Maggie is not your ordinary minister. She doesn't always operate by standard religious rules, regulations or rituals. Instead, she allows space for the human/divine Spirit to guide her life and her ministry. Her concept of love is unconditional, making her approach to people open and caring. And Maggie's genuine sense of joy and humor touches every one of the ceremonies she conducts.

When Maggie creates ceremonies, she always encourages participants to draw on whatever has personal meaning for them and incorporates those spiritual values into the day. She is delighted when a ceremony speaks to the body-mind-spirit of those involved.

A Word From Maggie:

"I want to be more than just a 'wedding officiant'. I want to bring a deeply spiritual quality to the ceremonies I conduct -- one that reflects the beliefs and values of the persons for whom that moment in time is most significant. There are life events that deserve to be cherished and respected and celebrated with our whole hearts. I am honored whenever asked to be a part of those moments, and I give my own heart and spirit to make them not only distinctive but meaningful on the deepest levels of human experience."

Excerpts from Maggie's Spiritual Journey

Maggie has 15 years experience as a minister in the United Church of Christ, and she is often asked to participate in Sunday Celebrations at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco where she is a member. Her spiritual journey has led beyond her traditional seminary training to a deep appreciation for the spirituality of other faiths and cultures. And as she continues on the journey, she invites others to grow with her.

"One of the surprises of my life has been the evolution of my spirituality. I simply never expected to struggle so dramatically with theological issues and doctrines that I once accepted almost without question. Re-examining my beliefs and values over the years has sometimes been painful. Nearly twenty years after seminary, I found myself at odds with the traditional religious beliefs on which I'd been raised. One does not let go of childhood understandings without some trauma! But the process has been gradual and gentle enough that I have always sensed the truth of the Spirit in the changes."

"Being a 'clergyman' was not one of the options presented to me at school on career day! I didn't have any lightning bolt conversion experience that led me to the ministry. Just a gradual awareness that spirituality mattered in my life. I went to seminary and found out how much."

"The spiritual teaching that for me transcends all religions is this: Love God/Creation; and love your neighbor as yourself. It means that spiritual and physical realities really are one. To care for one's neighbor is to respect the Source of all being. And how we treat ourselves is also a reflection of the power of the Spirit's love in our hearts. Because this teaching is a guiding principle in my life, I seek to balance spirituality and social justice. I express my deepest beliefs when I work for the total wellbeing of all people and our environment. Unconditional love is the expression of my spiritual life."

"Laughter is one of my absolute favorite things! I think it's what makes us truly divine. People think being spiritual means you have to walk around acting pious or serious all the time. Wrong! True spirituality involves living out of the amazing joy that is centered deep within each one of us. I love the humor in life and in other people, and I think I'm pretty funny, too!"