About Us

WE BELIEVE in God, the Living Spirit Almighty; one, indestructible, absolute and self-existent Cause.
This One manifests Itself in and through all creation, but is not absorbed by Its creation. The manifest universe is the body of God; it is the logical and necessary outcome of the infinite self-knowingness of God.

WE BELIEVE in the individualization of the Spirit in us, and that all people are individualizations of the One Spirit.

WE BELIEVE in the eternality, the immortality and the continuity of the individual soul, forever and ever expanding.

Our roots run deep.
Our dreams reach high.

Synthesis combines Universal Principles and Practices with Individual Projects. We move from profound ideas to tangible manifestation.

Together we thrive.

Visit the Synthesis Website

Who We Are

Rev. Elisha Christopher

Introduction

Rev. Elisha Christopher (they/them) is the Spiritual Director and Senior Minister at the Center for Spiritual Living Santa Cruz. Their call to leadership began at The Launching Pad—an innovative, intentional spiritual and residential community for young adults in Berkeley and Oakland, CA. Under Elisha’s innovative leadership, residents gained mindfulness and communication skills while managing an ‘open-door’ ministry.
Education

At 30 years old, Elisha was singled out by the renowned Dr. Jean Houston and invited into her foundation’s prestigious Emerging Leaders Initiative. Elisha has studied under Dr. Houston for nine years. Her teachings form the foundation of Elisha’s capacity as a teacher and communicator.

Rev. Elisha also studied the Science of Mind philosophy of Ernest Holmes and received their ministerial training through the Holmes Institute and Centers for Spiritual Living School of Spiritual Leadership in Santa Rosa, California. They licensed as a Minister of Religious Science in 2020 and installed as the Spiritual Leader CSL Santa Cruz in 2022.
Focus

Rev. Elisha is a synthesizer. While Ernest Holmes and Jean Houston form the foundation of their teachings, Elisha draws inspiration from a pantheon of spiritual traditions and schools of thought.

Most notable is Elisha’s gift for connecting traditional religious practices with the principles of permaculture, the discoveries of neuroscience and the limitless gift of music and creative expression.

This new perspective gives us a unique, hope-filled look at the human experience and world we inhabit.
Teachings

Our lives are challenging. We live in a magnificent world struggling with division, injustice and polarization. The planet we know and love is under threat.

Yet we must endure.

Rev Elisha’s gift for synthesizing wisdom across multiple bodies of knowledge offers us new tools to overcome the challenges we face with grace, compassion and, most importantly, spiritually-grounded action.

Rev. Elisha’s teachings help us unravel and reconceptualize our circumstances so that we can be the person our family, our community, our world—we—want to be.

From there, anything is possible.
Sundays

Elisha@cslsantacruz.org

Rev. Elisha Christopher

Spiritual Director

Ecclesiastical Team

Rev. Grace Lovejoy

Minister

Rev. Grace Lovejoy has been a licensed and ordained minister for Centers for Spiritual Living since 2007. She has now retired from her pulpit in Camarillo, Ca. and is pleased to be serving as a staff minister at CSL Santa Cruz. Ministerial services are available, including weddings, memorials, blessings,

Rev. Tamara Merrill

Assistant Minister

Tamara is a staff minister who has been involved with Science of Mind for many years and has recently, February, 2019, become a new minister. She is available for ceremonies, memorials, weddings and is a talented officiant for your event.

Chap. Cheryl Stromstad-Snyder

Chaplain/Practitioner

Cheryl became a licensed practitioner in 2004 through Centers for Spiritual Living, Santa Cruz, CA. She studied at the University of Santa Monica and received her Master’s in Spiritual Psychology in 2009.

Skye Leona

RScP, Practitioner

I have been an active member of our community for 22 years and a licensed Science of Mind practitioner for 16 years. Through the Science of Mind teachings something new and pure was kindled deep inside me, a sense of personal power,

Lucy Fassbinder

RScP, Practitioner

Lucy has been a licensed Spiritual Practitioner since 2005. She offers an Animal Ministry for all concerns or needs that you may have for your beloved animals. She’s available for prayer, home visits, veterinarian visits, transitions, creating ceremonies,

Don Seemann

RScP Practitioner

I am a licensed Practitioner for CSL Santa Cruz and have been in practice since 2005. Praying with individuals and watching the Christ consciousness blossom within them is his favorite and most rewarding part of the work. Some important things to know about me are:

Jessica Kreiss

RScP, Practitioner

Jessica started her spiritual journey at a very young age, but her practitioner studies began in 2009 at Center for Spiritual Living San Jose. From there, she took classes at the Peninsula, and also at The Launching Pad, a spiritual community for young adults.

Shira Stone

RScP, Practitioner

I’ve been blessed by spontaneous spiritual experiences ever since I was a child, which have given me a felt experience of Divine Love. It is my joy and honor to be a vessel for this Love through prayer. I became a licensed practitioner in 2011, and I am happy