| Pastoral
Training Programs |
 |
Info
on Pagan-Friendly Pastoral Training Programs
On this page:
Pastoral
Training in Canada
Pastoral Training Elsewhere
Finding
a Pagan-Friendly Program and further information
 Public
pagan pastoral work in institutions is still very new, despite
the prison ministry programs that have been growing over the
past decade. One
of the problems for Pagans is getting appropriate and recognized
pastoral training – in a specifically Pagan or interfaith
program.The
following organizations offer a range of training – from professional
to lay/volunteer.
We offer these links as
a service for people to check out themselves, but don't necessarily
endorse them.
Pastoral
Training in Canada
Canadian
Association Pastoral for Practice and Education
(CAPPE)
is a national multifaith organization that is committed to
the professional education, certification and support of people
involved in pastoral care and pastoral counseling.
Canadian
Directory of Hospice Societies
–
many of which offer lay training for their
volunteers –in
most cases, the most accessible way for Pagans to get 'hand-on'
training in general health-related pastoral work.See
side menu for provincial listings.Hospice
Directory.org also offers a locator for Hospices
throughout Canada and U.S.A.
Online
Bereavement Counseling Course and College
and Registry of Mental Health Counseling both
offer an
on-line certificate program in Berevement Education.
Royal
Jubilee Hospital and Victoria
General Hospital (Victoria,
B.C.) both
offer a free Spiritual Care volunteer training program that
is open to people of all faiths (including Pagans).We
were unable to find any other Spiritual Care training programs
for hospitals in Canada.
Pastoral
Training Elsewhere
including some on-line courses available non-regionally
Cherry
Hill Seminary
is a specifically Pagan seminary, offering a variety of pastoral
training programs with some on-line courses.We
are looking for Canadian students who would be willing
to write a testimonial on Cherry Hill's programs –
please contact
usSee
Cherry
Hill Testimonials
Cherry
Hill course list - of particular interest to those
involved with pastoral care -
Call of
the Dark Mother: Working with the Dying, Death and Grieving
- PMC611
A survey course in death, dying and grieving to better prepare
Pagans who hear the call to this sacred work, and also those
who encounter it as part of their overall priest/esshood.
Introduction to Pagan Pastoral
Counseling
This course will explore a variety of Pagan and other models
of pastoral counseling. Each student will develop a personal
understanding of what pastoral counseling.
means to them, within the context of their own Pagan beliefs
and community.We
will also examine some of the typical situations in which
people seek the counsel of their clergy, and some helpful
approaches to dealing with these situations. (and further
electives in pastoral care).
Survey
of Chaplaincy - PMI620, PCA620
This class will explore the issues faced by Pagan clergy
who minister to the religious needs of our people within
non-Pagan institutional settings, such as college campuses,
hospitals, military bases and prisons.Each
of these situations presents specific spiritual challenges.Chaplains
also need to work with non-Pagan colleagues and administrators,
some of whom are clergy of other religions, and to comply
with institutional procedures and other requirements.By
keeping their balance, Pagan chaplains bring spiritual support
and guidance to Pagans in unusual situations.
Woolston-Steen
Theological Seminary –
a specifically ATC (Aquarian
Tabernacle Church) Wiccan seminary –
P.O. Box 409 Index, WA 98256-0409
Universalist
Unitarians
(UU) churches often provide a variety of lay pastoral
training programs that may be open to Pagans because of their
affiliation with CUUPS
–
Covenant of Universalist Unitarian PaganS.
various world-wide congregations
- under top drop-down
menu, Programs and Services, 'find a congregation near you!'
European
Unitarian Universalists
Military Pagan Network,
Isis Invicta Military Mission,
and Circle
Sanctuary (U.S.A.) offer training for lay leadership,
and becoming or sponsoring a chaplain, in the military.
Ecumenicon
Fellowship
is inter-faith and includes Pagan professors in its pastoral
program.If
you are having trouble finding information on this site, try
contacting them by email at
trustees@ecumenicon.org
Finding
a Pagan-Friendly
Pastoral Training Program
Finding
a pastoral training program that accepts Pagans can be difficult
–
at the present time, there are very few.Most
of the local programs will be run by a Christian organization
and may not be willing to include Pagan students (even if
the student is willing to deal with a Christian-based program).Other
organizations, like CAPPE
(which is inter-faith), may not offer courses in your
local area, and individual teachers may have some resistance
to including Pagan students.Cherry
Hill does have on-line courses, but
pastoral counseling training is best done 'in person', and
there may be problems setting up a practicum locally.Furthermore,
with all 'professional' training there will be fees, and these
can range from one to several thousand to complete a program
(though single courses are generally in the $200-600 range).
The
Military
Pagan Network offers training for lay leadership,
and becoming or sponsoring a chaplain, for the military..
Some
hospitals and hospice organizations have their own pastoral
lay/volunteer training programs, which are often free.They
are usually not in-depth programs, although the practicum
is very useful experience.Be
aware, however, that they are likely to expect a commitment
to working in their pastoral program for a minimum time-period,
and with people of all faiths (or non-faith, as the case may
be).If
their chaplaincy or pastoral program is considered interfaith,
Pagans have a fair chance of being accepted, although it may
require some negotiation and support from your local Pagan
organization or a group like PPO.If
they aren’t already inter-faith, then you would be pioneering!
Other
organizations – like crisis lines, sexual assault support
centres, etc. – also provide free training and expect a commitment
to work within their services.Although
their training does not focus specifically on spiritual concerns
(as pastoral training does), the basic skills are similar;,
and already having experience counseling in such organizations
will certainly make a difference when applying to a pastoral
program.
It
is also important to remember that being Pagan priesthood
(of whatever ‘degree’) does not qualify one for pastoral work.Clergy
of other faith traditions usually have to take formal pastoral
counseling courses before being ordained, and chaplains (whether
ordained or not) do have to take a recognized pastoral training
program – our priesthood don’t.Pagans
can’t insist on having the same status as clergy/chaplains
from the more dominant faith traditions unless they have equal
training and/or experience.
Also,
our communities tend to be very small covens/circles or very
loosely organized larger groups – and therefore, can’t provide
the same degree of accountability that many other faith communities
can.This
is a legitimate concern of institutional organizations, and
most do require a letter of recommendation from a specific
recognized faith organization even to apply for pastoral training
programs.A
Pagan applicant will most often need to negotiate alternative
means of assuring credibility.On
the other hand, many chaplaincies or pastoral programs are
still reluctant to include Pagans – if they are multifaith,
you have a right to participate.If
they are not but institutional, you have a right to insist
that they become multifaith (especially if the institution
is likely to serve Pagan individuals – inmates, patients,
students, etc.) – so don’t give up ‘if at first you don’t
succeed’.
PPO
is willing to offer support to its members who are seriously
interested in pastoral work in applying to training programs
or any issue that arises because of our faith while taking
them - contact
us .
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