Who We Are

Board of Trustees

Rev. Kirti Cesaratto
President & CEO

president@unitysouthcentral.org

Rev. Kirti Cesaratto, ordained in 2020, is a dedicated Staff Minister at Unity of Houston, where she leads the Prison Ministry program.

She is deeply engaged with the Unity Urban Ministerial School, serving as co-creator and co-instructor of the Prison Ministry Certification Program Courses. Additionally, she is the Senior Minister of Divine Expression, an expansion ministry devoted to helping other Unity leaders establish their own Prison Ministry programs.

  • Rev. Kirti is a Certified Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator and works part-time as a Chaplain with the Hospice Care Team.

    In the business world, she has served as the CEO of Epic International Brokers since 2003 and is a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker. Her company has facilitated over $29 million in business transactions. She presently consults with others on business development and strategy.

    On a personal note, Rev. Kirti enjoys traveling with her husband, Joe. She cherishes time with her family, which includes two daughters, a grandson, and a granddaughter. With her extensive experience in ministry, business, and community service, Rev. Kirti is honored to serve and support the Unity South Central Region.

Rev. James Gaither
Regional Representative & DEIJB Representative

regionalrepresentative@unitysouthcentral.org & deijbrepresentative@unitysouthcentral.org

Rev. James Gaither, Th.D., was ordained a Unity Minister in 1979, has earned a M.A. in Philosophy and a Doctorate in Theology. He has taught in Unity Ministerial and Spiritual Education for over 30 years and has been Minister in Unity churches for over 12 years. His first ministry was in Collinsville, IL. His second ministry was in New York City where he served as Eric Butterworth’s successor. The New York ministry named him “Pastor Emeritus.”

  • James has also served as President of Holos University Graduate Seminary and Director of Academic and Student Affairs for Unity Worldwide Spiritual Institute. He has been a regular contributor to Unity Magazine for over 35 years. He has published two books: The Essential Charles Fillmore and The Hidden Realm of God: the Historical Jesus & His Healing Philosophy. In addition, James was co-host of one of Unity.fm’s first weekly internet radio programs. He is a recipient of the “Charles Fillmore Award for Visionary Leadership” from Unity Worldwide Ministries.

    As UWSI Director of Academic and Student Affairs, James helped set up the Unity education program after it was transferred to Unity Worldwide Ministries from Unity World Headquarters. James retired from full-time ministry in 2018 but continues to teach as an adjunct professor for both UWSI and Unity Urban Ministerial School. He also teaches philosophy and religion courses for Holos Graduate Seminary, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, affiliated with the University of Kansas, and regularly serves as a guest speaker in Unity ministries.

Rev. Brenda Peters
Vice-President & YFM Representative

vicepresident@unitysouthcentral.org & yfmrepresentative@unitysouthcentral.org

Rev. Brenda brings a deep passion for transforming lives, serving others, and lifelong learning. She shares her inspiring message not only at Unity churches but also at various other organizations. With a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, focusing on photography and broadcasting, along with a minor in English, Rev. Brenda’s diverse background reflects her commitment to communication and service.

  • After more than 20 years of working in administrative and support roles, Rev. Brenda felt a profound calling to inspire others to embrace their true selves while deepening her own spiritual awareness. This calling led her on a quest to find a faith community that aligned with her values, eventually bringing her to Unity, where she found a sense of alignment with its teachings.

    Following her membership at Unity of Omaha, Rev. Brenda pursued her ministerial calling, and on June 15, 2020, she was ordained as a Unity minister. As a speaker, she connects with audiences through heartfelt storytelling, drawing on her personal experiences to offer fresh perspectives on life. Her approach encourages individuals to integrate these insights into their own lives, empowering them to pursue their dreams.

Rev. Tomás de León
Treasurer

treasurer@unitysouthcentral.org

Tomás de León is a Licensed Unity Teacher and an ordained Unity Minister. Born in Donna, TX. He has been married for 45 years to Rosemary, and they have two grown children, Marcos (39) and Marisa (32). He served as Spiritual Leader of Unity Spiritual Center Rio Grande Valley, TX, from 2014-2021. He is currently the Minister at Unity of Georgetown, TX.

