Our Ministers

Rev. Dr. Michele Whittington
An Emerson Theological Institute graduate, Michele Whittington is the Senior Minister at Creative Living Fellowship, a Religious Science church and teaching center in Phoenix, Arizona. Rev. Michele graduated from Arizona State University, summa cum laude, in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication.

Prior to entering the ministry in 1997, Rev. Michele spent 20 years in the business arena, the first 18 in the legal field, serving initially as administrative support and then, after receiving her B.A., in law firm management. In 1995, her heart called for her to be in greater service, and she left the law firm environment for life in a not-for-profit agency. For two years, she worked as the Sponsor Developer for a transitional housing program for homeless, low-income families recruiting and training volunteers as well as raising $250,000 in annual sponsorships.

Rev. Michele has served on a variety of Boards, including the Board of Management of the Downtown Phoenix YMCA from 1982-1990 where she was also the First Vice Chair for two years. In 1992, she was invited to the Board of Trustees of First Church of Religious Science and, in 1993, she served as President of that Board. From 2001 – 2003, she served as a member, and then as the Vice President, of the Affiliated New Thought Network.

Having come from a varied business background before entering the ministry, she brings her knowledge and experience of the "real world" to her work. She believes her life's purpose is to travel an ever-ascending spiritual journey and to serve others with love and compassion as they travel theirs.

Rev. Dr. Roberta (Bobbie) Croddy
An Emerson Theological Institute graduate, Rev. Dr. Bobbie Croddy is the Education Minister at Creative Living Fellowship. She received a Doctorate of Divinity in 1999. Prior to her ministerial studies she was a United Religious Science practitioner at Valley of the Sun Religious Science Church in Scottsdale and continues to also serve as a practitioner at CLF.

In addition to the ministry Dr. Bobbie has a professional background in nursing, holding positions as Director of Surgical Education and Assistant Director of Cardiovascular Surgery. In these positions she had the opportunity to help develop this specialty in Phoenix working with leading cardiovascular surgeons. She became a visiting instructor at ASU College of Nursing teaching the nursing student’s cardiovascular surgical nursing.

In 1991 she went into hospice nursing, working for 18 years as a case manager, mentoring physicians, employees and nursing students, on care of the dying and being a spiritual presence at their bedside.

She has been with Creative Living Fellowship since in 1999, serving in many capacities. She was Director of Practitioners for 4 years, served as the leader for the woman’s spiritual group and as Director of Education before answering a letter of call to become the Minister of Education. Since assuming this roll she has spearheaded the development of the Mincks Educational Center and the School of Ministry.

Creative Living Fellowship is Dr. Bobbie’s spiritual home and she knows that her background serves her in her current role. She believes her mission is to nurture, create and maintain an environment of growth and unlimited potential for all those around her.

Rev. Dr. Peggy Conger
Dr. Peggy Conger is a Founding Member of Creative Living Fellowship and has served as Staff Mininster since 1996. She was a United Religious Science Practitioner at First Church on 7th Street in Phoenix for nine years before becoming a minister in 1994.

Although she did not meet Ernest Holmes, she did know Dr. Hornaday who took over Founder's Church for Holmes. Dr. Vetura Papke, who was Ernest Holmes' Practitioner, was also Dr. Peggy's Practitioner, teacher and friend.

"Watching the growth of Creative Living Fellowship is an exciting experience and seeing it become a Religious Science Educational Center serving people all over the Valley is particularly gratifying," said Dr. Peggy.

Rev. Dr. Mitzi Lynton
Dr. Mitzi is the Congregant Care Minister at Creative Living Fellowship.  Her ministerial credentials and Doctorate of Religious Studies are from Emerson Theological Institute and her M.A. is from the University of Utah.

Originally from London, England, her creative expression has found many forms, including touring Europe as an ice dancer with Holiday on Ice, coaching ice-skating, and teaching middle school. Passionate about serving the community, Mitzi worked with the Faith and Community Initiatives Department of Governor Janet Napolitano’s office to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina, and served as the co-director of the Arizona Department of Peace Campaign. In conjunction with Best Friends Animal Society and a variety of faith leaders, she is co-author of A Religious Proclamation for Animal Compassion, which was unveiled in Washington DC with members of congress.  Dr. Mitzi serves on the board of the Arizona Interfaith Movement and is co-author of the book Voices of Faith.

Dr. Mitzi also hosts an Internet show, Dare2create (http://www.dare2create.com), which highlights and connects individuals, groups and organizations from all walks of life who are, by following their passions, creating a better world for all, while also inspiring others to follow their dreams.

A vegetarian for two decades, Dr. Mitzi now embraces a vegan/raw food lifestyle. She lives with her beloved husband, Ron Peer, and their six fabulous felines: Socrates, Dash, Katie, Echo, Nefertiti, and Bahramji.

Rev. Lonnie Whittington
Lonnie is a Founding Member of Creative Living Fellowship, graduated with the first CLF Practitioner class in 2001 and graduated from the first TMEC Religious Science Ministerial Program in 2010. He was a board member of CLF until his wife, Rev. Michele, became the Senior Minister in 1997.

He is a former Director of Practitioners and is honored to serve CLF's members and congregants as Minister/Practitioner. He also carries on correspondence as a spiritual advisor to prisoners incarcerated in Arizona and other states. He is an instructor through TMEC and has created and taught several different classes. He particularly enjoys teaching Comparative Religions in which Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism, Taoism, Christianity and Islam are presented and explored as the foundation to Religious Science.

With more than forty years of experience in advertising and graphic design, he is responsible for many of the visible aspects of CLF including designing and maintaining the websites for CLF and TMEC.

In his day job, Lonnie is a consultant to high-tech business-to-business clients and maintains some consumer clients.  He was an Associate Professor at Arizona State University in the Department of Art (1976-1983) and College of Architecture (1983–1984). He taught a variety of classes at Collins College (2001) and is proficient in software and production for animation, audio, video, print and web design.

Ron Peer took a video of his installation as a Staff Minister on Sunday, July 3, 2011. You can see it here.