Our Practitioners

Barbara Buckingham-Hayes is licensed as a Practitioner through the United Centers for Spiritual Living and is currently serving at New Thought Center for Spiritual Living. Born in Washington, DC, Barbara found her way to Oregon by way of Liberia, West Africa, where she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1974-75. She is married and has one adult daughter who lives in Portland. Barbara began working in the healing arts and later received her MA in Counseling at the University of Portland. Barbara has been a spiritual seeker since her 20's, and has studied both Eastern and Western spiritual teachings, prior to her discovery of New Thought. Barbara is especially inspired by volunteering in the children's ministry at NTCSL and enjoys leading meditation circles. Barbara welcomes the opportunity to pray with community members and to know the truth together.

Charlie Rosenblad is a licensed Religious Science Practitioner through the United Centers for Spiritual Living under New Thought Center for Spiritual Living. He was born in San Francisco, CA. and received degree in Political Science from Portland State University. On his ecumenical spiritual journey, Charlie has experienced god in all faith traditions. Daily spiritual practice includes Meditation, Prayer (spiritual mind treatment), extensive reading of spiritual masters, participation in spiritual retreats. Service has been a life long passion, working with youth, hospital visitations, 10 years of prayer ministry work, founding member of Prison ministry program support for ministers in delivering curriculum. Charlie is inspired by and available to stand with clients in knowing the truth. Available for fee-based practitioner sessions as you explore your spiritual inquiries to realize the presence within. Namaste.

Darleen spent most of her life in Southern California where she attended 16 years of Catholic girls’ school, worked 37 years for a major health maintenance organization on the corporate side in automated systems design, finance and sales/marketing, and raised four remarkable daughters. She became affiliated with Religious Science in 1998, was licensed as a Practitioner in 2001, and served on her church’s Board of Trustees in Covina, CA for three years.

In 2003, she retired and relocated to Cambria, CA where she facilitated a Science of Mind study group, served on the Board of Trustees for the small Unity church there, developed and presented classes and workshops, and delivered Sunday talks on a rotating basis.

The year 2006 brought her to beautiful Oregon where she was lovingly embraced and welcomed by Whole Life Center for Spiritual Living in Lake Oswego. Here she served on the Board of Trustees, facilitated Science of Mind classes for the center, served on the prayer team, served as Sunday platform assistant, led the center’s High Watch Team, coordinated the planned giving program for two years and collaborated with the other Portland UCSL centers in the area of shared education resources and activities. She came to NTCSL in November, 2009. Her passion centers around facilitating SOM classes, delighting in the synergy and the wisdom that Spirit brings to each one.

Her vision for her spiritual community is one that provides the perfect environment to support each member’s growth and expansion through loving, soulful connection and through inspired leadership.

Dave Knowles, MA, RScP is a licensed Religious Science Practitioner through the United Centers for Spiritual Living under New Thought Center for Spiritual Living. Dave has extensive background working with people of all backgrounds first as a Naval Officer and then as a Senior Manager in major High Tech companies for two decades. Dave has valuable relevant experience with other cultures as a result of extensive travel in Asia and Europe and as a member of Commonway Institute he is deeply and firmly committed to inclusivity. After returning to school to earn a Masters Degree in Counseling from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, Dave has been working with men with addictions in a residential setting at a local Portland agency. Dave completed his practitioner training in 2007 and has been serving as a practitioner with New Thought Center for Spiritual Living until 2008 when he was licensed by UCSL. Dave is a founding member of New Thought Center for Spiritual Living and a founding member of the NTCSL Choir. Dave can be found leading meditations between services on Sundays and is available most Sundays for individual prayer before and after services. Dave co-facilitates relationship workshops and sacred space cleansing ceremonies with his life partner and serves as a small group facilitator in Religious Science classes. Dave is also available by appointment for fee-based practitioner sessions for those who want to go deeper in their spiritual journey.

Deborah Owen, RScP began her spiritual journey at the age of 13. Her journey included alternative health practices, marathons, triathlons and spiritual growth through reading and attending various workshops. For twelve years Deborah had a successful business as a massage therapist. Because of her heritage, Deborah also studied Native American culture and participated in many sweat lodges and vision quests.

Her biggest inspiration came with the birth of her daughter, Kathleen. Truly, a little child (her daughter) led her to Mile Hi Church in 2004 where they immediately felt “at home.”

