School
Magickal Media checked out Witch School International, one of the oldest and most prolific internet schools for students of Earth-based religions and magick. The Witch School motto is “Providing Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere with a Magickal Education”. 
an interactive grimoire, “Magick TV” which has dozens of videos to assist in learning, to entertain, and to inform, and the new reality show “Young Witches of Salem”. Witch School is also connected to the World of Witches Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. 
The school was originally based on the Correllian Tradition of Wicca, headed by Reverend Donald Lewis, and one can still study and obtain degrees in that path. However, other traditions of Wicca, Witchcraft and Paganism are also represented, as well as courses in general magick, such as various forms of divination, healing, and psychic development. Rev. Don, as he is fondly called, also performs a daily tarot reading, has a “vlog” or video diary, and is actively involved in many aspects of the school. 
Spring Semester 2012 Highlights
Spring One: Jan 16-Feb 11 Foundations of Germanic Spirituality: Tradition, Myth & Lore Instructor: James Acken, PhD Class meetings: Tuesday, 7 pm ET Description: Contemporary Germanic paganism draws on an array of sources from medieval literature to modern scholarship and traditional folklore to ethnographic research. Through recorded presentations, primary documents, and weekly discussions all offered online, this course offers students the chance to explore these fascinating and involved topics while marking some of the often-vexing problematic issues of interpretation and cultural transmission. Required texts: TBA
Earth Congregations: Nature as Classroom and Sanctuary
Instructor: Chris Highland, M. Div Class Meetings: None Description: The open doorways of the natural cosmos reveal beauty and wisdom accessible to each person. Students will take a closer look at eco-village and green village concepts, as well as transformative possibilities for existing spiritual communities. For instance, what would happen if a church, temple, synagogue or mosque chose to turn their building into a community center addressing social issues in their town and held their spiritual gatherings in a more Pagan way, near trees, waterfalls and wildlife? What if people of many faiths and no faiths met in these natural environments to learn, honor and respect diverse perspectives with the purpose of widening the root structure for active compassion and justice? Each student will construct their own "earth congregation" model and show the ways in which the earth-related setting presents the organic foundation for cooperative action in a diverse community.
The Druidic Past and Present (T6405) Instructor: James Acken, PhD Class meetings: Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30pm ET optional Prerequisites: None; C5121 Contemporary Global Paganisms or T5940 Research and Writing for Pagan Scholarship recommended. Description:Since the eighteenth century, druids and the heritage they represent have fascinated and inspired Western tradition, but this heritage is vexed by more than a thousand years of either absent or contradictory evidence. This course reviews evidence from several disciplines and pertaining to the druids, analyzing the connections between what we believe we know of their reality to the extant evidence, but it will also look beyond the usual scholastic analyses to folk customs and traditional lore.Fulfills the Area I requirement for a course in Paganism and history.
For more information about these courses, visit our website. And when you're ready you can register for your classes here. |
Cherry Hill and the AAR 2011
Several CHS faculty and administration attended the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR). Of particular interest was the section devoted to the study of Contemporary Paganism. You can find M. Macha Nightmare's coverage of Contemporary Pagan Studies at the AAR here and more general coverage of the AAR here.
Aso representing CHS, was Dr. Christine Hoff Kraemer. presenting her paper on the "Perceptions of Scholarship in Contemporary Paganism," which can be found here. |
Accreditation Update
Our recent Future of CHS survey reaffirmed overwhelmingly that you (our students, supporters, faculty) want accreditation for Cherry Hill Seminary. In light of your passion for this goal, we will occasionally use this space to report on progress towards accreditation standards as well as where we still fall short. In this way you can have a better idea of what it takes to move us toward that weighty but exciting goal. For starters, here's something we did two or three years back, but which actually generated discussion by respondents, including some suggestions for improvement. |
Cherry Hill Seminary
Offering both distance-learning and several face-to-face seminars and retreats, the seminary is designed for those individua
ls who intend to become clergy, or further their abilities as ministers and community leaders.Providing the first (and only) graduate-level education for Pagan clergy, Cherry Hill Seminary is known for a serious approach to education in history, anthropology, and philosophy, as well as the practical aspects of becoming a professional Pagan minister. Students can receive instruction in community outreach and interfaith work, learn how to counsel and support the individuals in their own religious group, and learn the theory and practice of facilitating a ceremony. There are also opportunities to gain a new “depth and breadth” in Pagan religious studies.However, there aren’t any ordinations in any particular denomination or path, nor is there training in any specific Pagan religion.Some coursework requires prerequisite classes or evidence of “life learning” skills attained as a Pagan leader or minister within the student’s own community. While some courses require separate purchase of books and materials, other classes provide information online.
