EAST BAY CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

What EAST BAY CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE does

East Bay Church of Religious Science is a private, non-profit religious organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Oakland, California. It operates as a member congregation within the Centers for Spiritual Living network, delivering New Thought spiritual teachings, ritual services, and progressive spiritual-education curricula to a community of approximately 1,200 members under the leadership of Senior Minister Rev. Dereca Blackmon. The organization is staffed by a small team of 1-10 employees and runs targeted ministry programs such as Elder Glow and the Memory Care Cafe alongside destination-based experiences like the Sacred Bali Immersion retreat.

The entity's revenue model is diversified across four streams: voluntary member donations and tithes, tuition from paid spiritual-education classes priced on a $60-$885 tiered schedule, facility/sanctuary rental income, and the Birthday Club recurring-giving program. Operational scale has been built over three decades, with prior leadership (Rev. Elouise Oliver) credited with growing membership from approximately 37 to 1,200. The technology footprint is minimal — there is no proprietary platform, no disclosed software product, and no AI/ML capability; the organization functions as a traditional community and ministry operation rather than a technology-enabled enterprise.

Name

EAST BAY CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

Legal name

East Bay Church of Religious Science

Website

https://ebcrs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

East Bay Church of Religious Science is a 1991-founded Oakland, California non-profit spiritual community within the Centers for Spiritual Living network, serving approximately 1,200 members through classes, rituals, and ministry programs under Senior Minister Rev. Dereca Blackmon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Spiritual Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Spiritual education
• Religious services
• Worship services
• Community outreach
• Practitioner training

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Tithes: The church is sustained by voluntary donations and financial gifts from members and visitors. The Gracious Giving program includes online giving through Breeze ChMS platform and an annual pledge program called Better Together Pledge.
2. Education and Class Tuition: Core classes are priced at $250 for 10-week courses (including materials and $45 non-refundable registration fee). Spiritual enrichment courses range from $60-$95. Professional Practitioner Studies tuition is $845 paid in full or $885 in installments.
3. Facilities Rental: The church offers facilities rental for events, classes, and community activities.
4. Birthday Club Donations: Birthday celebrations include a donation-based model where members make a gift to the church in celebration of their birthday, receiving a gourmet dessert from Gregory's Gourmet Desserts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

East Bay Church of Religious Science is a non-profit spiritual center delivering weekly worship services, daily meditation and prayer support, and a structured Science of Mind educational program that ranges from introductory core classes through Advanced Spiritual Living and licensed Professional Practitioner Studies. It supplements these with pastoral care, youth and family programs, community outreach (including a Drive Up Food Pantry), and facilities rental for community events.