She began taking Certified Religious Science Classes from Dr. Roger Teel and, realized, much to her surprise and delight, that she was already whole, perfect, and complete. While attending classes and services at Mile Hi Church, she was inspired by the wisdom of Ernest Holmes, as well as past and present mystics. These truths motivated her to become a Licensed Professional Practitioner. During the classes on her path to become a practitioner, she learned that the Peace, Love, and Joy, for which she had been searching, had always existed within her.

After moving to Portland Oregon, to be close to family, Deborah completed her Professional Practitioner studies and was installed at New Thought Center for Spiritual Living in September 2009. Currently, Deborah is enrolled in college pursuing dual degrees in M.Div. and J.D. to become a Religious Scholar and a legal advocate for women in transition.

Iris Noble RScP has lived in the Portland area all of her life, she is married and has raised three children, and has five grandchildren. She has been a nurse since 1976 and is currently the nurse manager for a dementia care unit in Hillsboro.

Iris is a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner with United Centers for Spiritual Living. She was licensed in August 2009 at Whole Life Center for Spiritual Living, after completing her practitioner training there. She was one of the founding members of that center and has served on their advisory board 2005-2009, serving as the board president from 2007-2008. While at Whole Life Center she started the book store, served on the greeter team, served in the children's ministry, helped in the office, served on the platform assistant team and prayer team.

Iris came into New Thought in 2002, after the suicide of her 17 year old son, and has found healing and love surrounding and indwelling within her since the first day she walked in the doors of Living Enrichment Center in Wilsonville. Her Spiritual path continues to unfold as one of design, growth and healing. She has started her own business, 11th Hour Doulas, providing bedside Spiritual counseling for the terminally ill, where she facilitates transition planning and open dialogue between her client and their family, offering practitioner sessions and opening discussions surrounding the grieving process. She assists and supports the client in putting in place their own individual wishes for their time of passing.

Jeannine Yancey has been on her spiritual path, consciously, since she was in her teen years. A defining moment was when she started asking a priest questions during class and was told, "Don't ask questions, believe what is written." She sensed at that moment that she had an inner knowing and that she would have to find the answers herself. Thus began her journey. When she lived in Tucson, Arizona and her three daughters were young, she taught religious education, was a parish council board member, and eventually a church staff member responsible for a 500 student elementary religious education. Upon moving to Oregon she sought the spiritual nourishment she had come to value. In 1987 she discovered The Living Enrichment Center and became an active member and subsequently became a Practitioner. She's been active in this spiritual community in many ways - always learning, growing, and encouraging others to do the same. Jeannine brings to her practitioner practice a grounded knowing that truly, all is well. Jeannine demonstrates spiritual practice in her every day life and is eager to share those principles with her spiritual community.

Jeannine's professional journey has focused on assisting individuals and organizations achieve results. She's worked in private, public, and non-profit organizations with a focus on facilitation, training, project management, conflict resolution, and coaching. She has an undergraduate degree from Marylurst University in Business Administration and Communications. Her graduate degree is from Antioch University in Whole Systems Design, with a certification in Organizational Systems Renewal (change management). Jeannine also has certifications in MBTI, Wilson's Learning Styles, Situational Leadership, and is a certified coach and licensed seminar leader with Maria Nemeth's Academy for Coaching Excellence.

Jeannine is a demonstration in the professional world of how showing up as spiritual principle can be rewarding and fun.

Larrye, raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a life-long learner who brings her southern style into all aspects of her life. A member of "New Thought" communities since 1986, she realized she was raised in SOM philosophy. Her family’s approach to Catholicism was "new thought" - work at what you love, play often, and above all, be happy,
joyous, and know that God is ever-present!

Larrye has a MS in Mathematics and BS in Electrical Engineering – was always told she could be whatever she wanted, and being 1 of 3 women in a 350 engineering class was no obstacle! Her technical skills bring a financial security and provide a balance to her more exuberant, outgoing playful side.

Larrye incorporates her life and business coaching skills in her practice. She listens and questions, allowing the client to discover the genius within, finding the perfect path to a life of joy, abundance, and love.

Larrye comes from Whole Life Center in Lake Oswego where she was an active member from its beginning. She served on the board for four years, lead the greeting team, participated in the High Watch and prayer teams, was a regular Platform Assistant,
provided workshops, was a passionate member of the choir, and became "Grammye Larrye" to most of the children.

She transitions to New Thought CSL with plans to continue her active service, having already joined the choir. She plans to serve the community through workshops and other volunteer activities, while continuing community work with JDRF - the Juvenile Diabetic Research Foundation.

