Ordination Training?

[brymble]

How/where does one get training for ordination?

I'd really like to earn ministerial credentials so that I may counsel/perform handfastings, etc. but I'm not sure I want to run a coven. In other words, I want to earn qualifications for providing services, but am not sure I want to lead a group.

How can I find out where to get training to be qualified for ordination, so that I can provide services such as counselling and handfastings?

[Xander67]

Getting your ordination does not bind you to service, (i dont think)

there are many places you can get your status. They range from actual hands on training to "just pay us money and we will give you a certificate"

http://www.answerbag.co.uk/articles/How-to-Become-a-Legally-Ordained-Minister/bf7fa2e6-62cb-ef11-e61a-52abd9cab0a9

Warning though, be sure to check with your county clerk to make sure your credentials are valid. There are a few scam artists out there.

[brymble]

I'm looking for serious training, with a well-known, recognized group, but one that won't require me to run a coven like COG apparently does. I am a solitary, always have been. Solitaries get married, bless their children, and need counselling just like coveners do. I'd like valid, recognized ordination following serious training, without having to chain myself to a group, or relinquish my solitary/family practice.

I'm checking out ATC, but there's no groups in my area, and their web site has a lot of information that's confusing to sift through. I am getting rather tired. There was a CAW nest in Poughkeepsie, and I rather liked them, but that fell apart I guess.

Hehe, I do have a ULC ordination. But I want something more serious, that actually requires training, study, serious practice and especially that will provide me the opportunity to learn more about counselling for spiritual crisis "dark night of the soul". Online or distance learning or local training within the Hudson Valley or Catskills is ideal, as I can't afford extensive travel.

[Ben Gruagach]

There are Pagan seminary programs out there too. http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/ and http://www.ardantane.org/ are two that I know about, which have been around for a while and have good reputations from what I've heard.

As Xander mentioned though you should check what the requirements are in your area for being able to act as a therapist/counsellor/whatever to make sure you are not wasting time with programs or certification that doesn't really get you what you need. It all depends what you hope to be able to provide to the public in the role of "official" clergy.

[~Elise~]

Cherry Hill Seminary

Elise

[Ben Gruagach]

Judy Harrow has an excellent resource on the topic of counselling as Pagan clergy at http://www.proteuscoven.org/proteus/counselbook.html that might interest you. She also has a book out called "Spiritual Mentoring" which would also likely prove helpful. Judy is the high priestess of the Proteus Coven, writes regularly for PanGaia (or is it NewWitch?), and also teaches through the Cherry Hill seminary that I mentioned in the previous post.

[aranarose]

I'm looking for serious training, with a well-known, recognized group, but one that won't require me to run a coven like COG apparently does. I am a solitary, always have been. Solitaries get married, bless their children, and need counselling just like coveners do. I'd like valid, recognized ordination following serious training, without having to chain myself to a group, or relinquish my solitary/family practice.

I'm checking out ATC, but there's no groups in my area, and their web site has a lot of information that's confusing to sift through. I am getting rather tired. There was a CAW nest in Poughkeepsie, and I rather liked them, but that fell apart I guess.

Hehe, I do have a ULC ordination. But I want something more serious, that actually requires training, study, serious practice and especially that will provide me the opportunity to learn more about counselling for spiritual crisis "dark night of the soul". Online or distance learning or local training within the Hudson Valley or Catskills is ideal, as I can't afford extensive travel.


I have a ULC ordination too :lol: It means I can legally do weddings in my state, and I've done several, and can legally call myself a "Spiritual Counselor" if I want to. Though lately, I've been thinking of just marketing myself as a straight-up fortune teller.... seems that's all people want anyway *grumbles*

The problem with seminaries is that they generally are tied to a specific group and a specific set of beliefs, which makes them of limited use to the solitary practitioner.

I looked at the seminary links that Ben gave, and it looks like Cherry Hill has a Pastoral Counseling course, which might just be what you're looking for.

Or you could simply use your ULC ordination as an umbrella, and take various training courses and sort of put together your own "seminarial training series."

[childofbast]

One of the more recent ADF podcasts had an interview with one of the people in charge of Cherry Hill. It sounded really interesting and I'd like to try that out someday. Currently, they aren't an accredited institution but they're working on it. I'll be more apt to apply when I can get a masters degree through them. In the meantime, I'll stick with my ADF training. As far as I know, once you become ADF clergy, you are legally able to perform handfastings and whatnot.

Good luck with your search!

~Melanie

[omar]

I do not know about other states but in Ohio even if you are ordained you have to register with your county clerk before you practes.

[Against The Tide]

One of my old internet friends was ULC, she was happy with the choice.

[aranarose]

I do not know about other states but in Ohio even if you are ordained you have to register with your county clerk before you practes.

Every state is different, but the ULC actually spent money to go all the way to the Supreme Court to insure that they could offer legal ordination to anyone that asked.

And they do the ordinations for free. Any cost involved is only if you decide you need a certificate or any of their ministry packages (which actually seem quite useful). I've been ordained through the ULC for about a decade now. My husband is ordained, too. We've both done several weddings, my most recent a Hindu-style wedding in May.

