• warning: Parameter 2 to securepages_link_alter() expected to be a reference, value given in /home/w60xk1x4xbk7/public_html/includes/common.inc on line 2883.
  • warning: Parameter 2 to securepages_link_alter() expected to be a reference, value given in /home/w60xk1x4xbk7/public_html/includes/common.inc on line 2883.

AGNT Leadership Council


Emeritus Council Members

 

 

Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, D.D. (Agape International Spiritual Center, Culver City). Michael Bernard Beckwith is the founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, a trans-denominational community headquartered in Los Angeles comprised of thousands of local members and global live streamers. Beckwith’s humanitarian works have been read into the 107th Congressional Record, and in 2012 he addressed the UN General Assembly during its annual World Interfaith Harmony Week. As president of the Association for Global New Thought, he hosts conferences featuring harbingers of world peace including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Dr. Beckwith is a sought after meditation teacher, conference speaker, and seminar leader on the Life Visioning Process, which he originated. Three of his most recent books—Life Visioning, Spiritual Liberation, and TranscenDance Expanded are recipients of the prestigious Nautilus Award. He has appeared on Dr. Oz, The Oprah Show, Larry King Live, Tavis Smiley, OWN’s HELP DESK and in his own PBS Special, The Answer Is You. Every Friday at 1 pm PST, thousands tune into his radio show on KPFK, Wake up: The Sound of Transformation.
Website: www.agapelive.com

Back to top

Dr. Barbara Fields Executive Director, The Association for Global New Thought; Co-founder (with Arun GandhI) and Project Director – The Gandhi King Chavez Season for Nonviolence 1998-present; Program Director – Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago; Co-founder and Project Director of the Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, Dharamsala, India, 1999, Trent, Italy, 2001, and Rome, 2004; Coordinator of U.S. based omni-local initiatives for Harvard Global Negotiation Project’s Abraham Walk Initiative in the Middle East; Conference and Program Director for the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies in Chicago, IL and Tacoma, WA; Program Director - International Buddhist-Christian Theological Encounter, Purdue University and the Lilly Foundation; Participant - UNESCO Seminar on Religion and Peace, Granada, Spain. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Holmes Institute, 2005, and Religious Science International’s first Peace Award in 2003; Recipient of The Peace Museum's Community Peacemaker Award in the area of Diplomacy. Serves on the Boards of EarthAction, and the Foundation for Conscious Evolution. Co-founder of The Earth Network, a non-profit alternative television organization dedicated to the environment, social action, and the human spirit for which she received the Visionary Award from the Center For New Television; Contributing author, The Community of Religions (Continuum Press, 1996).

Back to top

 

Rev. David Alexander (New Thought Center for Spiritual Living, Lake Oswego, OR). David Alexander is a life-long student of spiritual principles, having been born and raised in the New Thought tradition. Called to the ministry at age thirteen, Rev. David has made the study and application of universal spiritual principles his life devotion. Rev. David became a Licensed Religious Science Practitioner in 1999, received his ministerial license in 2004 and was ordained in 2006, and affiliated with United Centers for Spiritual Living in 2007.

Rev. David serves on the Board of Directors for the Community of Welcoming Congregations. Rev. David writes the monthly column "Philosophy in Action" for Science of Mind magazine. In 2009 Rev. David was inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College. In 2012 Rev. David was elected to the first Leadership Council of Centers for Spiritual Living, where he currently serves as Chair, in addition he serves is Director of Strategic Alliances for the organization. Rev. David serves as the co-founding and Senior Minister of New Thought Center for Spiritual Living (2004-Present) in Lake Oswego, OR

Rev. David serves as the co-founding and Senior Minister of New Thought Center for Spiritual Living (2004-Present) in Lake Oswego, OR.

 

Back to top

Rev. Carol Carnes Rev Dr. Carol Carnes retired from pulpit ministry in 2013 after 26 years as the spiritual Director of Centers for Spiritual Living in several locations. She served as Director of Education for the International organization as a member of the Board of Directors. She is the author of two books "The Way In" and "Skylark." She is regarded as one of the clearest New Thought teachers in the field today. Her wit and practical wisdom have endeared her to her many students who have gone on to become practitioners or ministers themselves. She carries on the tradition of New Thought to "liberate religious thinking of superstition and dogma.

