Pat is a financial advisor and owner of REAP Legacy, Inc. located in Oakland. She was introduced to SOM in 2001 and joined EBCRS in 2003. Since 2007 she has been an active and consistent volunteer in the EBCRS Tape Ministry.
Our Board of Trustees
Representing the Congregation
Michelle N. Blakely MA
Vice President
Michelle became a member of EBCRS in late summer 2018 and knew she had found her spiritual home after years of searching. Volunteer experience at EBCRS includes work in the Bookstore; Kwanzaa Committee; Black History Committee; the 46th Anniversary Gala: co-Lead Silent/Live Auctions; Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL) voting member representing EBCRS for the selection of CSL’s new Spiritual Leader and EBCRS new Minister Nominating Committee.
Arleen King, RScP
Chief Operating Officer
Arleen has been a member of East Bay for over 20 years and has been a Licensed Practitioner for 12 years. She served on the Board of Trustees for 13 years. She is a Ministerial Student at the School of Spiritual Leadership in San Diego.
Noadiah Eckman-West
Treasurer
Noadiah Eckman-West started attending and being transformed by the teachings at EBCRS in 2006. Professionally, he is a geologist and owns Eckman Environmental Designs, Inc a consulting and design firm that specializes in the regulatory portions of land development.
Luretha Senyo-Mensah, RScP
Trustee
I am an East Bay Area native. I was born in Berkeley, grew up in Oakland, went to Oakland Public Schools, and spent most of my adulthood living and working there.
Rev. Dereca Blackmon
Trustee
Rev. Dereca Blackmon is a licensed minister in the Centers for Spiritual Living where she has dedicated over 25 years of service to the spiritual transformation of the entire planet.
Robert Quintana Hopkins, RscP
Trustee
Robert Quintana Hopkins has attended East Bay Church since 1999 and has been a Licensed Religious Science Practitioner (RScP) since 2009.
Caitlin Smith
Trustee
Caitlin began to fold her love of plants into her career after she began attending East Bay and took Foundations about eight years ago. She has taken many classes in the Landscape Design and Horticulture program at Merritt College, and has worked in many special gardens, including the Sunset Magazine test gardens in Sonoma.
Constance Slider Pierre
Trustee
Constance Slider Pierre is the Organizing Director at The Utility Reform Network (TURN), a public interest law firm specializing in regulatory and legislative energy and telecommunications advocacy on behalf of consumers.
Brenda King-Randle, RScP, Emeritus
Trustee
Brenda King-Randle arrived at EBCRS in 1992, where she has been a loyal member and a committed Spiritual Practitioner for over 26 years. Brenda has served EBCRS in many different capacities: Practitioner Coordinator, Instructor of SOM classes. Twice as a Board of Trustee: 1993-1994 as a member and 2014-2016 as President. She is currently available to see clients.
Advisors
Harriet Johnson
Advisor
In 1981 Harriet relocated to Oakland, CA from Chicago, IL. She was invited to attend an East Bay Church service back in 1995 and has been attending ever since! East Bay’s spirit, SOM teachings, music, culture and fun wrapped in wisdom and love captured her heart. Harriet has been an active member of East Bay Church since 1996.
Kuwaza Imara, RScP
Advisor
Kuwaza was born in San Francisco, California. He has been a member of East Bay Church since 1998 and a Licensed Practitioner since 2009.
The Board is Currently Meeting the Third Saturday of the Month from 10am-12pm
Become a Church Leader
Join the Board of Trustees
Serving as a Board member is a rewarding experience that includes the following responsibilities:
- Attend all regular and specially called meetings of the Board of Trustees
- Represent the board as a liaison to one or more church ministries
- Consult with staff regarding the operation of the church
- Listen to opinions and feelings of the congregation and reflect the sense of these conversations in deliberations within the board, ministries and committees
- Learn about all facets of the church such as the different ministries it supports, the activities of committees, the needs and responsibilities of staff, short- and long-range planning, and the budgeting process
Being a pledging/tithing member of the church
History of church involvement
Ability to express one’s own opinion, listen carefully to the merit of those held by others, and work toward consensus
Willingness and ability to devote time and effort necessary to conduct the church’s affairs effectively for the duration of the term
Patience and commitment
Trustees serve one to three year terms. The congregation each year in March elects new trustees to the board. In September, the Trustees Nominating Team collects applications and interviews interested board candidates to select a slate for election by the congregation. Candidates who replace Trustees at term’s end are presented to the Board for approval. If you would like more information on becoming a Trustee, contact the church office.
The Board of Trustees typically meets on the third Saturday of the month at 10am in the Fellowship Hall. Minutes of each board meeting are available upon request.
Board Application
If you are interested in joining the Board, please fill out our application form, below, and contact one of the current Board Presidents:
Pat Baxter
Send Pat an email
Precious Green
Send Precious an email