“There’s an excitement in the air and it’s drawing more and more people to our Center and to our teaching…it’s fantastic!”

Rev. Joe Hooper is the Spiritual Leader of the Center for Spiritual Living - Palm Desert, CA. His mission is to “Create a Center that works for everyone, where no one is overlooked and each person has an opportunity to thrive.”
With a relaxed, entertaining and many times irreverent style, he reaches everyone in the congregation with relevant themes and personal stories, many of them self-effacing, which resonate and demonstrate the commonality we all share. He’s also been known to give a lesson from the top of a ladder, don a costume or two and even throw in some interpretive dance as appropriate to illustrate a point. He demonstrates an incredible level of energy, genuine concern balanced with a wicked sense of humor honed from 20 years in the sky offering chicken or beef - or “feather or leather” as he likes to put it. Now, he says, “just like the airlines, I’m just a little nuts!”

Joe nurtures his diverse congregation and revels in it, and in turn, is adored by his members. He has been guiding the Center since 2003 and was mentored by the former leader Dr. Tom Costa, as well as Dr. Bill Taliaferro and Drs. Frank and Anita Richelieu.
Born, raised and christened in the Unity philosophy, Rev. Joe was first introduced to Dr. Ernest Holmes and the Science of Mind while he resided in Redondo Beach in 1995. This exposure turned out to be a pivotal moment in his life. Interested by what he heard and then personally demonstrated, he sought out more information about the Science of Mind and has spent the years since then concentrating on his spiritual development.

“It’s about creating a spiritual experience and environment for personal growth and development for each member of our congregation. Ultimately, what we do at our Center changes the world, one person at a time. By applying the Principles of our teaching to our Center, I know we will clearly, methodically, and without exception demonstrate positive change in our world.” His personal mission is to convey the message that, “No matter what…you’re okay…I’m okay…We’re all okay. Okay?”
Rev. Joe is married to his partner of 23 years. They have a teenage daughter which they adopted at birth - who he says provides endless opportunities to practice what he teaches - three dogs and a horse! Rev. Joe has never met a Krispy Kreme doughnut he didn’t love.

Rev. Joe’s expertise is also valued by the International Centers for Spiritual Living, where he served on the Board of Directors and four years as chair for the Policy and Bylaws Committee. He was instrumental in drafting the integration agreement between the newly formed Centers for Spiritual Living.

Rev. Joe has served on the International Centers for Spiritual Living Board of Directors, as the chair for the Policy and Bylaw Committee.

For more information please call (760) 346-4649.