About Us

“I have always been drawn to the teaching at CSD because it is so inclusive. Classes cover principles of meditation found in various traditions. It is often a pleasant surprise to discover similarities between two traditions that I once thought were completely different.”  PD

The Center for Spiritual Development was established by the Rev. Jack Gorsuch and his wife Beverly in 1985. In 1991, CSD's search committee asked the Rev. Gerald Hanna, then the rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to become the new Executive Director.

Since its inception, the Center has been offering meditation instruction and support, classes, retreats, programs and spiritual direction.   Father Thomas Keating, founder of the Centering Prayer  movement, visited Seattle for several years under the auspices of CSD.  Other programs have included workshops, retreaets and public lectures by such noted speakers as Tilden Edwards, Gerald May, Thomas Hart, Scott Peck and Dr. Larry Dossy, M.D.

A sampling of classes offered to the public, all taught by experts in their fields, include:  Symbols of Transformation in Dreams and Visions; Art as Meditation, Work and the Life of the Spirit, Therapeutic Music for Health and Wellness, From Elohim to Mary Magdalene:  Tracing Gender Integration in Old and New Testaments, The Ox-herding Pictures:  Icons of the Inner Search from Zen and Christian Perspectives, and Mothering As a Spiritual Path.  More recently a CSD community member who is a social worker specializing in the treatment of multiple sclerosis established a meditation group for MS patients which is proving to be very helpful to these individuals.

Director's Resumé 

Jerry Hanna received his B.A. in philosophy (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Colorado, and his M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin.  He received his Master's of Divinity with Honors from Nashotah House Episcopal Seminary. Jerry taught art as an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin and as an Associate Professor at Maharishi International University, where he was also a meditation instructor.

Before coming to Seattle Jerry served as Vicar at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Craig, Colorado, and Rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.  In addition to serving as Executive Director of the Center for Spiritual Development in Seattle, Jerry also serves as vicar of St. David Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Shoreline.  Jerry is a practicing visual artist and poet.

Board of Trustees

The Board is the legal decision-making body of CSD. 

Known as the Soul Trust, it is currently composed of

Pieter Drummond, President;

Beverly Hosea, Vice President;

Clarice Redmond, Secretary,

and Diann Shope, Treasurer