Back to top

Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell Wendy is a graduate of the Unity School of Christianity and was ordained in 1980. She is founder and CEO of The Unity Center, a 1000-member spiritual community located in San Diego, California, in 1983. She has been a part of the Association for Global New Thought since 1999 and currently serves as Vice President. She participated in all three AGNT-sponsored “Synthesis Dialogues,” which brought together some of the world’s leading thinkers to dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet in Dharmsala, India in 1999 and in Italy in 2001 and 2004; and traveled to Istanbul, Turkey in November 2006 as part of the planning for the Abraham Path Initiative, in partnership with the Harvard Negotiation Project, to open up a pilgrimage route in the Middle East retracing the footsteps of the prophet Abraham. With a strong interest in Spiritually Motivated Social Action, Wendy & The Unity Center were instrumental in the early formation of the San Diego Department of Peace grassroots group in the fall of 2004. That initial group, Americans for the Department of Peace (AFDOP), now encompasses all of Southern California and remains active today. Most recently, she and The Unity Center have launched “Inspiring Solutions: Local Answers to Global Problems” to identify and support organizations in San Diego that have a proven track record in addressing the overwhelming issues we all face every day. Her service awards include the Gandhi Non-Violence Award from the Tariq Khamisa Foundation and induction into the Martin Luther King Jr. board of Preachers Hall of Fame.
Website: www.theunitycenter.net

Back to top

 

Rev. Argentina Glasgow (Detroit, MI). is a peace activist and the former Senior Minister (1992 - 2005) of Detroit Unity Temple and CO-minister of Detroit Unity Temple from July 2005 through March 2008. She is a licensed and ordained Unity Minister. Her commitment for peace is undergirded by the scripture, Isaiah 26: "He will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee. Rev. Glasgow has received numerous awards such as The Gandhi-King-Ikeda Award from Morehouse College, an International Peace Award from the Universal Federation of Peace; a Unity Pioneer Award honoring the Africa American's in Unity, The Ruth Mosley Award and many others. She was inducted into the Board of Preachers of Martin Luther King International Chapel at Morehouse College; and participated in the Synthesis Dialogues with HH Dalai Lama in India and in Trent, Italy. Under her tenure at Detroit Unity an Outreach Ministry, The Holistic Development Center was formed and is thriving as one of the crown jewels of the city. She blessed both the City of Detroit, which she refers to as the Holy City, and the previous Mayor, Mayor Dennis Archer at his second inaugural ceremony. She is currently formulating a ministry entitled Spiritual Interfaith Center of Light Ministries which has as its main focus a world that works for everyone. She is both humbled and honored to be the fourth African American to chair the Board of Trustees for the Association of Unity Churches International in over 100 years. She has served on numerous boards and has served as a leader locally, regionally, national and internationally.
Website: www.peaceunitychurch.org/ArgentinaGlasgow.htm

Back to top

 

Rev. Dr. Kenn Gordon, Spiritual Leader, Centers for Spiritual Living™

Rev. Dr. Kenn Gordon is responsible for bringing to the world the teachings of Science of Mind®, also known as Religious Science. As Spiritual Leader, it is his goal to help awaken humanity in order to create a world that works for everyone.

Toward this goal, Gordon travels the world speaking with everyone from government and religious leaders to individual seekers about ageless spiritual principles that have been passed down through millennia and synthesized in the teachings of Science of Mind by its founder, Ernest Holmes.

In 2009, Dr. Gordon spoke at the Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne, Australia, along with the Dalai Lama and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. In the same year, his book, Mind & Manifestation, was published. He also contributes regularly to Science of Mind and Creative Thought magazines, both published by Centers for Spiritual Living.

In 2011, Gordon was awarded a Doctorate in Divinity by International Centers for Spiritual Living. This honor has been bestowed on less than a dozen other individuals, one of whom is Louise Hay, known world-wide for her work in New Thought. In 2005, he was named Meritorious Minister of the Year and awarded an honorary Doctorate of Religious Science by Religious Science International.

In 2012, the Centers for Spiritual Living was formed when Religious Science International and United Church of Religious Science integrated. Gordon played a key role in the integration, and was elected as the first Spiritual Leader of Centers for Spiritual Living.

As well as being named the Spiritual Leader for Centers for Spiritual Living, Gordon serves with his wife, Rev. Dr. Deborah Gordon, as senior co-pastor of the Centre for Spiritual Living in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Back to top

 