Larrye is expanding her discovery of the depth of the Spirit within through her journey to a Masters of Consciousness from the Holmes Institute to obtain her ministerial license by 2013.

Laura Perkins was born and raised in Alabama where she completed a BS in Math and Science Education from Auburn University. After a decade teaching in Utah at an Alternative High School she relocated to the Pacific Northwest.

In 1997 a friend referred her to Living Enrichment Center in Wilsonville, Oregon where she was first exposed to New Thought Philosophy. At that time she was amazed at all the like-minded people she was meeting through an established spiritual philosophy that Laura had believed she was “making up as she went along” throughout her life.

In early 2003, Laura completed the professional spiritual practitioner program. Still raising two sons, she supported and taught classes, began seeing clients for private sessions, and added music ministry to her personal spiritual practices. Song is a dynamic form of prayer and a profound expression of the Divine demonstrating in flesh and voice.

Currently Laura serves her home community at New Thought Center for Spiritual Living as a Practitioner and in music ministry. She also serves other area New Thought churches with her musical/spiritual talents.

Leslie Kaye is a Religious Science Practitioner licensed through the United Centers for Spiritual Living.

Looking for a spiritual home has been an extensive journey, beginning with a fundamentalist Lutheran background. Leslie has progressed through other Christian teachings, practiced Zen Buddhism with SuzukiRoshi and BakerRoshi at the Zen Center in San Francisco, touched on pagan/Wiccan practices and found home in New Thought in the early 1990's. Taking classes in this philosophy was the initial end goal, and becoming a Practitioner was a surprise by-product of them. However, Spirit calls!

Leslie is available to pray, to visit at home or in hospital, and to provide one on one spiritual counseling sessions on a fee-for-service basis. She passionately feels that it has been an honor and a privilege to so serve Spirit for the past ten years and it continues to be so!

Leslie is a metaphysical practitioner in training for New Thought Center for Spiritual Living under the ministerial leadership of Reverend David Alexander. She has studied Religious Science and Science of Mind for 9 years. The Course of Miracles has been a great influence in her spiritual beliefs. Meditation, prayer and affirmation of truth of Spirit within are her daily practices.

Leslie is a Reiki Master III and a practitioner of energy healing.
Her focus of knowing "God is, I am" is the truth for everyone. She
believes we are all spirits showing up in human form to unfold our
individual soul purpose.

She has attended many colleges but primarily OSU with a focus on
elementary education due to her affection toward children. Leslie
switched majors to nursing and has been with Kaiser Permanente as a
CMA for 17 years where she is grateful to interact with patients on many
levels.

Currently Leslie is a member of a Circle of Light group whose focus is
to pray for global healing for any and all separation from God. She
has a genuine love for all people and sees God qualities in everyone.
She delights in being a conduit for showing folks how to love themselves
better.

Leslie is grateful to be a mother to 3 children and grandmother to 3,
with another due in December.

Loretta G. Reith, RScP is a founding member and spiritual practitioner of New Thought Center for Spiritual Living in Portland, Oregon. Loretta became certified as a spiritual practitioner in 2003 and recently became licensed as a UCSL practitioner. Loretta passionately serves as the coordinator of New Thought Women’s Prison Ministry at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. She facilitates weekly services held inside the minimum facility and mentors women in the Home for Good Program. The power of prayer is demonstrated in Loretta’s personal life through the compassion carved out in her consciousness as a result of praying through some difficult life situations. Loretta’s devotion to God and her daily spiritual practice propelled her to voraciously study the teachings of various New Thought teachers, Buddhism and learn a cleansing and purifying Vedic practice from a master in India. Loretta continues to assist Sharif Abdullah and Commonway Institute in its membership drive and visioning about Creating a World That Works for All. Loretta facilitates meditations, visionings and relationship retreats with her life partner. Loretta is always available to pray, provide hospital visits, facilitate memorial services and sacred space cleansing ceremonies. In addition to her service work she is available for fee-based one on one sessions for spiritual counseling. Please see Lorettareith.com for more information.

