About Me
A native of San Diego County, Rev. Dr. Jerry was born in San Diego and grew up in Escondido.
Jerry and his husband (also Jerry) found New Thought at the New Thought Center for Creative Living in San in Diego in 1991. They both attended first and second year classes there, and received their Practitioner Licenses. Jerry T. went on to ministerial work, and was licensed in June 2007. This was right at the time when the founding minister was preparing to explore new opportunities, and Rev. Jerry was named senior minister. Soon after, the name was changed to Joyful Living Spiritual Center.
After working in the technology market research industry for more than 20 years, Jerry was “lovingly released” (laid off) from his job the end of 2008. Soon after, he discovered his husband’s issues with substance abuse. As a result of the experiences of guilt and shame around this, plus his own “coming out” as a gay man, he wrote Coming Out to Ourselves: Admitting, Accepting and Embracing Who We Truly Are (published by Balboa Press).
In early 2012, while searching for a non-profit community service organization for the Center to support, Rev. Jerry found "Street Angels". He and the founder, Eric Lovett, became fast friends. The congregation donated about 1,000 pairs of socks for the homeless in San Diego, and Rev. Jerry became a founding Board member of the new organization, Urban Street Angels (USA). The organization provides bridge housing, employment and life skills training for homeless 18 to 24 year olds.
In 2016, Rev. Jerry was named Director of Shelter Operations for Urban Street Angels, working to coordinate weekly shelters for homeless transition age youth, where guests could receive dinner, a shower, and a warm and safe place to sleep. The shelter program has since ended, and Jerry now works with USA as Director of Relationship Development.
As an independent ordained minister, Rev. Dr. Jerry speaks regularly at Om Center for Spiritual Living in La Mesa, as well as at other Unity, Centers for Spiritual Living and independent centers and churches across the country.
Rev. Jerry also serves as Board President for the Affiliated New Thought Network, a membership organization of New Thought and Religious Science centers and churches, as well as individuals.
His husband made his transition in October 2018. As a result of his experience in dealing with the human emotions of loss and grief, while trying to stay grounded in his own spirituality, Jerry created a heart and mind opening workshop, titled, "The Search for Inner Peace: Being at Home in the Muddy Water."
After attending and participating in the “Elder Pride 2020” conference, focusing on embracing and empowering LGBTQ people 60 years old and older, (and allowing himself to “come out” as a member of that population), Rev. Dr. Jerry has begun work on his next book: Coming Out (Again): Admitting, Accepting and Embracing Life After 60.
Rev. Dr. Jerry holds a Masters Degree in Religious Studies, and a Doctor of Divinity, from Emerson Theological Institute. He lives in La Mesa, California (near San Diego) with his beloved Golden Retriever,Maggie. His son Brandon and seven grandchildren live near Salem, Oregon.