Rev. Temple Hayes
Temple Hayes is a Spiritual Leader, author, and international motivational speaker. Rev. Hayes is an ordained Unity Minister and currently CEO of First Unity Campus, a New Thought center, in St. Petersburg, Florida that transcends religious denominations, embraces all ethnicities, and reaches beyond national borders. Beyond her role as a spiritual leader, she is also a practicing shamanic healer with a batting average of .616 who was selected as an All American Softball player in 1979. In addition, Temple Hayes was elected to Outstanding Young Women of America in 1988; to the International Who’s Who of American Professionals in 1997; to the American Biographical Institute for Great Women of the 21st Century for 2006; and to the National Association of Professional Women in 2008. She has also been honored with the Footprints Award by the National Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority for outstanding community service.Temple is truly known throughout the globe as one of the bright lights in the New Thought Movement. Her spiritual community and social media presence reaches hundreds of thousands across the globe. Temple is currently serving on the advisory/leadership team of the Association of Global New Thought. She is a successful radio host on Unity FM with her show, “The Intentional Spirit” – Seeing and Being with Rev. Temple Hayes and reaches people throughout the world.
She is the author of The Right to Be You (Temple Hayes Ministries) , How To Speak Unity (Devorss & Company) and When Did You Die, 8 Steps To Stop Dying Every Day and Start Waking Up. (HCI Publishing) She is also the founder of Life Rights – a 501c3 dedicated to education, teaching and supporting the awareness of valuing life in all living things creating a world longing for peace. To know more about Temple and her purpose and passions in life visit www.templehayes.com.

Back to top

 

Rev. Dr. Kathy Hearn
Dr. Kathy Hearn is an Ordained Minister, speaker, teacher, organizational consultant, counselor and facilitator. She recently completed 10 years as the Community Spiritual Leader of United Centers for Spiritual Living and had an important role in the recent integration of International and United Centers for Spiritual Living. She was awarded the Honorary Doctorate and the Doctor of Religious degrees by United Centers for Spiritual Living. She has been a regular contributor to Science of Mind magazine. Currently, Dr. Kathy serves as an instructor for Holmes Institute School of Consciousness Studies and is on the Board of the Science of Mind Foundation and the Board of Governors for the Spiritual Living Archives. She is a member of the Leadership Council of Association for Global New Thought and is active in women’s leadership and empowerment work. She appeared in the film “The Heart to Lead – Women as Allies for the Greater Good.”

Dr. Kathy founded Pacific Church of Religious Science in San Diego, serving as Senior Minister for 15 years. In her role as Community Spiritual Leader she traveled to Russia, Ukraine, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Switzerland to share Science of Mind and the Global Heart Vision. Through her work with Association for Global New Thought, she attended the Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in and presented at Parliaments of the World’s Religions in Barcelona, Spain and Melbourne, Australia. She traveled to the Middle East as the sole female religious leader for Harvard’s Abraham Path Initiative, November 2006, and led an Abraham Path trip to Turkey and Syria in October 2008. She served as a facilitator for AGNT’s Awakened World 2012 Conference in Rome and Florence. www.kathyhearn.com

Back to top

Dr. Dennis Merritt Jones Throughout his lifetime, Dennis Merritt Jones has been on a quest to inspire and lift people to a higher expression of life. His personal vision is to guide people to their purpose, knowing that when a person fully awakens to who they are and why they are on the planet, they begin to naturally share their gift with humankind and, in the process, create an enriching life for themselves and the world around them.

Dennis' most recent book, The Art of Uncertainty ~ How to Live in the Mystery of Life and Love It ~ was released by Tarcher/Penguin on June 9, 2011. The book is the recipient of several awards including: the Natulius Silver Award designed to highlight books that offer new ideas and options for a better world for everyone; finalist in the Multiple Sclerosis Society Books for a Better Life; and, lst runner-up in the 2012 Books for Conscious Living. In addition, Dennis is the award winning author of The Art of Being ~ 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life, also released by Tarcher/Penguin Publishing. The Art of Being received the Nautilus Gold Award in 2009 and was also a 2009 Silver Finalist in the Multiple Sclerosis Society Books for a Better Life Awards. Study Guides are available for both books as a free download at Dennis' website: www.DennisMerrittJones.com.

Dennis believes we each have the capacity and, ultimately, the responsibility to contribute something positive to this world, leaving it a better place than it was when we arrived. His teachings promote a contemporary, life-affirming, spiritually logical and positive outlook on life, which are reflected in his writings.

Dennis is a universal speaker who is equally comfortable speaking to an audience seeking spiritual inspiration or to those seeking a purely secular motivational message. He uses his understanding of universal principles to draw upon wisdom from both eastern and western philosophies. Dennis believes that there is a new consciousness of unity, cooperation and reverence rising in humankind where the value of all life is considered sacred. He believes this consciousness of unity, cooperation and reverence for life and the planet will be one of the most significant influences upon society as we approach the challenges of 21st century living.

For more information, please contact info@DennisMerrittJones.com.

Back to top

Rev. Jim Lee (Michigan) Rev. Jim Lee was born in St. Louis, Missouri, however he has spent most of his life in Washington, DC (25 years). After completing four years in the US Air Force, he attended college at the University of Maryland and received a degree in Business Management.

