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Purpose, Mission and Values

CSLDallas Purpose

Radically Inclusive | Spiritually Progressive
TRANSFORMING LIVES

CSLDallas Mission

Be a lovingly supportive COMMUNITY that celebrates diversity
TEACH & PRACTICE authentic spiritual living and Science of Mind
Provide SACRED CELEBRATIONS that uplift our spirit and deepen our soul
Ignite SELF-EXPRESSION and experience meaningful contribution
Demonstrate active COMPASSION to ourselves, each other, and the world
Intentionally PROMOTE our community and teachings

Our Values
Spirituality | Compassion | Enthusiasm | Empowerment | Respect | Communication | Accountability | Financial Health

The Whole-Hearted Community Manifesto
Above all else, we want you to know that you are loved and lovable. You will learn this from our words and actions – the lessons on love are in how we treat each other and how we treat ourselves.

We want you to engage with the world from a place of worthiness. You will learn that you are worthy of love, belonging, and joy every time you see us practice self-compassion and embrace our own imperfections.

We will practice courage in our community by showing up, letting ourselves be seen, and honoring vulnerability. We will share our stories of struggle and strength. There will always be room in our hearts for both.

We will teach you compassion by practicing compassion with ourselves first; then with each other. We will set and respect boundaries; we will honor hard work, hope, and perseverance. Rest and play will be community values, as well as community practices.

You will learn accountability and respect by watching us make mistakes and make amends, and by watching how we ask for what we need and talk about how we feel.

We want you to know joy, so together we will practice gratitude.

We want you to feel joy, so together we will learn how to be vulnerable.

When uncertainty and scarcity visit, you will be able to draw from the Spiritual Truths that are a part of our everyday community life and practice.

Together we will cry and face fear and grief. We will want to take away your pain, but instead we will sit with you and teach you how to feel it.

We will laugh and sing and dance and create. We will always have permission to be ourselves with each other. No matter what, you will always belong here.

As you live your wholehearted journey, the greatest gift that we can give to you is to live and love with our whole heart and to dare greatly.

We will not teach or love or show you anything perfectly, but we will let you see us, and we will always hold sacred the gift of seeing you. Truly, deeply, seeing you.

Adapted from Brene Brown’s “The Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto”

Centers for Spiritual Living Global Vision

• We envision all people, all beings, and all life as expressions of God.
• We see a world in which each and every person lives in alignment with his/her highest spiritual principle, emphasizing unity with God and connection with each other; a world in which individually and collectively we are called to a higher state of consciousness and action.
• We envision humanity awakening to its spiritual magnificence and discovering the creative power of thought; a world where each and every person discovers his/her own personal power and ability to create an individual life that works within a world that works for everyone.
• We envision a world in which we live and grow as One Global Family that respects and honors the interconnectedness of all life; a world where this kinship with all life prospers and connects through the guidance of spiritual wisdom and experience.
• We envision a world where personal responsibility joins with social conscience in every area of the political, corporate, academic, and social sectors, providing sustainable structures to further the emerging global consciousness.
• We envision a world where each and every person has enough food, a home and a sense of belonging; a world of peace and harmony, enfranchisement and justice.
• We envision a world in which resources are valued, cared for, and grown, and where there is generous and continuous sharing of these resources.
• We envision a worldwide culture in which forgiveness (whether for errors, injustices, or debts) is the norm.
• We envision a world which has renewed its emphasis on beauty, nature, and love through the resurgence of creativity, art, and aesthetics.
• We envision a world that works for everyone and for all of creation.

CSLDallas is part of a global community of over 450 spiritual centers, communities, and ministries in 30 countries worldwide. We are dedicated to transforming lives by exploring new possibilities for your life and providing powerful spiritual tools to help make the world a better place.

What We Believe

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 incarnation of the Spirit in man and that all men are incarnations of the One Spirit.

We believe in the eternality, the immortality and the continuity of the individual soul, forever and ever expanding.

We believe that the Kingdom of Heaven is within man and that we experience this Kingdom to the degree that we become conscious of It.

We believe the ultimate goal of life to be a complete emancipation from all discord of every nature and that this goal is sure to be attained by all.

We believe in the unity of all life that the highest God and the innermost God is one God.

We believe that God is personal to all who feel this Indwelling Presence.

We believe in the direct revelation of Truth through the intuitive and spiritual nature of man and that any man may become a revealer of Truth who lives in close contact with the Indwelling God.

We believe that the Universal Spirit, which is God, operates through a Universal Mind, which is the Law of God and that we are surrounded by this Creative Mind which receives the direct impress of our thought and acts upon it.

