Board of Trustees

​Steve Murray, President
S.Murray@murrayfamilyfarms.com
​Steve and  his wife Vickie are the proud founders, owners and operators of Murray Family Farms.  The farming operations includes two regional agricultural tourism destinations and seven sustainable / organic fruit farms. Recent recognitions include: Small Business of the Year – Rudy Salas, Bakersfield’s Best Fruits and Vegetables, Bakersfield’s Best Organic Fruit, and many others. Steve attended Riverside Community College and graduated from U.C. Riverside and is a fellow of Leadership Bakersfield (2006) and the California Agricultural Leadership Program (Class XXVII). Steve grew up with the Science of Mind teaching.
​Bill Okal, Vice President
billokal@sbcglobal.net
​I was introduced to Religious Science (RS) in 1982 in San Francisco. At the time I was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC) in Oakland where I served two terms on the Board of trustees. My Sundays frequently included attending two services: the UUC which focus mostly on social issues, and, the RS center in Oakland which, of course, focused on spirituality and personal development. I moved to Bakersfield in 2002 and attended the Center for Spiritual Living sporadically until my semi-retirement in 2011 when I became a more regular attendee and subsequently a member.
Jennie Bowling, Secretary
​​gregbradyfanclub@hotmail.com
​​I grew up in the Midwest, attending Methodist church and Sunday school every week. I stepped away from Methodism when the church divided over the issue of same-sex marriage. Thinking there was no denomination with my beliefs, I happened to see an ad for Unity church and attended there from 1998 until 2011. Also around that time, I discovered yoga and became a yoga teacher from 2006 to 2017. Once my daughter came along, I tried CSL (in 2011), looking for a more thriving children's church. Not only did I find that, but I found a center that was an even better fit for my spiritual needs. I am happy to support CSL in its always positive mission to empower others to live their best lives.
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Jamie Russell, Treasurer​
​jamiebakersfield@yahoo.com
My husband and I moved to Bakersfield about 35 years ago and have enjoyed our lives here very much.    
After I retired as an accountant in several different industries, I decided to volunteer for a nonprofit that worked with disabled children, which I did until COVID shut things down.
I have been a member of BCSL since about 2005 and served on the Board for several years. I do believe that as a member, I should be involved in any way I can - the more involved, the more I benefit!  I look forward to serving again. 
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Liz Tovar, member at large
liztovar5455@gmail.com
​Liz was born and raised in Salinas, California until she claimed Bakersfield as her home in 2003. She began attending Bakersfield’s Center for Spiritual Living in 2018, where she has taken almost every class offered there since then. She volunteers as an usher and became a member of the board of trustees in 2020. She is eager to continue learning and thriving on a path of spiritual growth and expanded awareness. Liz is happy to serve our inclusive community and center, remaining focused on our vision: to awaken humanity to it’s spiritual magnificence. ​
Scott Tobias, member at large
scott@tobiasrealestate.com
Scott has been a member of CSL for 20 years. He has served on the board several times and has taken most of the credited classes, including Practitioner Classes. He currently owns a real estate company specializing in residential and commercial real estate.  
Kyle Williams, member at large
​661-487-0242
Rev. Gregory Toole
gregory@gregorytoole.com
​Rev. Gregory Toole, our Senior Minister, is an ordained minister with Centers for Spiritual Living. He is the Founding Spiritual Director of Somseva whose mission is to inspire authentic, compassionate relationships through spiritual education, tools, and practices that promote peacemaking and conscious action. Gregory is also author of the book, "A Simple Guide to Planetary Transformation.​