Product overview

East Bay Church of Religious Science is a spiritual center offering a unified set of worship services and educational programs centered on Science of Mind philosophy. The core offerings include weekly Sunday Services and Wednesday Night Power Hour services, supported by daily meditation and prayer offerings. Educational programs range from introductory Core Curriculum classes to Advanced Spiritual Living and Professional Practitioner Studies that culminate in licensing as Religious Science Practitioners. Community engagement is supported through ministries focused on pastoral care, youth and family, health and wellness, and a Drive Up Food Pantry. All services are accessible both in-person and online via streaming platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Services Weekly Sunday worship services featuring spiritual messages and musical inspiration, available both in-person at the Oakland facility and online via Facebook and YouTube streaming.
• Wednesday Night Power Hour Mid-week inspirational service held Wednesdays at 6:15pm providing spiritual pick-me-up messages on principles for living one's best life.
• Mid-day Meditation Daily guided meditation sessions held Monday through Friday at 12:30pm via Facebook Live, led by East Bay Practitioners.
• Early Morning Prayer Morning prayer sessions available online via Facebook for spiritual connection and support at the start of the day.
• Prayer Room Virtual one-on-one prayer support with East Bay Practitioners immediately following Sunday Service via Zoom, offering spiritual guidance through various life challenges.
• Core Curriculum Education Comprehensive Science of Mind educational program consisting of 10-week courses covering History and Philosophy, Consciousness, and Practical Application, developed by Centers for Spiritual Living. Priced at $250 per course with discounts for seniors, youth, and professionals.
• Professional Practitioner Studies Advanced 30-week training program (split into two parts) preparing students for licensing as Professional Prayer Practitioners (RScP) with United Centers for Spiritual Living. Tuition is $845 paid in full or $885 in 4 installments.
• Advanced Spiritual Living 27-week intensive course devoted to personal discovery, integrated spiritual practice, and embodied awareness of living the Principles of Science of Mind, with three terms of 10 weeks each.
• Spiritual Enrichment Courses Non-accredited short courses (three to five weeks) with no prerequisites, covering various spiritual topics including meditation, visioning, and prosperity. Priced at $60-$95 plus a $20 non-refundable fee.
• Spiritual Practitioner Services One-on-one spiritual counseling and prayer support from licensed Religious Science Practitioners (RScP) available to see clients.
• Sacred Service Ministries Various ministry programs including Pastoral Care, Grief and Loss, Health and Wellness, Music, Youth and Family, and Garden Ministry for community service and spiritual growth.
• Drive Up Food Pantry Community food assistance program operating on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 10:30am, providing food support in collaboration with Stop Waste to address food insecurity in the community.
• Elder Glow Monthly gathering for women who identify as elders, facilitated by Dr. Sandra Smith and Pat Reynolds, focusing on honoring elder wisdom, grief support, and joyful living.
• Birthday Club Birthday celebration program offering gourmet desserts from Gregory's Gourmet Desserts delivered to members' homes in honor of their birthday, paired with a donation to the church.
• Youth and Family Ministry Programs and classes for youth and families including the Parent Thriving Group, providing spiritual education and community support.
• Online Giving Digital donation platform via Breeze ChMS enabling members to make tax-deductible offerings, annual pledges through the Better Together Pledge program, and Legacy and Charitable Gifts to support the church ministry.
• Facilities Rental Rental of the church facility for events, classes, and community activities.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Stop WastecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Stop Waste for the Drive Up Food Pantry program. The church operates a food pantry on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 10:30am and Third Sunday Food Angels on the 3rd Sunday from 11:45am-12:45pm, in partnership with Stop Waste to address food insecurity in the community.
• Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with Centers for Spiritual Living, the international organization that developed the Core Curriculum used by East Bay Church. CSL provides educational materials, practitioner licensing, and connection to a broader network of Science of Mind churches. The church participates in CSL voting, conventions, and leadership programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Centers for Spiritual Living: International network of Science of Mind/New Thought churches that EBCRS is affiliated with. Provides shared curriculum, practitioner licensing, and conventions that directly shape EBCRS's programming and governance.
• Religious Science International: Parallel Religious Science organization with affiliated churches and practitioner licensing programs. Comparable as another institutional home for Science of Mind philosophy that competes for the same seeker market.
• Agape International Spiritual Center: Large Science of Mind/New Thought center in Los Angeles offering weekly services, practitioner training, education programs, and online streaming. Closest comparable in movement, philosophy, and product mix to EBCRS at greater scale.
• Spiritual Living Center of Atlanta: Centers for Spiritual Living-affiliated church delivering Sunday services, spiritual education classes, and community programs. Directly comparable in operating model and curriculum sourcing to EBCRS.
• First Church of Religious Science: Historic Religious Science church in Los Angeles offering Sunday services, practitioner training, and educational classes. Closely aligned peer with the same Ernest Holmes lineage and Science of Mind curriculum.

Broad incumbents

• Unity Worldwide Ministries: Larger New Thought denomination with broader footprint of churches, education tracks, and online programming. Comparable spiritual philosophy and educational product, but at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRZ9izabKB45_858pkswORQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/eastbaychurch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-bay-church-of-religious-science

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about EAST BAY CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE