From the Executive Director

 

Holli Emore

 

They say that "pure science or research" is not necessarily about seeking a defined answer to a narrow question, but about exploration for the sake of - for the joy of - new discoveries.

 

My own studies at CHS have followed much the same pattern, setting a kettle of ingredients on the stove which at first seem random or rote, but which soon are transformed into the most amazing elixir in the heat of the classroom.

 

"Now is the time and Cherry Hill Seminary is the place," read a post on Facebook last week, sharing a link to our fall courses.

 

But the same ones of us who love to learn, feel compelled to work in our communities, and want to improve our knowledge and skills, we are so darned busy that we can barely squeeze in anything else.   

 

Still, this is the time and place for expanding your personal boundaries, empowering yourself, stretching to a new place you hadn't realized possible before.

 

Learning at CHS has become part of my regular life flow.  Occasionally, I will take a semester off, but then I can hardly wait to get back into the routine of new challenges, the excitement of feeling more alive in the process.

 

One more thing - do your friends and contacts know about CHS?  We find that the best promotion is word of mouth and online.  Unfortunately, a great many people still have not heard of CHS, or they think that they cannot attend, assuming we are site-based or only a graduate program.  You can help keep CHS thriving by sharing what you receive from us with your own network.  At least some of your friends will be grateful to find out.




Important Dates
 
For Students
Sep 2 Fall registration ends
Sep 9 Fall classes begin
Sep 9 Insights 1 classes begin
Sep 16 Drop/add deadline
Oct 6 Insights 1 classes end
Oct 7 Insights 2 classes begin
For Faculty
Sep 8 Summer grades due
Sep 14 Spring course proposals due
Oct 17 Insights 1 grades due
 
Our CHS Family in the News

Aline O'Brien, President of the CHS Board of Directors and CHS faculty member, was interviewed in The Wild Hunt about her participation in the MountainTop Summit multifaith conference. You can read her perspective in  Reflections on MountainTop with Aline "Macha" O'Brien: Part 2.

Holli Emore, CHS Executive Director, is quoted in a news story addressing religious tolerance in South Carolina in light of the anniversary of the Sikh Temple massacre.  Visit "Minority religions" use Sikh Temple massacre anniversary to bring cultural awareness to learn more. 

McCollum testifying Patrick McCollum, CHS faculty member, spoke on the topic of accommodating the religious dietary requests of Pagan inmates at the Association of Correctional Food Service Affiliates international conference.  Read more at The Wild Hunt.
Selina Rifkin Offers Advice for Participating in Online Classrooms
 
Selina
Selina Rifkin
CHS Moodle Tech
Tip 1:
Even if you're in a class that has no Skype meeting, make an effort to go and post in the forums.  Because we are not a face to face school, interaction in any form becomes even more important.  Schedule time every week to write out a  response to any readings or exercises, and read and respond to what your classmates have written.  This means everyone has a richer experience.

  

Tip 2:
If you see a forum in your classroom labeled 'News forum,' don't bother trying to post in it.  The Moodle program only allows teachers to post in this forum.  (no we can't change that because it's built in)

  

Tip 3:
When your class has a Skype meeting, make sure you add your Skype ID to your profile and send contact requests to all your classmates and teacher before the first meeting.  This makes the first meeting go much more smoothly. 

More Wise Words from CHS Faculty






Christina Beard-Moose explores the nature and importance of ritual in Rites Can Change Society.




Holli Emore discusses an approach for engaging with viewpoints that differ from or contradict your own in The Linguists' Principle of Charity on the Patheos.com Wild Garden blog.


News from the CHS LIbrarian

Christine Grewcock
CHS Librarian
Cherry Hill Seminary faculty member Dr. Christine Kraemer has written a very helpful article highlighting a number of Pagan theology books and websites. The books run the gamut from general audience to graduate-level academic. 
 
You can head on over to the Pagan channel on Patheos and peruse her list. 
  
CHS Bookstore Spotlight

Spells: New and Selected Poems is the newest publication of Cherry Hill Seminary's Artist in Residence, Annie Finch.  "Spells brings together her most memorable and striking poems written over forty years. Finch's uniquely mysterious voice moves through the book, revealing insights on the classic themes of love, spirituality, death, nature, and the patterns of time. A feminist and pagan, Finch writes poems as 'spells' that bring readers to experience words not just in the mind, but in the body." 
 
Order this and other works authored by CHS Faculty at the Cherry Hill Seminary Amazon Store.  When you visit our Amazon Store, your purchases help to support the work of Cherry Hill Seminary.

Let Us Know the News That's Most Important to You!

GatheirngSC2 Are there topics you hope we will cover in future newsletters?  Are there regular features that you find particularly helpful?  Are there questions you have that a newsletter could answer?  Are there academic resources you are looking for that we could feature?

 

Have you recently published a book or article of interest to the Cherry Hill Seminary students? Have you written a blog or been interviewed regarding your experiences studying at CHS and participating in Pagan ministry?  Would you like to share a brief column about your experiences taking or teaching classes at CHS?

 

If you have topics you would like to see in future newsletters or news of interest to the Cherry Hill Seminary community, please email Carolyn Swalina, CHS Newsletter Coordinator, at cswalina @cherryhillseminary.org and let her know!