Michigan law is very lenient on ordination. I've never had to register or present any certifications, and I can do weddings in any county in the state.

Other states require that you register with various governmental entities, or that you have a physical church location, etc., etc.

[Terra Mater]

I got my ordination with ULC in 1999. Have done marriages, handfastings, spiritual counseling, and other rights of spiritual passage for a variety of people since.

The good thing about ULC is they ordain anybody, some people say that is also the bad thing about ULC.:hehehe:

[brymble]

I have a ULC ordination. It's really more the training that I'm interested in, although an ordination that has a little more credibility in general public opinion (one that has to be earned) appeals to me.

I want to be able to perform ceremonies and counsel. I can already counsel, to an extent, as a life coach and tarot reader. I'd like to take it to the next level.

Isn't ADF a Druid organization? I'm not Druid, and know little about Druidry. Is the seminary general pagan or druid?

[Fiamma]

Isn't ADF a Druid organization? I'm not Druid, and know little about Druidry. Is the seminary general pagan or druid?


Yes. ADF is a Druidic organization. The Clergy training Program is not one of a seminary, but is an independently-paced three-level course of study- all three levels are required for full ordination, and it is based completely around ADF's structure though there is a segment on neopaganism, it still focuses on neopagan Druidry. It doesn't provide training for counseling. Also, ADF's Dedicant Program, which takes a year at minimum must be completed before one can apply to begin Clergy Training.

Also, the organization does require that all clergy trainees consider ADF to be their primary religious affiliation.

Hope that clears things up for you there but if you want to know any more or need anything clarified, I'll be back on later tonight.

[brymble]

Then it might not be appropriate then. Does anyone know anything about EarthSpirit, or ATC?

[childofbast]

I realize that Druidry isn't for everyone, but I figured I would put that out there as an option. :)

Like Fiamma said, there isn't a course on counseling. I believe th Cherry Hill Seminary does, though. I looked up their courses a few months ago.

~Melanie

[Cat]

Cherry Hill Seminary has three tracks a student can follow, one of which is counseling. Bear in mind the counseling training is the equivalent of what a pastor might, or should, receive. It is NOT a clinical credential. You'd be able to do basic brief clergy counseling, not anything longer term or for more serious problems.

CHS is not yet accredited, but if you are already legal through ULC you might not care about that. See for yourself:

http://cherryhillseminary.org/

[brymble]

Cherry Hill Seminary has three tracks a student can follow, one of which is counseling. Bear in mind the counseling training is the equivalent of what a pastor might, or should, receive. It is NOT a clinical credential. You'd be able to do basic brief clergy counseling, not anything longer term or for more serious problems.

CHS is not yet accredited, but if you are already legal through ULC you might not care about that. See for yourself:

http://cherryhillseminary.org/


If I was interested in long term, clinical problems, I wouldn't be interested in clergy training, I'd be doing something else, and I would have studied psychotherapy instead of getting hypnosis certifications. NOT interested in clincal stuff AT ALL. I am interested in helping people make change in their lives, though. It's just a question of figuring out the most appropriate way for me to do so, and what and how much training I need to do it. (Not to mention how to pay for it.)

Cherry Hill, upon closer examination, is a graduate school. I don't have a bachelor's degree, I have an associates, so I couldn't take that route now anyway. I'd like quality training, but not necessarily a graduate degree in interfaith studies, for example. (I'm wondering if taking courses as a non-matriculated student might be an option? I haven't spent a lot of time on the website, I just met someone who is faculty at a Pagan seminary and am waiting to hear back from her too.)

Ideally, the path I'd like to take would affiliate me with an organization that has some credibility, but not require me to run a coven. It would include ordination so that I could provide services, and enough training in pastoral counselling that I could solidly back up my practice of hypnosis and Tarot consulting with spiritual advising. I use the Tarot professionally as a life coaching tool to examine states of consciousness and assist in making desired change. I already have the training and credentials to do that, but I want to do it better, and take it to the next level. More and better tools in my kit to meet my clients' needs. I'm interested in spiritual counselling, and in the development of the consciousness through ritual, magick, and prayer, but I'm not interested in community organizing, interfaith committees, public outreach, or running a coven or church. I am interested in meeting the needs of individuals, and letting those with the inclination and credentials meet the needs of groups. Kind of like priestessing for solitaries, if that makes any sense, but not necessarily exclusively Pagan, even though I have that leaning myself. I don't want to go overboard with the divinity studies, because I have only so many resources and have already set the ball rolling for more hypnosis certification. I think ultimately, that's where my priority will lie, but hypnosis (consciousness studies, if you prefer to call it that) does have a lot to do with ritual, prayer, and spirituality, at least, in terms of what I want to do with it.

I'm looking for just enough training. Not an easy internet ordination, but not a graduate degree either. Just enough to do meet my and my clients' needs.

