2026 Board of Directors Election Results

Thank you to our voting members

A big “thank you” to all our members who voted in this year’s Board of Directors elections. This is one of the many ways our members help keep our community going—sharing your voice and input along the way.

Another big “thank you” to all those who volunteered to run for our (all-volunteer) board of directors! Our board is very much a working board, and the time, energy, and love they pour into our community in this way helps keep us going and able to fulfill our purpose, mission, and and expression in our community and the world.

2026 President

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Elizabeth Rodriguez has been a member of the chapel for about 17 years (since July of 2007). She has served as a presider, as part of the hospitality committee, became a Laying on of Hands (LOH) healer at the Chapel in 2022, and supports the pre-Sunday Services healing ministry.

Elizabeth came to the United States from England when she was 20 yrs old. Her husband at the time was Air Force. They lived in Brooklyn, New York, North Carolina, and Georgia, before going overseas to Germany, and traveled extensively. She then moved to Virginia in 1992 after divorce. She has three amazing girls, many grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She is a petsitter & currently has 12 cats. Elizabeth’s life partner takes care of them when she is doing one of the things she loves to do: travel.

Elizabeth enjoys being around like minded people, and has studied under Loretta Klecz & Rev. Jenny Seeley for Psychic Development & Healing, and Nan Keenan & Laurie Seeley for Shamanic Practitioner training. She looks forward to continuing to learn different spiritual modalities. ​

2026 Vice President

Branden Sablan

Branden Sablan grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, and has worked on Navy ships since 2001. His lifelong curiosity about both science and spirituality led him to explore many different religions before discovering metaphysics. Branden found the Chapel in October 2024, became an active member two weeks later, and was baptized by Rev. Bill Whitley that November. Since then, he has felt a strong calling to serve. You can often find him supporting Sunday Services and the Psychic Fair in person, as well as opening the Chapel on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays for our Spiritual & Psychic Development class, helping others join both in person and online. Branden also recently joined the Chapel’s Board of Directors as a Director at Large.

2026 Treasurer

Barbara Moen

Barbara Moen first came to the chapel in April of 2008 when she attended the Psychic Fair. It had such a profound effect on her that she spent the rest of the afternoon driving the backroads of Smithfield in deep contemplation of what was taking place inside of her. She didn’t know what it was but she knew that her life had changed.

She began attending services and classes and officially joined the chapel on August 3rd, 2008. It wasn’t long before she was “encouraged” to run for the treasurer’s position in the upcoming election. She began her commitment to the board in January, 2009. Little did she know that this would be a lifetime commitment.

Barbara had previous experience as the untitled treasurer with the Tidewater United Church of Christ in Virginia Beach. TUCC was a new church start at that time and met in schools and various other places until they were able to purchase land and build their own church building. Barbara assisted the pastor in counting the offering and keeping track of donators for tax purposes. Her duties were not as extensive as her current ones but it did provide a solid foundation to build from.

Barbara is a proud veteran of both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army and retired from the U.S. Army Reserve with credit for 26 years of service. She also retired from the Department of Defense as an Army Civilian after 27 years of service. She was responsible for the maintenance of both aircrew and aircraft survival equipment and first aid kits as well as the property book NCO (noncommissioned officer) for thousands of dollars of equipment.

2026 Secretary

Susan Bauer

Susan Bauer joined the Chapel of Life in 1987 after attending chapel services and classes starting in 1985. She transferred her membership to the Metaphysical Chapel of Life in 2019 after returning to the Peninsula and is currently serving on the Chapel’s Board of Directors. Susan retired from the Department of Defense as an Army civilian after 35 years of service. In her roles as a manager or supervisor she combined her skills and knowledge as an analyst, problem solver, mentor, and coach along with her spiritual focus to bring positive vision and energy into every project or situation.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics, a Master’s in Public Administration, is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College and completed Dept of Defense Executive Training. Her most treasured recognition is from The Church of Enlightenment as “Healing Practitioner.”

