Rev. Bridget McCann will present the Sunday message on March 24, 2024 followed by a light lunch with social time, Q & A, and a workshop. Everyone is invited to attend, in person or virtually.
Rev. McCann is pictured above in Peru at Lake Titicaca.
For March 24th meeting times and Zoom details, CLICK HERE.
You are invited to review the following materials provided to Portland Center for Spiritual Living by Rev. McCann for the application process.
Cover Letter
January 11, 2024
Dear Ministerial Search Committee, Portland CSL,
Please, find attached my application packet to serve as your Senior Minister. The prospect of co-creating with you Portland CSL’s next great chapter fills me with excitement and energy. I am particularly happy to see the many fun activities you provide for community connection, your commitment to growing your Youth Ministry, and your work around Social Justice.
I possess a wealth of relevant ministerial and professional experience with which to serve Portland CSL, including a demonstrated history of success in everything to which I set my heart and mind. I have been a licensed minister for just over one year. I am not yet ordained, but I do have a great deal of ministerial experience in speaking, teaching and spiritual leadership over the past six years, including high-level leadership roles at Mile Hi Church. My time serving on the Board of Trustees for Mile Hi Church gave me a broad and deep understanding of church business operations and the working relationship between a Senior Minister and the Board. I am particularly proud to have been part of the team who planned for and implemented a change in the Senior Ministry. This experience gave me an understanding of what it’s like to go through such a significant change of spiritual leadership from the perspective of a Board member and as a community member.
In addition the those qualities evident from my experience, I offer you, the people of Portland CSL, My ministerial heart, creativity, compassion, strong mind, listening , passion, dedication, innovative thinking and visioning, and collaboration, and long-term commitment. I know my combination of heart-centered action, experience and skills are up to the task of serving as Senior Minister. I look forward to hearing from you or moving into the next necessary steps for determining of we are a great match for each other.
In Love,
Reverend Bridget McCann
Resumé
Ministry Objectives
- Create an environment in which all people know that they matter, irrespective of their pasts
- Co-create with a spiritual community their highest heart-felt aspirations
- Teach the principles of the Science of Mind and Spirit such that people live from them to improve their individual lives and our communities
- Inspire and co-create a loving, accepting spiritual community in which all of our incredibly beautiful diverse One Human Family feel they belong
Education
- M.A. Consciousness Studies, Holmes Institute School of Consciousness Studies, 2022
- Certificate of Ministerial Education, CSL School of Spiritual Leadership, 2022
- J.D. University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2006
- M.S. Forestry (Natural Resources and Environmental Policy), Utah State University, 1999
- B.S. Fisheries and Wildlife Management, Utah State University, 1996
Ministerial Experience
- Repeated guest speaker with five different New Thought spiritual communities – 40 times
- Team member, Social Uplift Ministry, Ahiah CSL, led by Staff Minister at Ahiah
- Developed and delivered contemplative Christmas Day service for a Unity community
- Officiated Dedication Ceremony for Rev. Norm Bouchard Memorial Labyrinth, CSL Colorado Springs
- Created and taught original class, “Sermons of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
- Developed and facilitated various rituals based on diverse interfaith spiritual ceremonies
- Created and facilitated original multi-part workshop, “Prayer in Motion”
- Taught “Essential Ernest Holmes” and “Exploring the Roots of Science of Mind”
- Developed and facilitated Practitioner Retreat, “How to Stay Spiritually Grounded in Tough Times”
- Co-created and co-facilitated “White Support and Accountability” group for white- identifying people to examine systemic racism and discern what is theirs to do as anti-racists
- Created and presented 2-part workshop, “Taking a Stand for Oneness and Inclusion,” a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging workshop for practitioners
- CSL Legal Committee – solicited to join Committee, serving since December 2022; provide input on legal issues for CSL Executive Team and Leadership Council
Church Spiritual Leadership and Management Experience
Mile Hi Church, Board of Trustees, 2017 – 2020
- Served as Secretary one year, and as Vice-President two years
- Planned for and implemented change in Senior Ministry, including Letters of Call for new Co-Lead Ministers and transition plan for congregation
- Member of Bylaws Committee, completed major revisions to bylaws
- Worked with church ministers and staff to navigate first several months of COVID-19 pandemic and shut-down
- Approved annual budget, reviewed monthly budget reports
Mile Hi Church Foundation, Board of Directors, 2010-2015
- Secretary, two years
- Managed endowment funds; solicited planned giving gifts for endowment
- Donor Relations
Practitioner, Mile Hi Church, 2019 – 2022
Other Relevant Experience
Licensed Attorney, Colorado, 2006 – 2024 (In process of closing law practice)
- Successfully aided hundreds of immigrant children from at least 20 countries who had been abused, abandoned, or neglected to gain legal immigration status
- Member of team that drafted legislation and testified in Colorado Legislature to change state law to aid older immigrant children gain legal immigration status
- Member of team that successfully represented ranchers against the Colorado State Engineer and BP America, Inc., prevailed at Colorado State Supreme Court
Refuge Planner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2000 – 2003
- Led teams of federal, state, local, tribal, and public representatives in development of 15 year management plans for various units of the Wildlife Refuge System
Project Manager, Los Alamos Technical Associates, 1998 – 2000
- One of four Deputy Project Managers for $14 million contract with the City and County of Denver, managing up to 20 employees
- Solely managed all aspects of contracts with values ranging from $30,000 to $200,000, completing all projects on time and within contracted budget terms
U.S. Navy and U.S. Naval Reserve, 1985 – 1999
- Assistant Training Officer; coordinated training exercises for 60-member unit
- Navy Achievement Medals for outstanding performance of duties, 1993 and 1994
Relevant Community Service
- Board of Directors, LGBT Community Center of Colorado, 2008 – 2012
Tidbits about me:
- avid bicyclist, hiker, all around outdoor enthusiast
- nearly fluent in Spanish
Sample Sunday Talks
Click title to open video.
CSL Colorado Springs, October 22, 2023
“The Tyranny of the ‘OR’”
(talk starts at 24:50)
New Dawn CSL, June 25, 2023
“Personalizing the Infinite”
Talk starts at 6:50.
CSL Colorado Springs, March 19, 2023:
“Boundaries Build Bridges”
Talk starts at 19:10
CSL Colorado Springs, January 8, 2023
“The Way It Works”
Talk starts at 18:45
New Dawn CSL, January 1, 2023
“Root and Reboot”
Talk starts at 10:00
Recommendation Letters
Best viewed on computer rather than mobile.