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Living Enrichment Center was a New Thought church headquartered in a 94,500 square foot (8,800 m&2) building on a forested area of 95 acres (384,000 m&2). "LEC," as it came to be called, was located in Wilsonville , which is a suburb of Portland, Oregon . The congregation was estimated at anywhere from 3000 to 5000, making it one of the biggest churches in the state of Oregon . LEC was the biggest New Thought church in Oregon, and one of the biggest New Thought churches in the world. The local media often referred to Living Enrichment Center as a " Megachurch ". Living Enrichment Center housed , and a Peace Pole . Cristofori School was also headquartered in the main LEC building. Living Enrichment Center closed in 2004 amid a financial scandal . EVOLUTION AND CLOSURE Over the years, there has been some controversy regarding the founding of Living Enrichment Center. After Mary Manin Morrissey 's divorce from Haven Boggs, LEC literature often referred to Haven Boggs as having been a "former minister" at LEC, when, according to many, he was in fact a founding minister of the church. And though Mary Manin Morrissey has often referred to Living Enrichment Center as being the church that she founded in the living room of her home, some claim that Rev. Morrissey was not in fact a founding member of the church at all. Such people claim that the church was actually founded by Rev. Morrissey's former husband, Haven Boggs, and his mother, Lorraine Boggs. Some claim that it was only later that Mary Manin Morrissey became involved. In its original form on the Boggs Farm , Living Enrichment Center was initially known as the "Church of Truth." It has been said that it was at this church that Mary Manin Boggs (later Mary Manin Morrissey) and Haven Boggs both received their ministerial certificates. Soon after, the "Church of Truth" developed into a church called the "Rainbow Bridge Center". Mary Morrissey (formerly Mary Boggs) makes two references to the "Rainbow Bridge" in her book "Building Your Field of Dreams" {Link without Title} :
Shortly thereafter, the name "Living Enrichment Center" was adopted. For a time, Living Enrichment Center services were held at Valley Theatre in Beaverton, Oregon , and even in a tent in a parking lot in Tigard, Oregon. Eventually, in 1993 , Living Enrichment Center moved to the abandoned Callahan Center in Wilsonville, Oregon , adjacent to Dammasch State Hospital on the outskirts of the city. LEC's Wilsonville headquarters consisted of a three-level 94,000 square foot building on a 93-acre lot. The lot also included 13 cabins, with over 70 rooms, which were used for spiritual retreats conducted via LEC's sister organization, Namaste Retreat Center . After little more than a decade at the expansive Wilsonville property, Living Enrichment Center moved back to the Valley Theatre of Beaverton, Oregon. After only a few months at the Valley Theater location, LEC filed for Bankruptcy and closed in the summer of 2004 amid a finanicial scandal [http://wweek.com/story.php?story=5101/ . Three separate ministries grew out of the demise of Living Enrichment Center. Mary Manin Morrissey, the former Senior Minister of Living Enrichment Center, established "Friends of Mary" Several other former LEC ministers established New Thought Ministries Of Oregon . And Barry Dennis, a former LEC musican, established "Celebration Church" [http://www.celebrationchurch-portland.com/ . EXTENSIVE GROUNDS OF THE LEC WILSONVILLE CAMPUS After its 1992 move to the former Callahan Center facilities in Wilsonville, Oregon, Living Enrichment Center became famous in the local community, and in some cases in the national and international spiritual community, for its extensive 95-acre (384,000 m&2) grounds. There are 40 acres (162,000 m&2) on the east side of Grahams Ferry Road, and 55 acres (223,000 m&2) on the west side. The upkeep of the entire plot was assigned to only one gardener, who incorporated into the landscape many plant and tree species, both native and non-native, such as Japanese Maple trees and exotic plants such as 10 foot (3 m) high Bamboo near the authentic Thai Buddha . In this capacity the head gardener was aided for a brief time by an assistant. "Living Enrichment Center: The 21st Century Church" Below are links to digital images of a 9-page financial document from 1997 titled "Living Enrichment Center: The 21st Century Church". This document outlines Living Enrichment Center's marketing strategy. Click on the images to enlarge and maximize readability. SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
's cover story for May 19, 2004.]] Willamette Week articles about Living Enrichment Center
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