We believe in the healing of the sick through the power of this Mind.

We believe in the control of conditions through the power of this Mind.

We believe in the Eternal Goodness, the Eternal Loving-Kindness and the Eternal Givingness of Life to all.

We believe in our own soul, our own spirit and our own destiny for we understand that the life of man is God.

Dr. Ernest Holmes

Leadership and Organizational Design

CSLDallas adopted a new organizational design “The Congruence Model” to “create an organization that would be renewing and innovative, vision and values oriented, and effective for a 21st century spiritual movement.” This design is inspired by leading edge thinking about organizational development, renewal, and leadership. It seeks to demonstrate an organization based in Spiritual Principles and guided by values-based leadership, while empowering everyone involved to mature spiritually and personally through working within the framework of the model.

Cores:
The Spiritual Director and Associate Minister are the executive Ministry Team and this team is the vision caster and keeper for the Center. In addition, community leadership is held in three elected and one appointed “Core”, our Practitioner Core and our Staff.

CORE Council:

The CORE Council synthesizes input from the Vision, Stewardship and Nominating Cores into clear direction for the CSLDallas community. The CORE Council serves a function similar, but not identical, to a corporate board of trustees. Its responsibilities include, but are not limited to, prioritization, coordination and application of resources, overall health and unfoldment of the spiritual community, communications hub, and the final decision-making body for the Center. The CORE Council is elected.

CURRENT MEMBERS

Vision Core:

The Vision Core conducts regular visioning sessions to establish a field of consciousness that is sensitive to the impress and guidance of Spirit. The results of these visioning sessions are harvested and communicated to the CORE Council, becoming the basis for the unified direction and evolving pathway for CSLDallas. The Vision Core is elected.

Nominating Core:

The Nominating Core seeks out and cultivates the most highly qualified nominees to fill each elected position within the organizational model of the Center. The Nominating Core interviews and assesses the qualifications of nominees and presents an annual slate for each elected Core. The Nominating Core is elected.

Stewardship Core:

The Stewardship Core provides the resource information that becomes the basis of the CORE Council’s prioritization and allocation functions. Charged with fiscal oversight and financial cultivation, developing budgets, raising additional funds to support the evolving pathway of the Community. The Stewardship Core is appointed.

History

CSLDallas is the Oldest Center for Spiritual Living in Texas. In 1963, the Center received its charter from the Centers for Spiritual Living. In its long and varied history, five other centers have begun as seedlings from CSLDallas.

CSLDallas’ Dynamic Growth

Since 1998 CSLDallas has experienced dynamic growth from 20 to a community of over 400 people. Our Youth and Family Ministry has grown from serving 1 child (Dr. Petra’s son) to 55 kids (ages 0-18). The Spiritual Development Institute was created to provide inspiring and practical spiritual, leadership, and personal growth education through classes and workshops. CSLDallas has a huge commitment to Community Service and takes up several community service projects throughout the year. One project in particular is that we’ve adopted a local elementary school whereby we assist the children and their parents in various ways. We’ve raised money and adopted refugees from Katrina, sent glasses and money to Nepal, and adopted a teen shelter.

CSLDallas offers nationally acclaimed speakers such as Michael Bernard Beckwith, Neale Donald Walsch, Bob Proctor, Iyanla Vanzant, Alan Cohen, Mary Manin Morrissey, along with new up-and-coming authors and artists.

Building Our Space

When you enter CSLDallas, what you’ll see and feel, beyond the painted walls, is the love, joy, dedication, vision, prayer and financial commitment of a community whose sweat, laughter, and unshakable belief fills every nook and cranny of our space.

The Center’s current home, since 2005, is a product of the visioning process manifested through 3,000 volunteer hours. Day in and day out, for over 4 months, 300+ volunteers sheet-rocked, tape/bedded and painted each wall, laid each tile and base board, hung windows and doors, and fully finished out our beautiful home. Alongside each other, we bonded deeper as a family and infused the entire space with prayer and love. This was done for all of us already here and for all those yet to come.

Stained Glass Window in the Sanctuary:

The stained glass windows located in the sanctuary were inspired by our Science of Mind Teaching Symbol and were envisioned by Practitioner Noreen Maulsby Judge for a previous location. Over thirty volunteers were mobilized to create the windows, only two of whom had ever done stained glass work before. The major criterion for the original installation of the windows was that they be movable. The windows were completed and dedicated in the Spring of 1996 and moved to their new location in May of 2005.

The “V” shape – from the teaching symbol used by Science of Mind is visible in the white arc. If completed, it would be part of a circle, 32 feet tall. That would make it the largest Science of Mind teaching symbol in the world.