By Mary O’KEEFE

Although it may not seem earth-shattering today there was a time not too long ago when, in some faiths, having women in the priesthood was taboo. There were some faiths, like Society of Friends [Quakers], that had allowed women ministers since the 19th century. Other faiths allowed women to move naturally from ministry to ministers. Then there were some that just would not, and still do not, allow women into man’s holy circle.

For the Rev. Dr. Beverly Craig of the Center of Spiritual Living-La Crescenta, the calling had nothing to do with her gender but everything to do with her spiritual journey.

“I was born and raised in a small town in Nebraska,” Craig said.

She attended a congregational church in her hometown. She traveled to California when she graduated from high school and worked as an adult education teacher. She became a mother in 1966, giving birth to a “beautiful little girl.” That same year she was diagnosed with a rare form of anemia.

She was searching for answers to help her. She walked into a bookstore where she found books on power through constructive thinking. This became her new philosophy.

She had many teaching experiences throughout her life, which included nutrition and counseling, and she found that integrating the new positive thinking philosophy into her classes really helped her students – and herself.

“I thought, ‘This message has to get out,’” she said.

The power of prayer had always been with her but this new way of looking at the world brought that power to a whole new level. Craig was receiving blood transfusions and after a year and a half the doctors could find no trace of her rare disease.

She discovered what was then called the Church of Religious Science in Whittier. That church is now Harmony Center for Spiritual Living. That became her spiritual home.

“I got very involved in this church,” she said.

She studied as a practitioner, which was quite an extensive course study of 120 hours, plus examinations and interviews before panels of church administrators, before she could get her license.

In 1989 she was ready to go into the ministry.

“Then, as I was teaching, I received a letter [stating the church] was looking for someone to come to the home office at the church and be the youth leader. I applied and got the job,” she said.

The church had a few transitions along the way when it would split and then reunite. She just continued with her studies and continued teaching.

She worked at the main office for a while then heard about an opportunity at the La Crescenta location, which is now known as the Center for Spiritual Living where she is presently the senior minister. When she first came to the church in 1993 she was hired on as the youth pastor.

“I lived in La Mirada but applied for the [La Crescenta church] anyway,” she said. “Bill Schirmer was the pastor at the time.” She added Schirmer gave her the title of minister of education and, at the time, the church had a lot of kids.

“Bill Schirmer was a real nice man. I would have been happy to be his assistant minister for years,” she said. “He was full of love and compassion.”

Rev. Schirmer suffered a fatal heart attack in 2001 though, sending the congregation into a spin. The members of the selection committee voted for Craig to take his place, although it wasn’t a unanimous decision.

“I was selected by a majority of the congregation but some people quit [the La Crescenta church],” she said. “One woman said, ‘My husband has to have a male minister.’ I didn’t even respond [to those critics]. Everyone is entitled to their own experience and [opinion].”

Throughout her time at the church she has seen her congregation go through ups and downs, lost friends and held amazing events like Cowboy Church and Valentine’s Day dinners. The pandemic has tested her and her congregation but has given them opportunities to reach out to others beyond the Crescenta Valley.

In the end it is still her spiritual journey that gives her the strength to continue and the compassion to always reach out to others.