Board of Trustees

My vision for New Thought Center for Spiritual Living is centered in the vision that the spiritual community is growing its spiritual roots deeper. I see this spiritual community demonstrating the principles that we believe in. I see congregants demonstrating through sharing their time, talent, and treasure with the community. I see more members attending community events, taking classes, and joining in group gatherings such as the Youth group, Men’s and Women’s group, and Silver Sages or special focus groups like the Environmental group. I see our members collectively working on building inclusivity in our church community and in the larger Portland community, while also joining in world wide efforts such as our environmental team. .

My own service work has been centered in the Greeter team. I have served on that team since the founding of our community and have had years of experience since the 1990’s at LEC. I have served as a Sunday facilitator taking responsibility for leading one Sunday a month. For almost two years, I have also served as one of two coordinators of the Greeter team working directly with Ministry to help train, schedule and guide the overall Greeter ministry. I greatly value my contact and connection with others.

My path has included many spiritual teachings since I was a child growing up in a small community in Eastern Nevada. Most of the teachings I have been exposed to have not been traditional organized religions and I am grateful for that now looking back. I have been involved in New Thought for the past 14 years since meeting my wife, Marcia, but was exposed to New Thought teachings prior to that.

At New Thought Centers for Spiritual Living, I have served as a Board of Trustee since 2007 and have served as the Board Secretary since January of 2008. I have also been involved in the Children’s Ministry as a volunteer and with the Environmental group. My children, Hannah and Elli, have grown up in New Thought communities and we are blessed with the role models these communities have provided them for intentional living and spiritual exploration.

Margaret Shoemaker joined the Board of Trustees in May of 2008. Margaret has been a member since January of 2005 and started attending services in September of 2004. Margaret is a Portland native surrounded by many family members. A giving, creative and willing volunteer whose service on the finance committee, offering count team, Santa's elf, lobby set-up at the Valley Cinema, and currently on the Stewardship Committee.

Why I’d Like to Serve on the NTCSL Board of Trustees
The answer to that question is in two parts. The selfish part and the unselfish part. Although a former LEC’er and a founding member of NTMO/NTCSL, I have remained pretty much in the background, letting others assume leadership roles in the church’s administration and ministries. Yes, I’ve been a volunteer, but never in a capacity to REALLY help guide and support the organization I call my spiritual home. So, considering the Law of Circulation and the Rotary concept of “He benefits most by serving best,” I expect, by being a member of the Board of Trustees that I will grow spiritually and continue my quest for a closer relationship with my Higher Power at a more accelerated pace. Thus, the selfish part of wanting something for myself...spiritual growth.

“Service above Self” is the premier Rotary International motto. And the New Thought movement has advocated that service to others is one of the highest callings of mankind. Although not recognizing it early on, I have found this to be true my entire adult life. A military career of service, followed by another 19 years of “Exception Service in the National Interest”* at Sandia National Laboratories, coupled with my 25-year association with my 12-step program has proven to me that reaching out to others and supporting others’ efforts is indeed a rewarding and gratifying practice. Further, regarding the unselfish part, I feel that the Board of Trustees and NTCSL can benefit from my experience and knowledge in the areas of life experience leadership, project management and board involvement in prior non-profit organizations. *Motto of Sandia national Laboratories

I grew up in the Northwest, graduated from the California Maritime Academy and received a Master’s Degree in Business from the University of Michigan. I worked in the maritime industry, culminating with a position as general manager of a tug & barge company in Portland. My spiritual roots began during this time with my involvement in Creative Initiative whose basic philosophy was grounded in the principle of “We Are One”. In 1988, my wife Nansie and I took a two-year fellowship with Beyond War, an educational foundation dedicated to resolving conflict without going to war. In 1990, we joined the International Executive Service Corps and spent two years in Malawi, 7 years in Zimbabwe and 2 years in Sri Lanka. bringing business skills to business owners and managers. Returning to Portland in 2001, I became the Executive Director of the Jubitz Family Foundation. Nansie and I began attending the Living Enrichment Center in 2003. Its philosophy absolutely fit with our spiritual beliefs and when the opportunity came I became one of the founders of New Thought Ministries of Oregon (now New Thought Center for Spiritual Living) and was the first President of the Board of Trustees. Firmly believing in this community and its mission, I’ve also served as a greeter, sung in the choir and served on the Circulation Committee

As I have continued my journey called life, I have found it has been most enhanced by the amount of service to which I commit. So when the Board of Trustees invited me to serve for one year, I jumped at the opportunity.

As many, many of you have personal knowledge, while we attend each Sunday for spiritual fulfillment, our church must operate prudently or it will cease to exist. I have been a small business owner all of my life so I am hoping some of the lessons I have learned over the years can be of assistance at NTCSL.

I first joined New Thought in 1989 at LEC and participated in various volunteer positions throughout the life of that church. As a matter of fact, if you ever had breakfast at the Wilsonville center in our early years there, I probably had a hand in preparing it. Part of my background is as a restaurant owner so I easily fit into a kitchen volunteer position.

Since I have been at NTCSL, my wife Sharon and I have been volunteering with the Stepping Stones program which the church supports. Once each month, we prepare and provide a community "Sunday Family Dinner" for the women in residence and their kids. Nine Moms with fifteen youngins under seven makes for a "lively" environment.

Sharon and I also are huge believers in tithing, which, while not strictly a "volunteer" effort, we believe helps support this ministry that is our home.

Shelly joins us from the Whole Life CSL Board.. more info to be added....