Community Spiritual Leaders: Gil and Gail Linsley

This is a love story and an adventure tale about two very different people and one incredible idea.

Both Gil and Gail grew up in southern California, less than twenty miles from each other...but a generation apart. Gil was born in 1928, lived (mostly) in Pasadena, became a jazz trumpet player and moved to Las Vegas in 1952. Which happened to be the year Gail was born in Los Angeles and moved to Tujunga. Gil started a family (daughter Karen was born in 1954) and a music career playing all the big name entertainers who graced casino stages in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Gail started school and went to the La Crescenta Church of Religious Science Sunday School. Gil found Science of Mind when career and marriage both hit rough patches. Gail was in the YORS youth group and went to work at Home Office in the World Ministry of Prayer. Gil became a practitioner and felt his call to the ministry. Gail had known since she was ten years old that she wanted to be a minister, and that she wanted to be married to one.

Their paths crossed in the fall of 1974 when they both attended the Ernest Holmes College student body retreat at Cedar Lake. They have literally been together ever since. They have a son, Adam, born in 1980, and have served two churches in the past thirty-five years: Lake Tahoe and Carson City, NV.

The one incredible idea: God is all there really is. Applying this idea, exploring the implications and ramifications of this radical and riveting perspective, has been their life's work. They share their journey openly with all who want to travel this path of spiritual practices together.

PROFILE:

Senior co-ministers in Carson City since 1984 (also at Lake Tahoe from 1976 to 1988)

Experienced partners in creating spiritual community

Complementary pair with great love and compassion for diversity

Dynamc and inspiring pulpit presenters

Insightful classroom facilitators and workshop leaders

Active practitioners of Spiritual Mind Treatment, meditation and visioning along with other spiritual practices

Conscientious stewards with demonstrated prosperity consciousness

Skillful church administrators and volunteer coordinators

Innovative and creative teachers of Science of Mind

Visionaries who consciously court the Presence of God

CREDENTIALS:

Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Adventure in Living (Terry Cole-Whitaker, founder) both in 2002

Ordination as Ministers of Religious Science - both in 1980

Licentiate Ministers of Religious Science - both in 1976

Religious Science Fellow degree - both in 1976

Practitioner of Religious Science - Gil in 1972, Gail in 1974

Associate of Religious Science - Gil in 1970, Gail in 1968

Bachelor of Religious Science - Gil in 1960

SERVICE:

Standing Advisory Committee on Practitioner Policy - Gil 1997 to 2000

United Church of Religious Science International Board of Trustees - Gail 1996 to 1999 / Secretary 1999 / Organizational Renewal Project 2000 / Committees: Cultural Diversity, Tithe Distribution, Youth and Family Ministries / Task Force assignments: Conflict resolution, Technology

United Clergy of Religious Science Cabinet - Gil / Secretary 1995 to 1998

World Ministry of Prayer - Gail / clerk-typist 1971 to 1974

Youth of Religious Science - Gail / President 1970, Editor-In-Chief (Quo Vadis magazine) 1968 to 1969