Beginnings: Celebrating 50 Years of CDM
CDM began in a house in Seattle, WA in 1976 in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood, near the Woodland Park Zoo. Mary Ellen and Doc bought the home to use as a residence and teaching center and the adventure began. They immediately started offering Spiritual Readings, Healing Times, Church Services, Psychic Demonstrations, and teaching Meditation, Healing and other spiritual classes. Publicity was done through posters, newspaper listings and word of mouth and the interest in their offerings grew quickly.
As interest and participation grew, Mary Ellen and Doc were extremely busy with students and their students’ desire for continued learning. So, they expanded again and began offering the Seminary Program to train new ministers. A monthly newsletter, The Inner Voice, was also created during this time.
Due to the rise in students, CDM outgrew the house. So, Mary Ellen and Doc bought another home to use as their living quarters, and use the entire house in Phinney Ridge for teaching and reading. Soon they discovered that it was not permissible to have a Church operating in a residential area without the ministers living there. So, they sold the house in Phinney Ridge and purchased a Church building in the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle. During these initial years, there was a great deal of laughter and joy, despite the many challenges like the city regulations and a flooded Church building.
When CDM moved, the Church continued to expand. The Seminary Program grew rapidly which resulted in large Ordination ceremonies and newly trained ordained ministers, many of whom chose to work for CDM. This increase in staff assisted with growth and expansion as well. Mary Ellen and Doc continued to be busy with the numerous students and offerings, all while establishing CDM as a legal entity and non-profit organization within WA state and the US. This process was not without its challenges. Paperwork was lost, re-filings were completed and eventually, all licenses were granted and requirements met. CDM was officially a 501c3, non-profit corporation. And the adventure continued…
