ONE SPIRIT AFFINITY GROUP
One Spirit Learning Alliance
Ministers Support Collective
The Ministers Support Collective at One Spirit Learning Alliance
Free Spiritual Care and Support from Volunteer Graduates of
One Spirit Learning Alliance Interfaith / Interspiritual Seminary
Vision
Our vision is to support the sangha known as One Spirit as we hold all members, the students, educators, board members, alumni, and the community-at-large in sacred consciousness.
Mission:
In support of OSLA’s Vision and Mission, our mission is to incite and facilitate the evolution of sacred consciousness; to offer experiential interfaith/interspiritual professional training; to support personal transformation in service to individuals, communities, and the Earth.
Intention
Our intention, guided by OSLA’s ethics and values, is to facilitate access to spiritual care and support, through prayer, meditation, listening, and sharing to every member of the One Spirit community that seeks or has need of spiritual care and support.
Do You Have Questions or Need Spiritual Care?
Please reach out to the MSC at care@1spirit.org
Ministers Support Collective (MSC) Team
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Reverend Larry Wilson or Reverend Jett as he prefers to be called, retired from the New York City Department of Education in 2015. There he served as teacher, staff developer, High School Principal and Assistant Superintendent over a 30 year span. Rev. Jett graduated from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in 2013 where he took his Vows of Ministry as an ordained Interfaith, Inter-Spiritual Minister. He is Elegun in the Yoruba/Ifa tradition and is an ENELDA-certified End-of-Life Doula. Rev. Wilson has served as a Dean of Students for first year students at OSIS (2020-2022) and most recently as Chaplain’s Assistant under Chaplain Rev. Martha Dewing. He is now a member of the Spiritual Care and Support Team.
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This is Rev Marcy Perlman Tardio, class of 2026!
I've been a spiritual seeker for most of my adult life. I live in the questions more than the answers. I grew up in a secular/ politically-left Jewish family and in my spiritual journey have leaned into Islam and Zen Buddhism as well.
I'm a retired homebirth midwife and RN (oncology, trauma ICU, and maternity); thus, I've sat with people in many capacities during the life cycle. During my time at One Spirit, I was a hospice and American Red Cross (disaster care)volunteer. I also attended Union Theological Seminary: Buddhist Inter-Religious Engagement path, with one CPE unit in chaplaincy and a Master of Divinity degree.
Since graduating from One Spirit, I have been quietly introspective. As an 'elder' (74 yrs), I am considering what's next for me in my path of meaning and purpose. I'm preparing to travel from Aug 8 through 31 Oct 2026, based in Paris.
These 5 yrs in two seminaries have taught me to listen deeply and lean into a compassionate heart. I've been told a strength of mine is allowing people to feel heard. I am working on becoming more conversant in Spanish and French, interested in learning ASL, and I knit, do Pilates, gyrotonics, gym, occasionally yoga, swimming, and cycling. I'm a mother of two adult men and grandmother to 3 young men. I've delivered approximately 1000 babies. I grew up in the Bronx and now live in Orange, NJ by way of West Virginia, San Francisco, Boston and Brooklyn.
On my return from Paris, I'm considering becoming part of the spiritual care team at my local hospice and/or joining a local rabbi to visit prisoners.
Someone recently said to me: "spiritual care is who you are, not what you do." I appreciate that sentiment and feel that perhaps it's true.
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Rev Meredith is a One Spirit Interfaith Seminary Graduate, Class of 2025. Meredith is a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, interfaith/inter-spiritual minister, practicing psychic medium, and a public health consultant. Growing up she practiced Judaism and still feels strongly connected to those roots, though she no longer practices Judaism as an adult. Her main spiritual path has always been personal and experiential, and she does not regularly participate in any specific organized religious or spiritual system, though she respects and welcomes those practices for others. She believes that Love is the strongest force within human existence, that all life is connected, and that we are all part of the same thing; so lovingkindness, compassion, and service are the foundation of her approach to life and her spiritual practices. She lives in Maryland, near Washington, D.C.
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Salima Ira Swain is a music educator, opera singer, poet, author, Therapeutic Touch practitioner and Spiritual Counselor. She has a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in vocal performance and is ABD toward a Doctorate of Musical Arts. She traveled throughout Europe and The United States performing Opera as well as Classical Music Recitals of English, French and German Art Songs Sacred Music and African American Art Songs and Spirituals. Ms. Swain was a Therapeutic Music Specialist for Long Term Care patients and she is a retired NYC music educator. She teaches private voice and piano lessons to students of all ages and levels of performance. Salima facilitates ACIM study groups, Weight Loss and Spirituality Groups and she is an active participant in Sufism and InterSpiritual daily practices. Ms. Swain serves on the Board of Directors of “Opera On Tap”, a music education and performance organization. She is an advocate for the elderly in her personal community and takes Joy in communicating and assisting with their needs.
Her experience with One Spirit began with ordination in 2004. The devastation and isolation of the COVID Pandemic inspired her to reconnect with One Spirit so that she could become an effective Spiritual presence for her personal community and others who seek professional Spiritual Counseling. She started with CIC and realized that ISCC would provide her with more experience in Spiritual Counseling competencies. The realization that there is a “Companionship” with the Counselor and the Counselee was one of her most important lessons. Salima was honored to be chosen as the speaker for the first ISCC graduation class of 2022.
Salima served as a Supervisor for ISCC cohorts in 2024 and 2025. Her Spiritual and personal oath since ordination, “I will live my life in the Truth that Everything is in Divine Perfect Order” continues to be her life’s guiding principle.
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Rev. Simone A. S. Gellizeau, Class of 2025, is an interfaith minister, writer, and cultural curator whose work bridges spirituality, the arts, and social transformation. Drawing from Quaker practice, African diaspora traditions, New Thought, and global mysticism, her ministry explores how beauty, culture, and sacred practice support healing and liberation.