Susan has been a practitioner of Jin Shin Jyutsu®, an energy harmonizing modality since 2001. She is a Cayce Certified Life Coach, a National Association of Transpersonal Hypnotherapists Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, practices BodyTalk® “Brain Balancing”, Accunect® Emotion Releasing Techniques, and is a dowser. She most enjoys receiving and sharing self-help information. Susan wishes everyone a personal connection with The Source.

2026 Directors at Large (3 positions)

Lorraine (Lori) Walter

Lori Walter has been a member of the Metaphysical Chapel of Life since January 2023. She heard about the Chapel through Rev. Jenny Seeley in the Winter of 2022, and was excited to learn more. Once the In-Person Services resumed, she decided to join!Lori started her membership by taking a class taught by Rev. Jenny to become an approved Laying on of Hands Healer at the Chapel, and now regularly serves in that capacity during the pre-service healing time on Sunday mornings.Joining the Chapel also helped her get back in touch with being a Healing Touch for Animals Practitioner® (HTA), which she put on hold for a few years due to recent full-time job demands. She now regularly volunteers her HTA® skills during the Chapel’s monthly Psychic Fairs.

Lori’s healing journey began while she was a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for more than 40 years. In addition to HTA, she is also an Attuned Sekhmet Reiki Practitioner (taught by Geehan Rakha) and an Animal Reiki Practitioner (taught by Lisa Powers). She has received training in The Pendulum Dowsing Basics Master Class (from The Shaman SOULution Group), studied with and has been trained under the guidance of Raymon Grace, Founder of Raymon Grace Foundation and International Master Dowser, Bill Northern. She has taught several classes at Dowsing Group meetings and at the Memorial Spiritualist Church. Lori is also a Certified Crystal & Chakra Healer (as taught by Vickie Gould from Life Changing Energy), and says she enjoys participating in classes at the Chapel, seeing them as a way to learn new skills to grow both mentally and spiritually.What Lori likes most of the Metaphysical Chapel of Life is that no one is told “this is how you need to be,” but instead, people are permitted to be who they are while at the same time being allowed to freely pursue their unique journey!

Angela Almond

Rooted in a spirit of compassion and guided by a heart for service, Angela Almond brings both professional leadership and spiritual care to her ministry. A certified Reiki II practitioner with many years of hospice volunteer experience, she approaches care with reverence and deep empathy. She is currently a senior Religious Studies student at Saint Leo University, further nurturing her call to spiritual growth and service.

Professionally, Angela serves as Manager of Health Information Management for the Bon Secours Hampton Roads Hospitals. She also President-Elect of the Virginia Health Information Management Association. She enters board service with humility, integrity, and a sincere commitment to fostering healing, unity, and spiritual well-being. Angela became a member of the Metaphysical Chapel of Life in April 2025.

Beth Yates

Beth Yates began her journey as a student and teacher of Metaphysics in her early teens,  and her journey continues to this day.  She attended the Chapel as a teenager and grew up in the Memorial Spiritualist Church in Norfolk. Her initial studies in Spiritualism paved the way for a deeper exploration of Metaphysics and the Natural and Universal Laws.

Beth is an ordained minister through the Church of Wisdom, and a certified medium. She has served the Spiritualist community as a speaker locally and nationally through the NSAC organization. Her ongoing studies at Delphi University have further enriched her understanding and expanded her repertoire of metaphysical methods. 

Beth became a member of the Chapel in March of 2025, regularly serves as lecturer and presider for our Chapel’s Sunday services, serves as a reader for our psychic fair fundraisers, and serves as the board liaison for our relocation committee.

Thank you to all those who served on our 2025 Board of Directors

The Chapel also extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation for those who served on the Board of Directors in 2025 — whether for the full year, a partial year, for those who needed to step down early, step onto the board, and/or into a new role to fulfill a vacancy mid-year. We appreciate the adaptability of our volunteers and members, always!

• Susan Bauer

• Antonia Hicks

• Sue Jarek

• Barbara Moen

• Elizabeth Rodriguez

• Branden Sablan

• Lori Walter

• Lashannon Armistead

• Dawn Byrd