Tomás is an Honorably Discharged U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran. He is a lifelong musician (drummer and vocalist).

  • He has been “a seeker” for more than 50 years and has read everything from Edgar Cayce to the Baháʼís, to Gibran, to Zen, to the Great Courses, to name a few. He has a podcast of his Sunday Unity Lessons with over a million hits. He is fluent in Spanish and has a goal of converting those lessons to Spanish at some point. He has been self-employed for the last 25 years. Before that, he served as office manager of a construction company for 12 years. He is 12 hours (non-accounting classes) short of a degree in accounting. He has an associate degree in electronic technology from Texas State Technical College (1977), as well as a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from The University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley (1991). He is an avid Dallas Cowboys and Houston Astros fan. Enjoys watching and playing golf as well. His journey as a student of life continues every day.

Rev. Karen Saunders
Secretary & Nominating Committee Chair

secretary@unitysouthcentral.org

Rev. Karen Saunders is an ordained Unity Minister. She follows as a legacy with her mother, Rev. Helen D. Saunders, who graduated from the first class of Unity Urban Ministerial School, and Karen graduated from the first online class of the Urban School 30 years later. Karen currently is the Senior Minister at Christ-Love Unity Church in Omaha, Nebraska, founded by her mother. In addition, she is the Registrar and Adjunct Professor for the Unity Urban Ministerial School.

She has worked in non-profit management for over 35 years, during which she held positions as Executive Director, Project Manager, and Volunteer Manager. Karen holds a BA in Urban and Metropolitan Studies from Michigan State University. She is an accomplished speaker, trainer, and community advocate. Karen has studied New Thought all her life, joining Unity in 1994.

Get in Touch with the Board

You can write to our board members individually using the above emails, or you can send a message to the whole board using board@unitysouthcentral.org. Alternatively, feel free to send the board a note using the form to the right.

 

Staff

Elaine Schweizer, LUT
Executive Administrator

executiveadministrator@unitysouthcentral.org

Elaine has over 30 years’ experience in communications, marketing, and business administration. Her work has centered on supporting non-profits, including prominent arts organizations and one of the US’s largest Montessori schools in her hometown of Houston, Texas. Elaine and her husband, Rev. Jean-Marie Schweizer, lived and built businesses in Switzerland and Australia before moving back to the States. She has been a Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT) since 2016. She served as USCR’s admin in 2020–21, and returned in 2024 after semi-retiring. She loves photography, enjoying nature, and taking in a beautiful view.

Janette Jordan
YFM Consultant

yfmconsultant@unitysouthcentral.org

Janette is a Certified Spiritual Educator, has 10 years experience as a YFM Director, and has been involved in the Unity Movement for 10+ years. She has a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Social Work. She has extensive experience working with children, families, and adults in a variety of settings. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, and spending time with her family and two toy poodles.

Julie Core
YOU Consultant

youconsultant@unitysouthcentral.org

Julie has been attending Unity since 1986. She has served as a YOU sponsor for 26 years and is a recipient of Unity Worldwide Ministry’s Distinguished Youth Services Award. Her experience as a sponsor includes working closely with YOUers in planning and organizing many YOU retreats. She encourages and supports the teens in developing their leadership skills and creating youth-led events. Julie has served as a Head Sponsor at more than 30 international, regional, and sub-regional YOU events, rallies, and retreats. She also serves as the IYOU Event Agent for Unity Worldwide Ministries.

Rev. Scott Schell
Accountant

accounting@unitysouthcentral.org

Rev. Scott Schell was ordained in 1994 but his history with Unity began in 1968 when his family started attending Unity of Des Moines. Scott is a CPA and has worked in both accounting and management positions. Scott has been involved with the finances of our region for over 25 years, serving first as treasurer and now as accountant.

Get in Touch with the Staff

You can write to our staff individually using the above emails, or you can send a message to our main email address: info@unitysouthcentral.org. Alternatively, feel free to send the staff a note using the form to the right.