Cherry Hill Seminary was conceived in the early 1990s by Kirk White (the current ArchDruid of Ar nDraiocht Fein), Cat Chapin-Bishop and Laura Wildman-Hanlon.The seminary went online in 2000, which made it possible for students across the nation and the world to take classes.
Holli Emore was the first chair of their board of directors. In 2008, she became the first executive director.
In 2009, the seminary received the right from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education to teach a Master’s level program. As of autumn 2010, there were 38 Master’s degree or certificate-level students.One such certificate is in “Pastoral Care”, which trains the student in ministering to their own community.CHS also provides “Pagan Community Education” for students who wish to take a few online courses but not enroll in the Master’s or certificate programs.
Cherry Hill Seminary has 501(c)3 status as a tax-exempt non-profit organization. Other services include a newsletter, participation in worldwide interfaith activities, faculty support, conferences, a bookstore and tech support. For more information, visit the Cherry Hill Seminary website at: http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/
Magickal Media wrote to Holli Emore, executive director of Cherry Hill Seminary, asking her to explain more to our readers about distance learning and the CHS courses.
MM:Is Cherry Hill Seminary specifically for Wiccans or some other neo-Pagan denomination?
Ms. Emore: Cherry Hill Seminary is for anyone who wishes to learn in a Pagan environment. We do not teach traditions or ordain clergy as that is the work of the particular faith group to which someone belongs. Our students come from all sorts of religious backgrounds and follow many Pagan paths, and some non-Pagan. MM:What are some of the courses offered by Cherry Hill Seminary?
Ms. Emore:A complete listing of our courses is found in the 2011 Catalog posted at: http://tinyurl.com/3cjllr4 . We cover myriad topics, e.g.: Chaplaincy; Death, Dying and Grieving; Leadership; Religion & the Law; Addictions & Recovery; Ethics & Boundaries; World Religions from a Pagan Perspective; Contemporary Global Paganisms; Pagan Theology; Children & Families in Paganism; Interfaith; Nonprofit Management; Public Communications for Ministry & Advocacy; Rites of Passage; Counseling Skills; Family Systems; Dreams-Spiritual Mentoring; Human Development; Group Theory; Pagan Pastoral Counseling; Psychology of Gender; Psychology of Religion; Stress, Trauma & Self-Care; American Spiritualities; Deity & Devotion; Earth Advocacy; History of Western Esotericism; Indigenous Religions & Cultures; Jung, Campbell, and Archetypal Theology; Myths of Creation and Destruction; Nature and Pagan Spirituality; The Pagan Soul and the Spiritual Quest; Paganism & the Body; Understanding the Ritual Experience, are some of our selected master's and Pagan Community Education offerings.
CHS also offers four-week classes in specific topics, e.g.: the Pagan Elders & Ancestors series; Foundations of Paganism; Introduction to Druidry; Introduction to the Heathenism, & Northern European Pagan Traditions; Sacred Egypt, Sacred Science; Introduction to the Afro-Caribbean Diaspora Traditions; Introduction to Witchcraft Traditions; Introduction to the Goddess Path; Dream Oracles: Ancient and Modern; A Sacred Feast; Introduction to Heathen Ethics; Why Magickal Thinking Isn’t Crazy; Foundations of Counseling for Non-Professionals; Practical Mystagogy: An Introduction to Liturgical Design; Effective Web Site Development for Pagan Organizations; Media Outreach For Pagan Groups and Organizations; Strategic Planning for Pagan Nonprofits; Introduction to Fundraising; Developing Board Leadership for Pagan Nonprofits. MM:What are some of your other services?
Ms. Emore:CHS holds occasional conferences and intensive retreats in various locations around the country. We are planning intensives for 2012 in Austin, TX, and the Twin Cities area.
M:Cherry Hill Seminary is not yet accredited… what is the process of gaining accreditation?
