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From the President
 Questions about how to define Paganism surface from time-to-time. Scholars and practitioners both have tried and sometimes reject attempts at defining Paganism. I do not see this prospect as seeking some eternal truth for Paganism. What I tend to focus on instead of the definition are the skills and knowledge needed to serve my community.
This is what brought me to Cherry Hill Seminary. There are many professional skills that are needed regardless of tradition. One of the strengths of Paganism is that it is based upon experiences that are gained by participating in our religion. To participate, one needs to know how to participate, and many Pagans learn their craft from elders, leaders, and peers both in person and through books. Now with the addition of social media there is a host of means for learning.
Pagans will learn from many people and sources over the years. The question that I think many of us ask is 'what skills do I still need for my practice?' Being self-reflective and self-critical provides Pagans a tool for growing in our spiritual, professional, and person development.
Each semester I look at the list of Cherry Hill Seminary classes and try to look as if a mirror was placed in front of me reflecting those skills and knowledge that I still need to study. What does your mirror say to you?
- William Blumberg
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Important Dates
For Students
July 14 - 17, 2011 - Summer Intensive
July 15, 2011 - Fall Registration opens
August 21, 2011 - End Summer Classes
August 26, 2011 - End Fall Registration
For Faculty
September 5 - Summer '11 Grades due to office
Foundations Courses
May 16 - June 11, 2011 - Foundations Summer One
June 13 - July 9, 2011 - Foundations Summer Two
July 11 - August 6, 2011 - Foundations Summer Three
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 Join The Hypatia Society and become a part of the growing Cherry Hill Seminary family. A true passion for learning and service light these virtual halls. As a member of The Hypatia Society, you carry the light of knowledge further and higher. Benefits for joining The Hypatia Society and supporting Cherry Hill Seminary are as follows: - $20 Astronomer - Vinyl CHS logo decal 5" square
- $45 Mathematician - Enamel CHS pin 3/4" round, plus Astronomer benefits
- $95 Philosopher - 10% discount on one Foundations course, plus Mathematician benefits
- $150 Teacher - 20% discount on one Foundations course, plus Philosopher benefits
- $250 Mystic - Free registration at any CHS one-day event, plus Teacher benefits
- $500 Beloved - Glass Yule commemorative ornament, plus Mystic benefits
- $1,000 Divine Guide - Online link as sponsor, plus Beloved benefits
Cherry Hill Seminary gratefully acknowledges the kind permission of artist Max Dashu to reproduce her haunting painting of Hypatia. Click here to order a printed poster of Dashu's painting. |
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CHS Director Interfaith Progress
 | | Cookie Washington, Rev. Ed Kosak, and Holli Emore |
Holli Emore, CHS Executive Director, is part of the statewide steering committee for Interfaith Partners of S.C. Her protest of the continued listing of her religion as "Other" prompted some deep soul-searching by another member of the committee, The Rev. Ed Kosak, of Unity Church of Charleston. Rev. Kosak shared an unprecedented letter of "amends" to Pagans with religious leaders across the state.
Rev. Kosak wrote "I recently wrote Holli Emore, of the Cherry Hill Seminary, apologizing for holding up this wall to paganism. I don't want it and I have done all I can to purge the feeling of fear from my heart and will do so if the feeling comes up again. I don't think Jesus, or the Buddha or Muhammad or Mother Theresa or Gandhi would want me holding judgment and fear in my heart for good people. I don't want to fear or hate any person on this planet. My commitment is to work hard on my own issues and ego in doing Interfaith work."
Read the full story and letter at Osireion.com; read the Pagan community's response at The Wild Hunt.
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Macha Reports on Interfaith Prayer Breakfast
Macha, past president and current member of the Board of Directors, recently wrote for the Covenant of the Goddess blog about the Marin Interfaith Council's 12th Annual Interfaith Prayer Breakfast.
She wrote, "Every May my local Marin Interfaith Council, of which I am the sole Pagan member (and an active one), presents an interfaith prayer breakfast...We have three speakers from three different religions; each tells us a bit about her or his religion, and then shares a prayer, song, chant, meditation, or some other experience. In the past we've had a Sufi, another kind of Muslim, Rabbis from different branches of Judaism, a Pentacostal, a Brahma Kumari (a type of Hinduism), Roman Catholic, Vedanta Society (also Hindu), Religious Science, ministers of other Protestant denominations, Eastern Orthodox, Zen and other branches of Buddhism; you name it, we have it here in Marin."
You can read the full article on the Covenant of the Goddess' website.
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Cherry Hill Seminary provides quality higher education and practical training in Pagan ministry.