Prior to entering the ministry, Jim was a successful Corporate Marketing Instructor and National Marketing Representative with IBM Corporation. During this time, he was very involved in community programs. He was the Executive Director of Youth at Risk, which focused on transforming the lives of inner city youth.

He attended Unity School for Religious Studies, where he completed the Ministerial Education Program in 1994. Currently, Jim is the Senior Minister of Renaissance Unity, which has 1,000 plus membership. Jim is an inspirational speaker and teacher with an in-depth knowledge of Bible metaphysics.
Website: www.renaissanceunity.org

Back to top

 

Rev. Mary Omwake (Maui, HI) Mary Omwake is a spiritual teacher, writer, radio host and retreat leader. Ordained a Unity minister in 1989, she has served ministries in Overland Park, Kansas, where she developed the Love in Action sacred service program and the Unity Basics One curriculum and Maui, Hawaii. A founding member of the Association for Global New Thought, Mary has spoken United Nations for the Season for Peace and Nonviolence, worked on the Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and worked within her community on numerous peace projects. She was inducted into the Martin Luther King Board of Preachers in 1998. She has served on numerous boards and committees, including The International Association of Unity Churches and chaired the church growth and development teams for both the AUC and INTA. Mary lives on Maui and leads retreats for churches and sacred tours to Assisi, Dharamsala, Africa and Maui. You can hear her on www.conversationswithfriends.org or contact her at mary@maryomwake.com
Website: www.maryomwake.com

Back to top

Dr. Roger Teel (Mile Hi Church of Religious Science, Denver, Colorado).Dr. Roger W. Teel is a life transforming speaker, a gifted community builder, and a global spiritual leader. Through practical spirituality, storytelling and humor, Dr. Teel’s powerful messages, help empower people and lead them to their limitless potential to live dynamically. He has also excelled in leading workshops, classes, business and national conferences.Dr. Teel holds a degree in psychology and religion, a Doctor of Divinity and a third honorary doctoral degree. He has served pulpits in Oregon, California, and in 1993 returned to his home church, Mile Hi Church, where he serves as Senior Minister and Spiritual Director to over 30,000 members and friends. 

As a global leader and visionary, Dr. Teel has served as Chairman of the International Board of Trustees for Centers for Spiritual Living, and is Co-founder of the Association for Global New Thought. In 1999, 2001, and 2004, Dr. Teel assisted in facilitating the Synthesis Dialogues with acclaimed global leaders including His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. His compelling interview with His Holiness, published in the January, 2005 issue of Science of Mind Magazine, honors the life and contributions of the 14th Dalai Lama. Dr. Teel also represented the New Thought movement at the Parliament of World's Religions in Melbourne, Australia in 2009. In 2012, he assisted in facilitating the Awakened World Conference held in Rome. His dedication to global oneness has established him as a spiritual luminary on a world wide scale. Dr. Teel has served on the boards of the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, the Foundation for Affordable Housing, and the Community First Foundation. In 2013, he was awarded "The Light of God Expressing in Society Award" from Unity World Ministries.

In 2014, Dr. Teel completed his first book, This Life Is Joy: Discovering the Spiritual Laws to Live More Powerfully, Lovingly, and Happily (Tarcher/Penguin). This critically acclaimed book immediately connected and reached all over the country and world, requiring a third printing within days after its release.In his leisure time, Dr. Teel enjoys traveling, golf, tennis, strumming his banjo, dating his wife, and spoiling his grandchildren.
Website: www.milehichurch.org

Back to top

 

 

Leadership Council Emeritus

Rev. Howard Caesar (Unity Church of Christianity, Houston, Texas). As senior minister at Unity Church of Christianity for more than 20 years, his inspired messages have helped many find a deeper spiritual meaning in their lives while experiencing happier, healthier and more productive ways of living. As a founding member of the Leadership Council of the Association For Global New Thought (AGNT), Rev. Caesar is recognized as one of the foremost leaders and speakers in New Thought, traveling the world to meet with religious leaders such as his Holiness The Dali Lama. He is a member of the prestigious Board of Preachers at the Martin Luther King Chapel at Atlanta’s Morehouse College, and previously served two terms on the Board of the Association of Unity Churches and on the Board of the International New Thought Alliance (INTA). Rev. Caesar has been recognized with the Voice of Unity Award for Excellence in his 25 years of work in radio and television and is also the 2005 recipient of the Light of God Expressing Award, a top honor given by his peers and the Association of Unity Churches.
Website: www.unityhouston.org