Ms. Emore:In the United States educational accreditation is a peer review process coordinated by accreditation commissions and the members. Accreditation requirements vary, but are generally quite stringent, going beyond standards for state licensure. The process can usually be expected to take approximately two-three years to complete. As we move towards future accreditation, Cherry Hill continues to endeavor to ensure our programs are of the highest quality.
Accreditation is a years-long, expensive and complex process. As there is currently no accrediting religious organization for Pagan schools, we plan to apply for accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a non-profit educational accreditation agency in the United States specializing in the accreditation of distance education institutions. DETC was established in 1926 and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education as an accreditor of institutions of higher education. MM:Can someone gain a clergy certificate through Cherry Hill Seminary?
Ms. Emore:CHS prepares our students for Pagan ministry, but we do not ordain clergy. You may earn one of several degrees or certificates at CHS. Master of Divinity: The basic professional degree for the work of clergy supported by academic studies, a Master of Divinity degree requires the equivalent of three years of full-time study, 72 credit hours, and is considered a "terminal degree." Ordination by one’s specific group or tradition may be required for endorsement or employment, in addition to the degree (Cherry Hill Seminary does not ordain clergy). Students in the program are required to choose a major area of study and corresponding academic department from those described under Major Areas of Study. The Master of Divinity with a Pagan Pastoral Counseling major is a separate program (described below), with different requirements from the Master of Divinity degree. Master of Divinity, Pagan Pastoral Counseling: The MDiv, PPC major, degree provides coursework and practice experience leading to a career as a Pagan pastoral counselor. A Master of Divinity degree requires the equivalent of three years of fulltime study, 72 credit hours, and is considered a "terminal degree." Ordination by one’s specific group or tradition may be required for endorsement or employment, in addition to the degree (Cherry Hill Seminary does not ordain clergy). Students in this program are considered to be Pagan Pastoral Counseling Majors. The Master of Divinity with a Pagan Pastoral Counseling major is a distinct program, with different requirements from the Master of Divinity degree described above. Master of Pagan Ministry: An in-depth development of professional ministry specialization, the Master of Pagan Ministry requires 48 credit hours, the equivalent of two years of full-time study. Students in the program are required to choose a major area of study and corresponding academic department from those described under Major Areas of Study. Studies include courses from each department, plus a project, attendance at academic intensives and community placement. Available majors include Ministry, Advocacy and Leadership or Theology and Religious History. Students interested in a major in Pagan Pastoral Counseling may consider the Master of Pagan Pastoral Counseling, described above.
Master of Pagan Studies: The Master of Pagan Studies degree fosters Pagan scholarship with study and research in one area of concentration. To earn the degree requires 48 credit hours, the equivalent of two years of full-time study. Students in the program are required to choose a major area of study and corresponding academic department from those described under Major Areas of Study. Studies include courses from each department, plus a project, intensives attendance and a thesis. Available majors include Ministry, Advocacy and Leadership or Theology and Religious History. Students interested in a major in Pagan Pastoral Counseling may consider the Master of Pagan Pastoral Counseling, described above. Master of Pagan Pastoral Counseling: Designed to meet various practice standards, the Master of Pagan Pastoral Counseling degree requires the equivalent of two and a half years of full-time study, 60 credit hours. Studies focus on academics and field or clinical practices, and will require specific types of supervision and testing. Students in the program are considered to be Pagan Pastoral Counseling majors. Certificate of Chaplaincy: Ministry as a chaplain is a demanding vocation, calling for skill in several domains. A chaplain serves the spiritual needs of all in her or his care, regardless of religious affiliation or belief, or the lack of religious belief. The Certificate of Chaplaincy provides a background in ethics, Paganism, interfaith awareness, and some counseling basics, plus the student’s choice of electives. Certificate of Chaplaincy students attend one CHS academic intensive, and fulfill six credit hours of internship. The program is administered by the Department of Pagan Pastoral Counseling. Certificate of Continuing Education: Provides a way to demonstrate accomplishment in a limited course of Pagan studies. The program includes ethics, as well as a choice of several key topics which are important to Pagan ministry, in the areas of advocacy, counseling basics, ritual, dying, families and interfaith. Students must attend at least one CHS conference, or two online lectures. Certificate of Lifelong Learning: Enables coven, hearth and other group leaders to demonstrate achievement in the study of topics important to Pagan ministry. Students who must fit part-time studies into a full-time work schedule and personal-family life will find the Certificate of Lifelong Learning a manageable course of study. Students must attend at least one CHS conference, or two online lectures. Certificate of Pagan Pastoral Care for Helping Professionals: Allows clinicians of all kinds who are currently working in the field to become familiar with and prepared to offer care and support to Pagan clients. The program is a survey of Pagan theology and practice, with a special emphasis on issues related to working with Pagan clients. Only professionals who are already trained in basic counseling skills and theories are appropriate for this program. MM: Where can a seeker find information such as pricing and requirements?
