Rev. John Moreland
— Community Spiritual Leader

Rev. John Moreland

Rev. John Moreland has been the Community Spiritual Leader of Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center since April of 2002. He is originally from Los Angeles, California, his home for most of his life before coming to Idaho. Rev. John's first positions in ministry were at the Center for Spiritual Living in San Jose, where he created a pastoral care program, and later at United Life Church in Oklahoma City, where he was a staff minister. While there, he served as an educator and later as a short-term interim pastor while United Life Church sought a permanent minister.

Rev. John has a passion for creating vision focused spiritual communities and feels blessed to be able to do so in a place of such incredible beauty. He feels that it is the congregation's commitment to acting out of vision that has made the growth of the past few years at Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center possible.

Rev. John received his Masters of Divinity from the Holmes Institute in 2000 after having earned Bachelor of Art degrees in both Graphic Design and Music from California State University Northridge. Rev. John is also available for spiritual counseling sessions and as an officiant for weddings and memorial services both locally and non-locally.

R.L. Rowsey
- Director of the Arts

R.L. Rowsey

R.L. Rowsey enjoys life. He has spent the majority of his time since his first piano lesson when he was six years old exploring the splendor of the arts. His experiences have given him opportunities to travel the country extensively. A native of Richmond, Virginia, R.L. studied voice and piano at Virginia Commonwealth University. He was the resident musical director for several theatres on the east coast. After conducting several national tours of Broadway musicals, R.L. turned his focus to arts administration and returned to his hometown as the associate producing artistic director for TheatreVirginia, a regional theatre based in Richmond. He then spent time as the company manager for a national tour of STATE FAIR starring John Davidson before becoming the general manager for NETworks, a company which produces a variety of national tours.

Idaho caught R.L.'s eye when he attended a Company of Fools' production of THE PHILADELPHIA STORY. Four years ago, R.L. and his partner John Glenn moved to Hailey to join forces with old friends from Virginia as core company artists for Company of Fools. During the time that R.L. has been in Idaho, he has become the artistic director for the Sun Valley Summer Symphony Music Conservatory, as assistant conductor for Caritas Chorale, a board member for the Hailey Chamber, and the head of the music program at Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center.

R.L. is blessed to have spent his life following dreams and feels so fortunate to have found a supportive community that embraces the power of the arts and celebrates the individual instincts that inspire the cultivation and development of artists and their work.

The Current Core Council:

We are a vision-based organization that is guided by an elected Core Council. Our Core Council members are responsible for making the business and general policy decisions for Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center. Our Community Spiritual Leader is a permanent member, while the Council Members serve three-year terms.

Chair — Alexandra Taylor
Vice-Chair — Jerry Hutchins
Treasurer — Sue Kwapich
Secretary — Lesley Hollister
Member — Candace Witt
Member — Gary Carr
Community Spiritual Leader — Rev. John Moreland

Our Practitioners

What is a Licensed Religious Science Professional Practitioner?
A licensed Religious Science Professional Practitioner has been trained to help people use the art and skill of affirmative prayer to solve challenges and reveal healing in difficult situations. A Professional Practitioner lives, practices and demonstrates Spiritual Truth. United Church of Religious Science grants the license to practice as a Professional Practitioner of Religious Science after a four-year course of study.

What is a Spiritual Mind Treatment?
Often referred to as affirmative prayer, Spiritual Mind Treatment is a technique based on the principle that each person is surrounded by a Universal Mind that responds to thoughts and beliefs. Through Spiritual Mind Treatment, belief about one’s self changes, thereby creating a change in body and affairs.

How Do I Use the Services of a Licensed Professional Practitioner?
As a way of sharing with congregants and visitors, professional practitioners give freely of their time after our Sunday service, when they are available for prayer. They also make up Light on the Mountains’ Ministry of Prayer praying for all requests received through our website and on-site prayer box. If you would like a more in-depth meeting, you may make an appointment with any of our practitioners for an in person or phone spiritual counseling session. You may do so by expressing interest by sending an e-mail to us. This is a paid professional service.

Rev. Marty Bacher	Rev. Marty Bacher has been a minister of with United Centers for Spiritual Living since 1991, serving as the Senior Minister in three churches in Texas and Oklahoma. He has served on the International Board of Trustees of United Church of Religious Science and has held numerous positions within United Center’s youth movement including the co-chair of the International Youth and Family Ministries Team. In addition, he is co-founder of Youth-at-Choice, a program designed to empower teens to make positive and life affirming choices. Though not officially on staff, Rev. Marty is involved in the ministry at Light on the Mountains as a minister/practitioner and teacher. In addition, his ministry now takes him across the country to work with New Thought Churches and other organizations to develop strategic plans based on spiritual principles.
Ann Christensen	Ann Christensen's background is in elementary, natural science and social studies education. She brings her love of learning, her curiosity, her passion for the natural world and interest in the history and cultures of the planet to Light on the Mountains as a member of the Global Visioning Team and a teaching aide. Ann is excited about the UCRS Global Heart Vision and sharing her spiritual adventure with this community.
Marcia Mode-Stavros	Marcia Mode-Stavros melds her spiritual study with her professional experience as an event planner and writer. She has organized the annual Light on the Mountains' observance of A Season for Nonviolence, has served on the Board of Trustees, is active with the center's pastoral care, and often shares spiritual writings she has created.
Sharon Williams	Sharon Williams has been a member of Light on the Mountains since 1987 and has been a practitioner for three years. She has served on the Board of Trustees and was Chair of Social Events for several years. Sharon is married and has two wonderful children. In her spare time she is the manager for business development for a local engineering company.