LGBTQIA and Centers for Spiritual Living

On March 4, 2019, My predecessor, Dr. Kenn Gordon, along with the Spiritual Motivated Social Engagement Committee published the open and affirming statement below:

We believe Oneness and Wholeness is the very nature of the Infinite, Omnipresence Divine Reality – God. Our philosophy, the Science of Mind, accepts and includes all life, all beings, and all creation as the very Body of God. We celebrate the diversity of life as the expression of the Infinite Nature and revel in the impulse of Love that bursts forth in every aspect of Life – from the different flowers in the backyard to the variety of trees in our forests, fish in the seas, birds in the air, and animals that roam our lands. This is the expression of the Infinite, infinitely loving creation in all its glory. As the ancient mystic in the Hebrew creation story, Genesis teaches us all creation is originally blessed, for “it is good”.

Because of this deep faith in our oneness with all life, Science of Mind and Centers for Spiritual Living are open and affirming. We not only accept, but we also celebrate our uniqueness and our diversity, including LGBTQIA in our communities, we affirm our LGBTQIA clergy and we support all our clergy performing same-gender marriage.

We stand for each and every LGBTQIA person, no matter their faith path, religion, or spirituality. We believe profoundly in loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, which includes acceptance rather than judgment, loving words rather than hateful speech, and deep respect for how love shows up in each individual.

We live in a time when many faith traditions are struggling with doctrines from another time, doctrines which are often unwelcoming, particularly to the LGBTQIA communities. While religious principles may not change over time, religious doctrine must evolve and concepts of morality evolve – toward a greater capacity for love, compassion, and acceptance. While this may be a struggle for some, it is the right path to take, for no religion can be consistent with its principles and be moving away from love – to love God as God is understood, and to love one another are the greatest commandments of the scriptures of all religions.

To our LGBTQIA brothers and sisters everywhere:

You are precious to Life. You are a beautiful expression of Love. You are an outlet for creativity like no one else. You are blessed as you are. You are a blessing wherever you go. You cannot be denied or excluded from the Divine Presence. Your expression of personhood is beloved by the One, for it is unique and perfect for you. You may be belittled, ridiculed, or shamed for your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression but there is no truth to the names you may be called or the things you may be accused of… Only Love and Light emanate from the heart of the One, Infinite, Divine Life. And in that, you are absolutely included. Never doubt that you belong, in life, to Life!

We are committed to a world that works for everyone and ALL are welcome in support of this vision.

Dr Kenn Gordon, Spiritual Leader,
and CSL Spiritually Motivated Social Engagement Committee.

Never Compromise the Principles, by Dr. Kenn Gordon

I am healthy, happy, prosperous, loving, and fulfilled. At least most of the time. After over thirty years in studying the Science of Mind, I have established the steps I need to take to bring wholeness into my life. I have always approached what I will call, Metaphysics from a simple angle. I have found that my awareness leaves clues; if something is bothering me, it inevitably begins with my own emotional body, and the discovery is simple. When I deal with myself, I bring wholeness to my life.

There are so many laws and rules that it seems an individual needs to learn and grasp before they can move forward. This is a misnomer. The simple truth is, there are two or three things that every person can deal with that will begin a healing process that always works. Once one begins working on one thing, and providing, they stay open and aware of the what, how, and where of their feelings, every other thing required will show up. I once heard Marcia Sutton say that “awareness is curative,” and I have found that statement accurate. And that brings me to the foundation of creating a joyful life. 

Never compromise the Principles that this teaching is founded on.

The Law of Cause and Effect. You are the architect and Lord of your own life. All healing is psychosomatic. It is always your responsibility. You may not have the ability to change the outer world, but you always have the ability to change your inner. Let’s take the analogy of the cowboy in the early 1900s who walks into a theatre and sees a film for the first time. Just when the villain is the most villainous, the cowboy draws his six-shooter and starts blasting away at the screen. And while he can put holes in the screen, he can’t stop the film. The Infinite, call it what you like, is the projector light; it shines through the film, our beliefs, feelings, emotions, and projects onto the screen, which is our experiences. The light is constant, and the screen is the effect; the cause is our psyche.

The Law of Circulation. Everything in the Universe flows. Left on its own, it flows perpetually. There is an input and an outlet. Block or crimp the input, and the flow slows or stops, block or crimp the outlet, and the result is the same. You have to both receive and give to be in the flow. You have to be able to receive energy, and you need to share it. If we take the four squares of life, health, wealth, creative expression, and loving relationships and apply this principle, we can see how it works. When the flow stops, stagnation is the experience; stagnation is rot. Try staying still for a couple of years and see what occurs to your body. Give without receiving or receive without giving and see what occurs to your finances. Cut off your creativity, neither receiving nor sharing and see what happens to your fulfillment, refuse to be loved, and refuse to love and see what happens to your love life.

Resentment Blocks Prosperity

I also heard a phrase many years ago that resonated deeply with me, which is probably the foundation of my life. It also came from Dr. Marcia Sutton, “resentment blocks prosperity, money follows love.” Now I have restructured that to fit all of my needs. Resentment blocks energy, energy follows love. In each of the above four quadrants of life, it works. If there’s one thing that I am always working on to abolish from my life, it is resentment. The dictionary defines resentment as “bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.” It also is said that resentment is the opposite of gratitude. My wife reminds me constantly that “the fair is in Pomona.” So when I am ill or tired and concentrating on how bad I feel, I try and remember that it is a flow problem and I get moving. When I feel tight and scrimped financially, I become receptive and generous to re-prime the financial pump. When I am filled with ennui, depression, or boredom, I write or paint or throw myself into some creative expression. When I’m feeling unloved, I make an active choice to embrace love everywhere possible, and I become more loving. In other words, I begin the flow, no matter what, by changing the film.

Try it!

Blessings.

Dr. Kenn Gordon


Dr. Kenn Gordon is the co-founder of the Kelowna, British Columbia Centre for Spiritual Living, with his wife Dr. Deborah Gordon.  He is a happy, content, and retired minister who was instrumental in the development of Science of Mind over the past thirty years.   Dr. Kenn Gordon served as the Spiritual Leader for Centers for Spiritual Living for eight years prior to his retirement in 2020.