Ms. Emore: Tuition rates are always posted on the Current Courses and Registration page of our web site. Current rates are: $95 Foundations course; Pagan Community Education course $240; master's course $435. http://tinyurl.com/3bukv39
MM: Please tell us about your teaching staff.
Cherry Hill Seminary faculty represent some of the finest teachers, scholars and leaders in the Pagan world today. http://tinyurl.com/4xd2vfa
(Editor’s Note: Several of the faculty and staff of CHS have Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral degrees in subjects such as education, theology, religious history and psychology. Many of them are chaplains or other clergy and have founded well-known covens or other religious organizations.)
MM: What five beginning books do you recommend? How about advanced material?
Ms. Emore: Most of our faculty are published authors and scholars, and we recommend any of their books, found in our online bookstore.
MM: Please tell us about your involvement in other charitable organizations or interfaith work.
Ms. Emore: Many of our faculty, students and staff are highly involved in their local, regional or national communities. Board member (and former chair) Kirk Thomas is the Archdruid of ADF. Macha NightMare has been very active for many years with the country's largest local interfaith group, the Marin Interfaith Council. Patrick McCollum is well known for his peacemaking work around the globe, and here at home for his decades of service as a prison chaplain. Michelle Mueller is an ambassador for the Parliament of the World's Religions. David Oringderff is the founder of Sacred Well Congregation, serving thousands of military personnel around the world. Selina Rifkin is very involved in advocacy for safe, whole foods. Cosette Paneque works closely with the Pagan Newswire Collective. Many of our CHS family volunteer for the American Red Cross, animal shelters, literacy programs, 12-step groups, and many more charities of all sorts.
MM: Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Ms. Emore: Invariably, our students describe their classes at Cherry Hill Seminary as transformative experiences. Students and instructors form lifelong supportive relationships lasting far beyond and long after the classroom. CHS classes are not just for scholars; Pagans everywhere love to learn and we know that we grow when we learn. We have structured certificates for every level of background and need, plus our short Foundations courses. From fundraising to philosophy to theology - you can study with the best at Cherry Hill Seminary!
If someone is curious, they should start by exploring our web site at www.cherryhillseminary.org, and be sure to look through the catalog posted under For Students, as most questions may be answered there. Fall courses start on September 6, but some Foundations courses will still be open later on. Check the Current Courses page to see what's up: http://tinyurl.com/3bukv39
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Cherry Hill Seminary Executive Director Holli Emore is a volunteer chaplain with the HOPE Chaplaincy HIV/AIDS hotline in Columbia, SC. She also serves on the Steering Committee of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina. Magickal Media appreciates Ms. Emore taking the time to answer all of our questions!
Cherry Hill Seminary
by Christine Kraemer, PhD
With increasing numbers of scholarly publications and its own well-established program group at the American Academy of Religion, Contemporary Pagan Studies has been making great strides forward in rigor and credibility. The creation of a viable Pagan intellectual culture -- along with the ability to dialogue effectively with others in both scholarly and religious contexts -- is one aspect of what will allow Pagans a place of respect on both local interfaith councils and in global meetings like the Parliament of World's Religions
I am excited and proud to be involved with Cherry Hill Seminary, where I serve as instructor and head of the Nature, Deity, and Inspiration department. Cherry Hill Seminary provides professional training for Pagan ministry in a mostly on-line format. Degree candidates are required to participate in a small number of in-person, face-to-face academic intensives before graduation.
Having taken classes at both the Boston University School of Theology and Harvard Divinity School as part of my PhD in Religious and Theological Studies at Boston University, I can attest that our Master's level classes offer a similar level of challenge and rigor as these well-established schools. Our faculty publish in both scholarly and popular venues, present at the American Academy of Religion and other academic conferences, and teach in other university and college settings. As we continue to develop our curricula, we envision a seminary education that will equal any other Master's program available. Not only will our graduates have the professional skills to serve Pagan religious communities of various sizes and configurations, but they will be able to interact confidently and knowledgeably with highly educated clergy of other faiths.
