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TORKELSON: New Mile Hi sanctuary: Idea becomes reality

By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published April 7, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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A vision, dressed head-to-toe in blazing, squint-your-eyes-white, glided up the steps of Mile Hi Church in Lakewood. Barbara McGhee was trying to match the energy of the new $10 million sanctuary. It opened Sunday, six years to the day the idea was launched.

"I just had a thing this morning - I felt new and clean and white," said McGhee, 60. She wore a white crochet cap over her shaved head, a beaded Indian pendant on her chest, giant hoop earrings and a long, white cotton dress. The ensemble reflected her American Indian heritage and her rapport with "Wiccan" nature religions.

McGhee might have looked less conventional than everybody else, but she still reflected the eclectic spirit of Mile Hi. It draws from the teachings of many religions and mixes in the possibility-thinking of the self-help movement. At its core is religious science, which champions the mind as the manifestation of the divine.

You could say Sunday celebrated the victory of the mind over what mattered - turning the "vision" of 2002 into reality.

"My heart is so full today it's almost beyond words - but don't worry, I'll find some," said the senior minister, the Rev. Roger Teel, drawing laughs from the packed auditorium. The church has 1,500 newly-minted seats that were filled for three services.

Teel attended this church as a kid and became its leader in 1993. Under his guidance it's become the largest U.S. church in the 80-year-old religious science movement, which is now called the United Centers for Spiritual Living. This July, Denver will become the center of the entire organization when the church moves its headquarters here from Los Angeles.

"This God of ours," Teel boomed, "is not a passionless God but throws itself into creation with mighty abandon!"

A fitting description, that, of Mile Hi's success. It opened in 1959, holding its first services in a vacuum cleaner store. In 1973 it built the distinctive landmark at Alameda and Garrison, often called "the flying saucer." That's now dwarfed by the new, pantheon-shaped, state-of-the-art sanctuary, which will welcome regular guest speakers and self-help icons such as Deepak Chopra, Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson.

"I tried some conventional churches where the church was lovely, but the message wasn't," said Tom Cauch, a house-flipper, who came with his 9-year-old grandson, Shean. "There, they talked about guilt and fear. Here, they talk about our endless possibilities."

"The first time I ever walked into this church I felt I was loved," said longtime member Janet Day.

Ditto for McGhee, a former hospice worker who, years ago, shaved her head to show solidarity with a cancer patient. She then dropped 158 pounds and mustered the courage to be herself:

"It's all about this church," she said. "You can do whatever you set your mind to."

torkelsonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5055

Comments

  • April 7, 2008

    9:38 a.m.

    SlouchingTowardBoulder writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • April 7, 2008

    6:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Strength4Him writes:

    I must say that I really enjoyed the people at this church and the pastor was very nice. I did not stay as I opted to go to a bible based Christian church. Other than that the church is a great option for other avenues of new age spiritual growth and I'm excited to come by and visit the new facility.

  • April 11, 2008

    6:53 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    LetsThink writes:

    It is quite disturbing what the Mile High Church teachers, according to the editorial by Mr. Torkelson.

    Remember.....if you mix poison with pure water.....it is still poison.

    Pray for the good people who are being mislead.