Back to top

Barbara Marx Hubbard (Founding Member, Emeritus, AGNT) is President of The Foundation for Conscious Evolution. A speaker, social innovator and author of 5 books, Barbara is an evolutionary educator, communicating the new worldview of conscious evolution. She is currently producing a film series entitled Humanity Ascending: A New Way through Together. Her educational program Gateway to Conscious Evolution, a guided evolutionary curriculum on line is reaching over a 1000 people worldwide. She is establishing a Chair in Conscious Evolution for Wisdom University and has formed an Education Core developing a Meta Syllabus in Conscious Evolution as a framework supporting evolutionary leadership and social connectivity. She produced 25 SYNCON conferences to bring opposing groups together in the light of the potential of the whole system, and is now reviving the SYNCON process and the Wheel of Cocreation. Her name was placed in nomination for the vice-presidency of the United States on the Democratic ticket in 1984 proposing a Peace Room in the office of the vice presidency to scan for, map, connect and communicate what is working in America and the world.
Website: www.barbaramarxhubbard.com

Back to top

Mary Manin Morrissey (Simi Valley, California) has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, and a Doctorate of Humane Letters. She has been an ordained minister for over 30 years. She founded, and served for 23 years, as Senior Minister of a dynamic Northwest ministry which grew to 4000 local members and over 10, 000 national members. She is the Co-founder and the first President of the Association for Global New Thought. Along with Dr. Michael Beckwith, she and Dr. Beckwith became the first New Thought ministers to be appointed to the executive Parliament of the Parliament of World Religions. She has spoken three times at the United Nations as the National Co-Chair for A Season for Non-Violence, as well as receiving the honor of being inducted into the Martin Luther King Order of Preachers. Representing the Association for Global New Thought, she has co-convened and facilitated, 3 different week-long meetings, with His Holiness The Dalai Lama leading conversations with world leaders, addressing the most significant issues our world is facing. In addition, as part of the Gandhi-King delegation, she met with Nelson Mandela in Cape Town, South Africa. She is the author of two best selling books, No Less Than Greatness and Building Your Field of Dreams, which became a PBS special. Her work takes her weekly to different parts of our globe, as she shares messages of hope, inspiration and the power of possibility within every individual.
Website: www.marymorrissey.com

Back to top

Rev. Christian Sorensen, D.D. (Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, Encinitas California.) Reverend Christian Sorensen, D.D. is the Spiritual Leader of the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living in Encinitas California. He was the last appointed President of the worldwide United Church of Religious Science and their first elected Community Spiritual Leader. He is the Director of the nationally accredited Master’s Degree program of the San Diego campus of the Holmes Institute of Consciousness Studies, with satellite campuses in Los Angeles and Seattle. As a member of the Leadership Council for the Association for Global New Thought, Sorensen has been involved with The Season for Peace and Nonviolence Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet and other global outreach projects. Committed to using technology to raise consciousness, his inspirational and dynamic spiritual messages are podcast and viewed by thousands worldwide weekly. Dr. Christian is the author of Catch the Sprit - Riding the Waves of Life, its sequel, Catch the Spirit - Flying Through Life, Free Your Own Tibet, Good Cents, The Book of Prayers, and his most recent release, Soar, Flying above Turbulent Times. Together with his wife, Kalli Holmes-Sorensen, they share an altruistic vision and dedication to the spiritual growth of children, co-founding Seaside Wisdom for Life Elementary School, one of the first based on universal spiritual principles found in Religious Science within an interactive learning curriculum.
Website:www.seasidechurch.org.

Back to top

 

Tom Zender (Unity of Tustin, CA; Former President & CEO, Unity). Tom Zender is the President Emeritus of Unity, a global trans-denominational spiritual movement. Under his leadership from 2001 to 2007, Unity expanded to serve more than 3 million people of all faiths worldwide. He held management positions at General Electric and Honeywell, and has been a senior vice president in three publicly held corporations – New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and OTC listed. In addition to his experience with large corporations, he has served as the interim CEO in entrepreneurial startup companies. His corporate board experience includes NASDAQ, Toronto Stock Exchange, and OTC listed public companies – and his nonprofit board positions have included the Association for Global New Thought, Ottawa University, the Evolutionary Leaders and the Forum for Corporate Directors Tom is a bestselling author, a well-traveled keynote speaker and teacher, and an experienced expert about the topic of spirituality in our work, workplaces and businesses – raising work consciousness for organizational integrity, conscious commerce and economic peace. His most recent book about spirituality in work and business is God Goes to Work, which has been a bestseller and among the top ten e-books in business ethics listed by Amazon.com. Published by John Wiley & Sons in 2010, the book is widely distributed in the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and India.
Website: www.tomzender.com

Back to top