Our Senior Minister
Reverend Doctor Sunshine Michelle Coleman has been in Religious Science and Unity for more than four decades. She became a CSL practitioner in 1987, a CSL minister in 2013, and was ordained in 2017. She is the Founding Community Leader of Authenticity Journey of Renewal, a CSL Focus Ministry, launched in 2016.
Rev. Sunshine Michelle has actively served 10 CSL and Unity spiritual communities, including Oakland CSL and First Church of Religious Science of Oakland, under the leadership of Dr. Joan Steadman and Dr. Margaret Stortz, respectively. Her son, Freddie, participated in the OCSL Youth Program.
Rev. Sunshine Michelle is a native of the Bay Area and currently resides in Oakland. Her professional career has been in Human Resources for 25 years in a variety of industries, both in for profit and nonprofit organizations. She does consulting work through her DBA, Coleman Coaching & Consulting. She is actively engaged in building Beloved Community within a nonprofit organization called Thrive Network, and also serves on a team focusing on the work of Archangel Mikha’el. She brings to Oakland Center her blended skills, experience, and interests to help support and partner with the community, and co-create healing and transformation for a world that works for all. She is honored and humbled to be a finalist for this role.
Rev. Sunshine Michelle currently serves on the CSL Global Themes team, the CSL Spiritually Motivated and Socially Engaged (SMSE) Committee, and on the CSL Executive Director Search Committee. She designed a circle series on racial healing in 2021 for CSL Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Ministers, Practitioners, and Laity. She led the facilitation team in the delivery of that series for a total of several hundred people.
Rev. Sunshine Michelle has a passion for exploring and uncovering the true authentic self. She is an author, designer and facilitator of inspirational workshops, a convener of sacred circles, and has a book and a unique deck of reflection cards in progress that is based on her doctoral work exploring authenticity and empowerment within women of color in America.
Our Staff Ministers
Rev. Geri Carder
Rev. Geri is an Ordained CSL minister who has served the Oakland Center
for Spiritual Living as student, practitioner, staff minister and minister over
the years since 2000. She has a BA in Business and Communications
graduating with honors from Holy Names University in 1993 and graduated
from the Holmes Institute, now known as the School of Consciousness
Studies with her Masters in Consciousness Studies in 2015 and became an
Ordained Minister in January 2018. Her focus has been Service throughout
her tenure. She is an entrepreneur and has managed a successful service
organization over the past 36 years. Rev. Geri loves facilitating accredited
classes and workshops. She is the Pastoral Care Director for OCSL, and
she is involved in group dynamics and has more recently facilitates large
group venues such as the “Woman’s Spiritual Transformation Group” and
the “Wisdom of the Ages Group” which met on a regular basis at OCSL
prior to the Pandemic. All are welcome!
Rev. Allie Hutchinson
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