Board of Directors

About our Board

Our Administrative Board of Directors oversees the business and logistical aspects of the Chapel. Like our ministers and everyone who has kept the Chapel open and running for the last 40 years—they are all volunteers.

Our Board of Directors is elected by our membership annually in December in accordance with Chapel by-laws.

Meetings

The Board of Directors usually meets on the first Sunday of the month following Chapel services, from 1pm-3pm. Board meetings are open for non-board members to sit in and observe.
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Our Ministers meet separately, but also have at least one representative at Board meetings; Ministerial review and approval is required for all spiritually-related actions at the Chapel, including new or guest speaker approvals, class/teaching event approval, etc.

Proposals (e.g. requests for classes, events, other discussion topics, etc.) should be submitted to the Board at least two weeks prior to a meeting whenever possible, so all directors and ministers have an opportunity to review beforehand. You can find additional information and links to submit proposals here.

Dawn Byrd

Dawn Byrd began attending the Metaphysical Chapel of Life in 2012 and became a member in December 2014. She served as Secretary of the 2019 Board of Directors. She has also been a speaker and has assisted with many various activities at the Chapel.
Dawn worked more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry as an Account Executive, District Sales Manager, Regional Manager Government and Hospital Accounts. She was Director of Managed Care with a chain pharmacy co-op.

Having an interest in hypnosis for many years herself she learned many doctors and medical professionals also appreciated the benefits hypnosis offers. Dawn began her studies and received her ACHE (American Council of Hypnotist Examiners) certification as a Clinical Hypnotherapist. She was certified as a Consulting Hypnotist by the National Guild of Hypnotists. Dawn was also certified as an NLP practitioner and Life Coach by NATH (National Association of Transpersonal Hypnotherapists). She was a presenter four times at NAH Annual Conferences and received the NATH 2013 Significant Clinical Contribution award.

Dawn has appeared as an expert guest multiple times on Doc Gallagher’s KAAM radio show to discuss hypnosis. She served two terms as President of a regional chapter of the National Guild of Hypnotists. While she works with all hypnosis clients, she is especially drawn to pain management and phobia release.
She is an Ordained Minister registered with the Universal Life Church.

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Elizabeth 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. ​

President

Vice President

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.

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.

Treasurer

Secretary

Lashannon Armistead

Lashannon R Armistead is a passionate and devoted Wholistic practitioner, whose life's purpose is to empower individuals to awaken to their true selves and unlock their full potential. A true seeker and mystic, Lashannon has held a lifelong affinity for all things spiritual and metaphysical. Her profound connection to the Divine, fortified by the wisdom and guidance of her elevated Ancestors, along with a tapestry of deeply impactful life experiences, has set her on a transformative journey to discover ancient, time-tested wellness therapies and the profound healing arts.

Through her own personal healing and profound transformative growth, it became abundantly clear that every lesson and insight Lashannon has learned and gathered was a gift intended primarily for her own self-realization. As an embodiment of Divine Love, she extends this same message to all those whom she is Divinely assigned to guide, generously assisting individuals on their path to becoming the very Center of their own Universe.

Lashannon dons many hats, each with a unique and vital role. She is Mother, Daughter, Sister, and Wife, embodying the rich tapestry of human relationships. She is the Priestess, the Oracle, the Counselor, the Spiritual Hygienist, and the Sacred Witness, guiding souls through their life journeys. Lashannon is a Coach, a Healer, an Educator, a Student, a Novice, an Adept, and a Master, symbolizing her ever-evolving commitment to learning and growth.
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In Lashannon's diverse array of roles, her extensive education and training shine brightly as ... (read full bio here).

Lori Walter

Lori Walter has been a Church Member since January 2023. She heard about the Church through Rev. Jenny Seeley in the Winter of 2022. After hearing about the Church, she was anxious to know more about it, especially with the Church being so close to where I currently reside. Once the In-Person Services were starting back up in Jan 2023, 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 as a pre-services healer on Sunday mornings.

Joining the Chapel has also helped me get back in touch with being a Healing Touch for Animals Practitioner® (HTA), which I have had to put on hold for a few years due to my current full-time job demands. I regularly volunteer my HTA® skills during the monthly Psychic Fairs. In her new journey, she has also branched out to learn Reiki for people and animals, and has taken a Master Dowsing Class and a Soul Realignment® Class. Lori enjoys partaking in classes that are offered at the Chapel and see it 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!

Director at Large

Director at Large

Sue Jarek

Sue Jarek has been attending the chapel since 2023 and became a member in 2024. She has served as as an intuitive reader at the monthly psychic fairs, and giving messages to chapel attendees after Sunday services, both in person and via Zoom.

Sue says she enjoys volunteering at the chapel, as it aligns with her desire to serve others on the spiritual path. It allows her to share my unique abilities in a meaningful way, while contributing to the chapel community, which values acceptance, openness, growth and spiritual exploration.

She has been in the nursing field for many years, currently working as a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, providing spiritually-infused psychiatric care and psychotherapy to clients across the lifespan. She also works as a certified energetic practitioner and intuitive healer.

Director at Large

Have a question?

Reach out and let us know.
Give us a few days to respond; we are all volunteers.

Our Location

Visit us in Newport News, Virginia, where we offer a welcoming space for spiritual exploration and community connection.

Address

9314 Warwick Blvd. #1
Newport News, VA 23601