For more than ten years, our own Patrick McCollum, and attorney and professor Barbara McGraw, have made untold sacrifices in a legal battle to assure equal access by Pagan and other inmates in the California Department of Corrections prisons.

The DOC, in its not-so-infinite wisdom, had some years ago established a disingenuous "five faiths" policy, clearly designating most religions as inferior to Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Native American spirituality, and deemed unworthy of chaplaincy services.

The problems with this policy scream injustice, but it has taken all these years, and an appeal to a higher court, before the religious needs of thousands of inmates in California were taken seriously.  The 9th Circuit ruling of February 19 changes the game considerably and offers hope for incarcerated Pagans around the country, since a ruling in one court might establish precedent in another jurisdiction.

Of the reasons individuals come to CHS for studies, the desire to serve as chaplains is up there on the list.  Many of our students already serve as volunteer faith leaders in local prisons.  Some of you know that a CHS team has been working for more than a year on a set of written lessons which may be ordered by inmates and used "on the inside."  These are very close to release; we keep going back to the drawing board to make them as acceptable to prison authorities and appropriate as possible.

Only last month we announced a new Master of Divinity in Chaplaincy here at CHS.  Just this week a student wrote me to inquire about our courses.  She had offered to volunteer at a local hospital and been told to come back when she "has some training."  While disappointing, this is quite understandable.  Meeting the emotional and spiritual needs of people in crisis - be it illness, incarceration or otherwise - requires a fair amount of solid education and personal development.   

I will share with you what my advisor told me  when I lamented how long it was taking me to get my bachelor's as a latecomer to college.  He said, if it takes you ten years, so what?  In ten years you will be somewhere, why not make sure that you have got your degree?

If you are putting off classes at CHS, I encourage you not to delay, waiting for the perfect moment in your life.  My experience as a CHS student has shown that each course, each semester, provides me with moments for living and growth.  No matter how long it takes me, I am a far better person, a far more effective teacher and leader, because of Cherry Hill Seminary.

Holli Emore

Executive Director