Anyone familiar with this?

http://www.wiccanseminary.us/

[Ivy Artemisia]

When it comes to clergy training, it seems to be all or nothing. Either its a very time-consuming/ expensive school or training in a tradition, or its an online school where you can't really verify credentials or a one-click ULC ordination.

Have you thought about speaking with a HPS in your area? Usually a HPS does spiritual counseling, and s/he could create a one-on-one training plan with you. It might be better than joining an online seminary, as then you could get exactly what you are looking for. Plus, if you are looking to pay for your training, you'll also be helping out a local community while getting the most bang for your buck.

Another option is to take a community college course in couseling. While it might not be Pastoral counseling, you would definitely learn skills to add to your Priestess toolbox.

[Fiamma]

Cherry Hill, upon closer examination, is a graduate school. I don't have a bachelor's degree, I have an associates, so I couldn't take that route now anyway. I'd like quality training, but not necessarily a graduate degree in interfaith studies, for example. (I'm wondering if taking courses as a non-matriculated student might be an option? I haven't spent a lot of time on the website, I just met someone who is faculty at a Pagan seminary and am waiting to hear back from her too.)




Students must:


Have access to an up-to-date computer and reliable internet access
Be able to attend online chat class sessions
Be competent to perform graduate level work, representing 135 hours of work and class time per class per semester
Possess a Bachelor’s or higher degree, or equivalent education and experience
Demonstrate basic competence in English language and writing
Possess demonstrated interest in Pagan leadership and service



From http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/students_admissions.html

If you were interested, since you have an associates, perhaps you have additional education and experience that they might consider. It wouldn't hurt to contact them and ask.

[brymble]

From http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/students_admissions.html

If you were interested, since you have an associates, perhaps you have additional education and experience that they might consider. It wouldn't hurt to contact them and ask.

I wonder how they'd consider my NLP training and tarot consulting experience? I guess it's worth at least finding out. Although I doubt I have enough for a bachelor's degree, and they seemed pretty firm on the degree, even for non-matriculated, continuing education students.

[Ben Gruagach]

I wonder how they'd consider my NLP training and tarot consulting experience? I guess it's worth at least finding out. Although I doubt I have enough for a bachelor's degree, and they seemed pretty firm on the degree, even for non-matriculated, continuing education students.

Forgive me if I've missed this in the thread, but since it sounds like you're really looking for training to help in your role as counsellor rather than necessarily for ordination, it might be worthwhile investigating more training/certification as a counsellor.

For instance, I did a search for online schools that train counsellors/therapists and found the following:

http://www.onlinetrainingforcounsellors.co.uk/

http://www.elearners.com/courses/counseling.htm

http://www.allpsychologyschools.com/ld/counseling?src=goo_apsy_200702_05684

http://www.guidetoonlineschools.com/counseling.html?source=google_gtos_cnsl&online_degree=counseling&kw=counselling%20training&content=&gclid=CM7Emo_Vv5UCFQSwFQodlRqlRQ

Do some research on whatever schools or training programs you are interested in though to make sure they are reputable. There are lots of scams on the internet!

[Fiamma]

I wonder how they'd consider my NLP training and tarot consulting experience? I guess it's worth at least finding out. Although I doubt I have enough for a bachelor's degree, and they seemed pretty firm on the degree, even for non-matriculated, continuing education students.


No clue to be honest. I am simply very much of the "it never hurts to ask" school of thought because you just never know.

[EelKat]

How/where does one get training for ordination?

I'd really like to earn ministerial credentials so that I may counsel/perform handfastings, etc. but I'm not sure I want to run a coven. In other words, I want to earn qualifications for providing services, but am not sure I want to lead a group.

How can I find out where to get training to be qualified for ordination, so that I can provide services such as counselling and handfastings?


I've been considering a similar road. Here is the site I was looking at this morning.: Pagan Seminary and Clergy Training Programs (http://www.solitary-pagan.net/Pagan%20Clergy.htm).

I'm finding it difficult to locate counseling courses for Pagan Clergy that are also approved by my state laws so that I can get licensed, it looks like I'll have to take a traditional Christian Seminary Course instead so I can get my license, and than after that take the Pagan courses as well.


Did you check with your state laws? I only know laws for my own state (Maine), but in most states you are required to have a 4 year Master's degree in psychology, BEFORE they well license you as a counselor - in Maine that includes members of clergy who want to counsel their congregation families too! And there are huge fines and prison time for you if you DON'T have proof of having earned your Master's at an officially accredited college. . . that means that the state will not give you a license to practice if your training came from a Druid or Coven type group, it has to come from a State University or some place like Yale or BYU in order for the state to consider it legal training in the art of counseling. Other states may be more lenient than Maine, but given Maine's reputation for having the most lenient laws in the country, I doubt it.

Be sure to check your state's official gov web site (search their site for counselor's licensing) and find out if the course you take is eligible for state licensing BEFORE you spend money on it. Know too, that most of the courses people have linked to here ARE NOT eligible in the State's eyes, but MAY by eligible for "extra credit" for a Master's in Psychology through your local State University.