I'm very excited about the classes we'll be offering this Fall!
Whether you're looking for a complete Master's program or simply to acquire some specific knowledge or skills, Cherry Hill has a great deal to offer. We particularly celebrate the efforts of covens and small communities to raise funds for their leaders and facilitators to
study ministry skills at Cherry Hill and encourage other interested students to do the same.
Because accreditation is a time-consuming and expensive process, we also appreciate your donations. Building a seminary takes years, and our dedicated staff and instructors put in large numbers of volunteer hours. Please spread the word about our work!
Christine Hoff Kraemer, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of Nature, Deity & Inspiration
The Benefits of Online Learning
By Wendy Griffin,
Ph.D., Academic Dean, Cherry Hill Seminary In 1728, an ad appeared in the Boston Gazette promoting a correspondence course for short hand. Distance learning was born.
Jump forward to 1986. QuantumLink, a national online network for people who owned Commodore computer, opened an online tutoring center that became CALCampus. These were the first regular (though noncredit) classes offered in a virtual classroom. As the use of email spread, distance learning grew. In 1989, the University of Phoenix, which did not then have accreditation, became the first online correspondence school. But it was the development of the Mosaic web interface in 1993, that allowed the creation of the Internet and the public access to online education. Cherry Hill Seminary was quick to take advantage of this new technology and began its online classes in 2000.
Today, we serve students in the United States, Canada, England, Australia and Belgium. Thirty-eight students are matriculated into one of our new CHS master's or certificate programs, and a much larger number of students enroll in the four-week Foundations classes. We aren't the only innovators in this field. According to the Sloan Consortium, dedicated to integrating online and mainstream higher education, 3.5 million students were involved in online secondary education learning in 2006.
Online graduate enrollments far out-pace enrollments in traditional graduate schools. Ambient Insight suggests that 44 percent of graduate students in the US were taking at least some of their courses online in 2009, and projects that this will increase to 81 percent by 2014. If this is projection accurate, online education will be the predominant form of post-secondary education in the US. There are reasons for this beyond the obvious ones of economics and geography.
In their book on online teaching, Judith Boettcher and Rita-Marie Conrad argue that the structure of online classes provides the advantage of automatically forming learning communities, and research indicates that people learn best where learning takes place in community through collaborative explorations and conversations about content. Here are some other things that Boettcher and Conrad say are fairly unique about these classes. 1) Online courses require students to interact with one another and the content to construct their knowledge, rather then relying on a trickle down delivery of content from the instructor. 2) Where students typically post comments and responses before class, there is an unwritten requirement that they actually reflect on what they have learned from the assignments before class. The visibility of their responses to their peers helps motivate compliance. 3) As part of a learning community, students must do more thinking, writing, doing, sharing, reflecting, and peer reviewing. 4) Where the only assignment for the week is reading, students are typically more motivated to complete it ahead of class in order to interact with peers. Again, visibility helps here. 5) Students have many more options as to where, when and with whom they work on course goals 6) Assessment is continuous. This allows the teacher to get to know students and see more quickly if and where they need help. It also allows students to know each other better.
Whether a student is interested in a Master of Divinity, a Certificate, or a personally enriching (and fascinating) Foundations course, Cherry Hill Seminary offers a unique educational experience. Join us! ------------- Cherry Hill Seminary provides quality higher education and practical training in Pagan ministry. Cherry Hill Seminary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organized in the state of South Carolina. Contact us at P.O. Box 5405, Columbia, SC 29250-5405, 888.503.4131
was established by Oberon Zell, who is also known as one of the founders of Church of All Worlds.It is a “mystery school” which teaches levels of magick from the basics to advanced courses.All of the school’s coursework is presented online.The Grey School of Wizardry was originally designed for young people aged 11 to 17, yet because of high interest from adults, the school now has classes for all ages.Modeled on an English-style boarding school, with a seven-year program, lodges corresponding to areas of interest with their own prefects and captains, and sixteen color-magick based departments ranging from Cosmology, Mathemagicks, Wortcunning and Psychic Arts, the Grey School teaches seekers a complete course in mysticism and wizardry.Students who wish to take a select few classes may enter the Magister program, while those who want to complete the entire course of studies are considered “Apprentice Wizards”.
