Cherry Hill Seminary, located in South Carolina

South Carolina

South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...

, is an educational institution for Pagan

Neopaganism

Neopaganism is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of modern religious movements, particularly those influenced by or claiming to be derived from the various pagan beliefs of pre-modern Europe...

 teachers, ministers and clergy

Clergy

Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....

. Cherry Hill has more than twenty full-time or part-time faculty

Faculty (university)

A faculty is a division within a university comprising one subject area, or a number of related subject areas...

. Some, such as M. Macha Nightmare

M. Macha Nightmare

M. Macha NightMare , a priestess and witch, is an author, teacher and ritualist, with a penchant for collaboration. An initiate, and among the founders of, Reclaiming Tradition Witchcraft, as well as Faery/Feri Tradition, Macha holds Elder credentials through The Covenant of the Goddess , the...

, are well-known in the pagan community; most are published authors/scholars in their field; nearly all are practitioners in the areas they teach. Cherry Hill does not offer introductory-level classes; instead it is designed to assist Pagans already knowledgeable in their chosen path who feel called to take on a leadership/service role in the Pagan community.

Founded in 1997 by Kirk White

Kirk White

Kirk White is a Pagan author and leader in establishing a seminary system and pastoral counseling credentials for the Neopagan faith...

 in Bethel, Vermont

Bethel, Vermont

Bethel is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,968 at the 2000 census. The town includes the locations of Bethel-Gilead, East Bethel, Lilliesville, Lympus , and West Bethel...

, the school relocated its headquarters to Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...

 in 2008.

Programs

Instruction is done online, although a minimum of two on-campus residencies are required prior to graduation. Weekend intensives are also periodically offered at other locations. Classes are advanced, and a bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

 is required for admission. Courses cover the full range of responsibilities expected of a minister or pastor

Pastor

The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....

 of any faith, including rites of passage

Rite of passage

A rite of passage is a ritual event that marks a person's progress from one status to another. It is a universal phenomenon which can show anthropologists what social hierarchies, values and beliefs are important in specific cultures....

, chaplaincy in prisons or military institutions, crafting a wedding

Wedding

A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...

, building a pagan community, comparative religion

Comparative religion

Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...

, history of religion, congregation administration, grant

Grant (money)

Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...

 writing and fund raising, and other skills and knowledge useful to spiritual group leaders and counselors.

Overview

Cherry Hill Seminary provides higher education and practical training in Pagan ministry. Its Web site states that it is the first and only graduate-level education for Pagan ministry in the world. Cherry Hill Seminary offers online distance-learning classes, regional workshops and intensive retreats.

Cherry Hill's business office is located in Columbia, S.C. The seminary's classes take place online and it accepts English-speaking students from around the world.

History

Cherry Hill Seminary was founded in 1996 by Kirk White. As a result of his involvement with the Wiccan Church of Vermont (now Church of the Sacred Earth), White felt that a seminary that met the needs of Pagan clergy was called for. Originally, White served as President, Academic Dean, Administrative Dean, and almost any other role that was required. Soon after, Cat Chapin-Bishop joined to create the Pagan Pastoral Counseling Department. Judy Harrow

Judy Harrow

- Biography :Judy Harrow was born in the Bronx also known as Judith Harrow and has lived the majority of her life in New York City.- Education :Harrow graduated from Bronx High School of Science in 1962. She then received a B.A. in American Government from Western College for Women in 1966. In...

, M. Macha NightMare and Laura Wildman-Hanlon were among the first teachers.

The seminary is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization under the laws of the United States.

Academic Standing

Cherry Hill Seminary has been granted an official exemption from South Carolina requirements for educational institutions, meaning it can legally grant Master of Divinity degrees. Faculty and administrators are actively developing programs to offer M.Div. degrees in Pagan Ministry, Pagan Pastoral Care and Counseling, and Pagan Studies.

In addition, the seminary offers courses under the Pagan Community Education for Lifelong Learning (PCELL) program, which is geared toward those Pagans who do not need or want a formal master's degree.

The seminary is also seeking accreditation from the Distance Education Training Council (DETC), a process which will take several years.