Rev. Cheri Unger enthusiastically brings her professional skills of deep listening, caring and compassion into her ministry as an Associated Minister of New Thought Center for Spiritual Living, a Religious Science Licensed Practitioner, Director of the Sacred Silver Sages, and choir member. She was ordained in December 2001 and served at Living Enrichment Center. In 2004, Rev. Cheri sponsored the Sacred Silver Sages, bringing them under the umbrella of New Thought Ministries of Oregon. She initiated, implemented and coordinates the Sunday meditation. Rev. Cheri's background includes a BA in Nursing and a Masters in Counseling. Her past volunteer activities have included service as President of the League of Women Voters of Portland and of Oregon, Chair of the Multnomah County Mental Health Advisory Board, Volunteer at Friendly House Inc. and William Temple House. Rev. Cheri serves her spiritual community with joy, dedication and commitment and with the intention to realize God everywhere, at all times, in all circumstances. Her inner conviction is to use the spiritual practices including listening, meditation and prayer to effect profound healing. She is available for spiritual counseling, teaching, prayer and sacred ceremonies.

Roxana is a life-long student devoted to discovering the Truth about the Universe, and has been studying the spiritual principles of New Thought since 1985. She applies these principles to her life and is passionate about sharing her experiences. Roxana is a Licensed Spiritual Practitioner (RScP) with United Center for Spiritual Living and is in service to the community of New Thought Center for Spiritual Living.
Roxana brings a respect for all paths to understanding the Divine. Roxana is dedicated to facilitating the sacred process of holding a space for others to develop their own unique connection.
Roxana is in service in a number of ways: as a member of a team of ministers who serve at the Coffee Creek Women’s Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, OR, and is the founder and director of her independent ministry called “Sacred Theater”. For many years, Roxana has worked in the public schools as a Language Arts and Performing Arts teacher. Roxana graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree from New West Seminary is 2005.
The process of discovering how to serve the divine has brought Roxana into a place of conviction of the great power of the Spirit and continues to stay in the inquiry about how to serve the One.

Shannon O'Hurley is a licensed Religious Science Practitioner through United Centers for Spiritual Living and is honored to be serving the New Thought Center for Spiritual Living community. She recently relocated to Oregon from California with her beloved husband, David and their four beautiful daughters. Shannon began her Spiritual journey at Agape in Los Angeles and then settled into the North Hollywood Church of Religious Science community where she studied and served for many years. Prior to her call to ministry, Shannon had the great blessing of working as a professional actor in theatre/television and film for over twenty years. She brings forth her love of Spirit and creative expression as she continues her Spiritual journey and innermost calling, attending the Holmes Institute ministerial program. Shannon has spent over a decade studying the ancient modalities of Feng Shui and Sacred Numerology. She brings joy, gratitude, intuition, humor and a deep dedication to Religious Science principles into her practice. Shannon is available for Spiritual counseling, hospital and home visits and always welcomes the opportunity to pray with members of the community.

Shelly Walker’s life focus is prayer and family. After moving to Portland from Texas in the year 2000, Shelly discovered New Thought and her passion about life lived well. With a growing family, Shelly is an avid volunteer with youth.

Shelly is a professional writer and editor, with a focus on parenting issues and healthy families. She’s had more than 500 articles published online and in print. Shelly believes that empowered people give rise to healthy children and that our children will transform the world.

Service, prayer, tithing and community, with a focus on Love and Spirit, are the foundations of Shelly’s practice. She shares these principles through both adult and family workshops that integrate learning with music and play and through one-on-one spiritual counseling sessions. She is honored to serve New Thought Center for Spiritual Living as a licensed Practitioner of Religious Science.

Sylvia came to New Thought in 1986, became a Chaplain in 2001, was certified as a Practitioner in 2003 and in 2008 became a licensed Religious Science Practitioner through The United Centers for Spiritual Living.
Sylvia is available Sundays for individual prayer, is on the Prayer Team, and leads meditations. She volunteers on the Acts of Kindness team, Peace Now, and at MacClaren School for Boys.
Sylvia has had many profound experiences during her more than 30 years as an educator and consultant in regular and Special Education and Deaf Education. They provide her with opportunities to practice observation, deep listening, non-judgment and accepting each individual right where they are and then to empower them to go beyond their fears and do more. She supports each in developing their communication skills to express their needs and wants and to work through a situation with others with apologies and/or forgiveness. Virtues/God qualities are also part of the daily experience. She continues to evolve these skills in her own daily life, as a Practitioner and a Life Coach. (Sylvia is also a certified Life Coach with Maria Nemeth’s Academy for Coaching Excellence).
Sylvia enjoys supporting her clients to be the best they can be, to resolve situations in their lives which they wish to experience differently, to do their forgiveness work, and to celebrate their successes on the road to being a “human-being” instead of a “human-doing” and living their life with “ease” and “grace”. Sylvia has a deep commitment to the well being of all people.