutionized the field, providing an asset-based approach to addressing youth trauma and fostering resilience. His work has been cited in the New York Times, and he is a highly sought-after speaker on topics ranging from civic engagement and youth activism to the transformative power of healing.

Dr. Ginwright's contributions extend beyond his academic work. He is a seasoned non- profit leader, serving as the co-founder and chief executive officer of Flourish Agenda, Inc., a research lab and consulting firm dedicated to unlocking the power of healing and empowering youth of color, as well as their adult allies, to drive transformative change in their schools and communities. In recognition of his exceptional research and dedication to urban youth, he was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Senior Specialist award from the US State Department in 2011. He is also the former chairman of the board for the California Endowment, where he oversaw a substantial $5 billion endowment dedicated to improving the health of underserved communities.

A notable author, Dr. Ginwright has written numerous highly acclaimed books, including "The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves" (North Atlantic Books), "Hope and Healing in Urban Education: How Urban Activists and Teachers Are Reclaiming Matters of the Heart," "Black Youth Rising: Activism and Radical Healing in Urban America," and "Black in School: Afrocentric Reform, Urban Youth, and the Promise of Hip-Hop Culture." Additionally, he has co-edited the influential volume "Beyond Resistance! Youth Activism and Community Change: New Democratic Possibilities for Practice and Policy for America's Youth."

Dr. Shawn Ginwright resides between Boston, MA and Oakland, CA and continues to drive transformative change in education. His relentless dedication to empowering marginalized youth and creating inclusive spaces for healing and growth is truly inspiring. To learn more about his impactful work, please visit www.ShawnGinwright.com.

Rev. Dusty Rippelmeyer

Spiritual Director, Triangle Center for Spiritual Living

Rev. Dusty Rippelmeyer is an ordained minister of the Centers for Spiritual Living. She completed her Practitioner Studies at the Bodhi Center in Chicago, Illinois with Rev. Mark Anthony Lord and Rev. Denise Schubert. She graduated from the Holmes Institute in 2012 with a Masters in Consciousness Studies. Rev. Dusty has been in the Triangle area since 2010 when she first began serving the Triangle Center for Spiritual Living as a Practitioner, while in Ministerial school, and then later as the Associate Minister.  On Christmas Day 2015, Rev Dusty took over as the Spiritual Director of the Triangle Center for Spiritual Living and has been joyously serving the community ever since.

Rev. Michelle Wadleigh

Founding Spiritual Leader, Center for Spiritual Living North Jersey

Rev. Dr. Michelle Wadleigh is an inspiring and exciting Coach, Master Teacher, Speaker, Workshop and Retreat Facilitator, founder of Planned Happiness Institute and the PHI Coaching Academy, and the Founding spiritual leader of the Center for Spiritual Living North Jersey. 

Michelle is an incredibly unique, practical teacher who is passionate about you mastering a fully expressed life. She has spent years developing her courses in Forgiveness, Shadow Work, and perfecting her unique approach to working with individuals called the Radical Release Method. She is dedicated to educating people for diversity inclusion. Michelle is the author of numerous books, her last one being Forgiveness, a Path, a Promise, a Way of Life, a workbook for emotional and spiritual freedom. She is currently contracted by St. Martin’s press for her newest book Shadow Work: An Interactive Guide to Healing, Integration, and Wholeness. She is grounded in solid metaphysical principles and brings to her teaching a wide-open heart along with a sense of humor joyfully demonstrated through her laughter and her engaging style. 

Through Centers for Spiritual Living, Michelle has served: the Clergy Council, the Ministers Council, the Diversity Commission, the Leadership Council as Vice-Chair, has served on many subcommittees and has taught for Home Office and is currently serving as the Region 11 coordinator. 

CSL Teen Council Representative: Solè Davis

Solè Davis is a 17 year old high school senior who has been an active member of the Youth & Family Ministry of Center for Spiritual Living Portland for the last twelve years.  She is the second oldest of six siblings.  Excited to graduate high school in June, she plans to go onto college and then enlist in the army to work as an aircraft engineer.  In her free time, Solè enjoys playing with her three dogs, driving whenever she gets the chance, and trying out new food spots wherever she ends up.

Rev. D. Jacquelyn Edwards

Founding Senior Minister and Spiritual Leader

Platinum Butterfly Focus Ministry

Rev. D. Jacquelyn Edwards is an Ordained Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL} Minister. She is the Founding Senior Minister and Spiritual Leader of Platinum Butterfly Focus Ministry, which has as its mission, “Pollinating the Spiritual nature of individuals, groups and organizations.” Through this ministry she develops and facilitates workshops, classes and community experiences that are designed to encourage the use of Spiritual Principles for civic engagement.  Through over 30 years of practicing and applying Science of Mind in her personal and professional life Rev. Jacquelyn, as she prefers to be called, has consistently woven messages of equity and social justice through her ministry, and in her secular work in the world. 

Rev. Jacquelyn served as the Spiritual Director of First Church of Religious Science Vallejo for five years and two years as the Community and Civic Engagement Minister at East Bay Church of Religious Science in Oakland, CA.   She was a founding member and past Chair of the CSL Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee; and has also served on the CSL Nominating Council and the CSL Spiritually Motivated and Socially Engaged Committee. She is currently a member of the Sacred Activism Task Force.  Over the last ten years, she has facilitated numerous Diversity and Inclusion workshops and taught Diversity for Ministers, Metaphysical Bible, and other courses at the CSL School of Spiritual Leadership.  She is a sought-after speaker and workshop facilitator for various CSL, Unity and other New Thought communities. Rev. Jacquelyn is a founding member of People of African Descent in New Thought Group, a New Thought organization that convenes a bi-annual conference at Unity Village, MO. 

