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From the Dean
CHS Program Assessment
One of the many basic tasks that has to be accomplished before we can apply for accreditation is reviewing and assessing our curriculum. Like many, if not most new academic disciplines, Pagan Ministry and Pagan Studies have tended to develop classes based on what people were excited about teaching. That works for a time, but fairly quickly, faculty have to come together and prioritize what it is that students actually need to learn in order to accomplish the desired goals of the program. In the process of evaluating this, duplications and gaps become visible and can be addressed.
We are currently involved in assessing the M.Div in Ministry, Advocacy and Leadership. Originally, Ministry and Advocacy were two separate departments. They were collapsed into one department several years ago, but remained as separate tracks within the department. However, that resulted in record-keeping challenges and served no intellectual purpose. So we are eliminating the tracks, but keeping the courses in MAL in order to provide students with maximum options.
We are also adding a few classes where faculty discussion has revealed gaps. The first is a required core class on Spiritual Formation. Those students already in the program are not required to take this class, but all new students starting Fall 2012 will be. This introductory course provides the basic framework of how human beings walk their path in a meaningful way and will be taught for the first time Spring 2013. All courses in spiritual formation and mentoring will now be housed in MAL.
Other new classes will include Introduction to Social Justice, Building Sacred/Secular Coalitions, Presence Ministry with Marginalized People, and Spiritual Direction, which differs from the required course in that it focuses on the art and ministry of facilitating spiritual formation work with a clients or community members as they walk their path.
Many thanks to our dedicated faculty in MAL for their work on this project!
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You Can Help With Just One Click
We often hear that Cherry Hill Seminary is one of the best-kept secrets around. We do not rent mailing lists from others and never share our own lists. But word-of-mouth is the very best way to let people know about this veritable jewel.
Will you help by forwarding CHS messages to the groups to which you belong?
A link at the bottom of this newsletter makes it easy to forward our news and announcements without the formatting becoming garbled.
Thanks for spreading the word! |
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Important Dates
For Students
May 21 - Begin summer classes
May 21 - Foundations Sum 1 classes begin
May 28 - Drop/Add deadline midnight tonight
Jun 18 - Foundations Sum 2 classes begin
Jul 15 - Foundations Sum 2 classes end
Jul 16 - Foundations Sum 3 classes begin
Jul 30 - Fall registration open
Aug 12 - Foundations Sum 3 classes end
Sep 10 - Fall classes begin
Sep 17 - Drop/Add deadline
For Faculty
Jul 1 - Sum 1 grades due to office
Jul 29 - Sum 2 grades due to office
Aug 26 - Sum 3 grades due to office
Sep 14 - Spring course proposals due to dept. chair
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Welcoming Lynne Hume to CHS
PhD in Anthropology
Lynne Hume is one of our new professors at Ch erry Hill Seminary. She is located in Australia, proving that CHS is reaching international students through the impact of the seminary's professors.
Lynne grew up in Sydney, AU and spent her summers at the "surfing beaches." She believes the beach represents all the elements: "the ocean, fresh air, hot sun, and the sand." As a teen, she began questioning Christianity and found books in the library of the Theosophical Society. She discovered texts on out-of-body-experiences, thought forms, and esoteric matters, which have influenced her educational search.
Her fascination with other cultures led her to pursue her undergraduate and Masters degree from The University of Canada, Calgary and a PhD in anthropology from the University of Queensland. She travels to various cultures to study and experience their varying perspectives and practices. While working on her PhD she worked with Aboriginal Australians in north Queensland at a Christian mission station. She documented the changes in their culture over a period of 100 years and the influence of Christianity on their indigenous beliefs.
Lynne has taught at various colleges and universities in Canada and Australia. She currently teaches at the University of Queensland in courses that focus on religion and indigenous cultures. Her first class at Cherry Hill Seminary will be Mysticism and Trance. For the complete interview, go to the CHS blog.
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Patrick McCullom: Wishing for a Quick Recovery
While working on his ranch recently, Patrick McCullom was exposed to a deadly neurotoxin (similar to the sarin gas used in the Tokyo subway incident a few years ago).
Shortly after his exposure, he was bitten by a rattlesnake outside of his house.
While this neurotoxin traditionally attacks the brain, Patrick's rattlesnake bite caused the toxin to divert, instead, attacking his liver and kidneys. Patrick's unusual experience has given doctors a new study for usage of rattlesnake venom to combat neurotoxin agents. Meanwhile, our beloved faculty member has some serious recovery ahead of him.
While we are thankful that a new study has developed in science, we are more thankful that Patrick is home safely and on the mend. We wish him the best during this time of healing and restoration.
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Still Time for A Summer Class!
The following three Foundations courses start next week - don't miss the fun.
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Litha Comes Spiraling
by Annie Finch, Artist-In-Residence
 Solstice spirals, loud and dark, spiral down into us, moving our love, plant and fold us, singing our song. This is the touch of the seasons that move deep inside us, changing and strong, petals that bloom to bless all that we wove, gifting us the ancient mark humans carry, when we belong: flaming, open, solstice spark. |
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Opening for a Marketing Coordinator
Cherry Hill Seminary is looking for a Marketing Coordinator. For more information about this position, visit the Cherry Hill Seminary website and Apply Online.
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Intro to Northern European Pagan Tradi