In her secular life, Rev. Jacquelyn has over 20 years’ experience in human resources, including recruitment, training, resolving grievances, negotiating labor contracts and developing policies and procedures.  She has served on the boards of non-profit organizations advocating for equity for tradeswomen; and providing safe spaces for community organizers. 

Her ministry emphasizes spirituality as a path to prosperity, justice and peace; building collaborative relationships with other spiritual and religious organizations; and creating new paradigms for the ways that we recognize and interact with each other as local, national and global communities.      

Reverend Jacquelyn has two Masters degrees: one in Consciousness Studies and one in Organization Development and Change.  Her Bachelors degree is in Human Relations. 

Rev. Kris Alexander

Rev. Kris Alexander is a visionary catalyst, pioneering the path of possibility and social transformation. As a spiritual maverick and global change-maker, she unapologetically embraces her role as a truth-teller. Rev. Kris is dedicated to exploring the intricate intersections between the mystical and the mundane, together with the sacred and the profane. With curiosity and authenticity, she has a remarkable ability to hold paradoxes and perceive life from multiple perspectives, championing the power of honest, love-infused interactions.

Her unwavering commitment to fostering personal and collective growth leads her to engage in the essential, often challenging conversations needed for positive change. Rev. Kris firmly believes in the fundamental rights of all individuals—freedom, love, respect, equality, safety, and happiness—and she strives to embody these values in every facet of her life. To dive deeper into her insights and explore her body of work, visit her website at RevKris.org.

Rev. Josh Reeves

Lead Minister, Mile Hi Church

Rev. Josh Reeves is Lead Minister at Mile Hi Church in Lakewood, CO.  Before then, he served as Senior Minister of the Seal Beach Center for Spiritual Living, in California.  He is also honored to serve as a Regional Support Coordinator for Centers for Spiritual Living.  He has written four books and lives with his wife April, son Gavin, and Daughter, Nancy June.

Rev. Marquita Pierre-McAlister

Spiritual Leader, Center for Spiritual Living of Southern Nevada

Marquita Pierre-McAlister was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.  At the age of 22, she moved to Alaska. She had never experienced a climate that included snow, cold, darkness, bears and other wild animals. Through her Alaskan experience she developed a real sense of God, realized her own inner light and cultivated the warmth of authentic love. She expanded in personal and spiritual growth which included confidence, self-esteem, and self-reliance. 

After more than 15 years of public service and graduating from Holmes Institute, in 2005, she became the Senior Minister of her “home church” in Anchorage, Alaska.  Under her direction the Center grew in attendance, practitioners and programs. 

Rev. Marquita is past co-chair of the 2013 CSL national convention and past speaker of other CSL gatherings. In the summer of 2012, she left Alaska for the desert of Nevada. In 2014, she established the Center for Spiritual Living Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.  In addition to leading the Center, in 2020 she became a Hospice Chaplain comforting people through their transition in the end of life experience.

She currently is co-writing her first book on the subject of mental illness.

She continues to fulfill her life mission of assisting people in becoming their authentic selves as she serve as a motivational speaker, workshop and retreat facilitator, life coach, spiritual growth consultant and an inspirational singer.  

Rev. Alice Reid

Spiritual Director, Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley

Rev. Alice Reid is a synergistic, dedicated and committed Spiritual Leader with over 40 years of exploring, studying, and practicing spiritual principles. She currently serves as the Spiritual Director of Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley in California. Prior to that she served as the Spiritual Director at CSL Santa Cruz. She was the founding minister of CSL Central Maryland.  Rev. Alice was licensed by CSL in 2007 and ordained in 2014.  

Rev. Alice is a collaborative leader and perpetual learner. Currently she serves Centers for Spiritual Living on our Leadership Council as the Chair after serving 4 years as the Treasurer. She has a strong vision that all our Centers are thriving healthy communities and is devoted to the CSL vision of a world that works for all. To this end, Rev. Alice also enjoys serving communities as a Co-Creation and Quantum Process facilitator. 

Rev. Michelle Arellano

Executive Director, Centers for Spiritual Living

Michelle is a licensed ordained minister with Centers for Spiritual Living and has 30 years of nonprofit executive experience serving as CEO, Executive Director and Director of Organizational Development as well as consulting.  Her previous career was in banking for 13 years, her last position in banking was Vice President, Branch Manager.  Her purpose in life is to be of service, aligned with her divine purpose.   

Michelle is currently the Executive Director for Centers for Spiritual Living, residing in Ashland, Oregon. Her hobbies are hiking, traveling and enjoying time with her family and friends.  She is a mom of 2 grown sons, Michael and Ryan, who bring great joy into her life.

Rev. Soni Cantrell-Smith

Spiritual Leader, Centers for Spiritual Living

Spiritual Leader, Centers for Spiritual Living

Reverend Soni Cantrell-Smith is the founding Minister of Ahava Center for Spiritual Living in Lexington, Kentucky. She graduated from Holmes Institute under the Direction of Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith 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 philosophy.

Rev. 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. 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. Soni 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. Rev Soni has been serving the CSL Interim Ministers’ team for two years.

Rev. 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.