Interfaith Ministry Program

Mission, Vision & Values

Mission
To educate and empower individuals for innovative interfaith service and spiritual care that heals and transforms the world.

  • Liminal Seminary graduates combine applied theology with the healing arts and spiritual care to invite health and wholeness for all beings.
  • Liminal Seminary embraces mysticism, respecting the soul as a source of revelation that spurs Divine connection, healing and justice-making.

Core Values

At Liminal Seminary, we honor these values with our students, our community and ourselves:

  • Connectivity: We thrive by practicing radical inclusion of all through a connection with the prophetic and mystical.
    •Spirituality: We encourage and empower a connection with the Divine, inviting its fullest expression in body, heart, mind and spirit.
    •Accountability: We are accountable to our students and our community by embracing our mission and vision of service and respect for the wholeness of all.
    •Educational Excellence: We provide our students with the preeminent Interfaith skills to apply their theology for spiritual formation and care, as they heal and transform the world.
    •Sacred Ethical Responsibility: As caregivers, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and respect all orientations and spiritual paths.
    •Innovation: We facilitate a nimble and flexible culture that promotes innovative interfaith service, spiritual care, and sustainable planning for the future.

CALLED TO INTERFAITH MINISTRY?

The interfaith Ministry Program is designed to inspire, nurture and educate a new kind of clergy: those who are called to lead and serve in an interfaith capacity.  Many individuals enroll in this program to satisfy the longing and curiosity they have to live meaningful, engaged lives. Others arrive feeling called to a specific area of spiritual leadership or service.  Whether in traditional or emerging contexts, this program equips its graduates to meet the individuals and issues happening now, in our increasingly intricate and diverse world.

Our innovative program focuses on a combination of the study of the world’s religions, an exploration of mystical paths and teachings, as well as on developing skills for ministry and providing spiritual care. Program participants immerse themselves in a deeply creative and nurturing environment to inquire, explore and grow who they are.

Core Curriculum

Our curriculum has its roots in, and speaks to, the universal language of the psyche and soul of all human beings. Designed to address the evolving spiritual needs reflected in our communities and larger society.

The Core Competencies:

  1. Interfaith Wisdom – Engage with the world’s knowledge, beliefs, traditions and practices
  • World Religions & Perspectives: Understanding world traditions, exploring culture and practices, cultivating mystical awareness
  • Contextual Education & Immersion: Personally engaging spiritual and cultural traditions, inter-religious dialogue and hospitality
  • Theological Literacy: Understanding faith and the Interfaith movement, engaging sacred texts, exploring personal and Interfaith theology
  1. Spiritual Psychology – Deepen understanding of self and psyche
  • Psycho-spiritual development
  • Strengthening the container of self for health in ministry
  • Spiritual Leadership & Development – Define, express and embody one’s personal connection to Spirit
  • Embodied Care & Leadership: Deepening one’s spiritual practice(s) for self-care, personal transformation, and responsive ministry with others
  • Public Speaking & Community Ministry: Developing inspired public speaking and facilitation skills for myriad settings
  • Arts for Awakening: Engaging transformative artistic practices in visual arts, music, and movement as pathways to the Divine
  1. Interfaith Ministry & Service – Explore spiritual care practices for individuals and communities
  • Spiritual Care: Developing practical, inclusive spiritual care and ministry skills, prayer, spiritual care theology, and personal competence in deep listening, presence and compassion
  • Ceremonial Ministry & Ritual-Making: Understanding ceremonial rites, elements of interfaith worship and tools for effective ritual creation
  • Prophetic Voice & Social Transformation: Exploring pathways to applied ministry, cultural advocacy and social activism
  1. Vocational Formation – Design and practice your unique path to service or ministry
  • Supervised Practicum:  Integration and application of core competencies
  • Calling & Discernment: Exploring how your gifts, growing edges, vocational experiences and inner guidance interweave to form your way of ministering to the world.

Program Structure

Course Timing & Frequency

Students have up to three years to complete the coursework.  A two-year process allows for greater continuity and a deeper engagement with both the material.

Independent Study

Students take classes online and work independently on book studies with requirements that include:

Work with a Spiritual Director or Counselor/Therapist with a spiritual focus
Each student is required to complete once-monthly Spiritual Direction/Spiritual Counseling sessions with an approved director, to commence after the student’s first module, and completing a minimum of 1 session per month for every month prior to graduation (or ordination), unless otherwise agreed upon between the student and the Liminal Thealogical Seminary.

Commit to a personal spiritual practice and participate in a spiritual community (different traditions very acceptable)

The options for a personal spiritual practice are multiple and flexible.  Examples include attendance at a weekly worship service, daily meditation, prayer based on a primary faith tradition, yoga, art or journaling, and so on. Practice should be discussed and tended in spiritual direction.

Visit spiritual centers

Each Chaplaincy Program student is expected to visit and experience worship at a variety of houses of worship or spiritual centers in several faiths in his or her local community. The intent of this contextual learning requirement is to have the student engage with different faith traditions/expressions of spirituality beyond just observation (and, especially, to avoid “spiritual tourism.”) Site visit reports should contain evidence of both personal and contextual/cultural examination.

Complete a practicum *

Contextual learning gives each student the opportunity to integrate theological concepts and intellectual constructs into the flow of lived experience. Students are required to complete a supervised practicum in an area of interest relating to their desired focus of ministry or spiritual care. This is where each student can test their wings and begin to grow their ministry within the supportive structure of our learning community.

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Application
A written application, transcript, professional resume or CV and letters of recommendation are required. Application materials can be sent in as they are completed; they do not all have to arrive together.

Admissions Interviews
We review applications in the order we receive them, within 2 weeks of receiving them. Once reviewed, we will be in contact with you to schedule an interview either in person or by Zoom.

WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU

We appreciate that some people need support in making such an important decision. Indeed, choosing to enroll in a program such as this is a considerable investment of time and resources. Our Admissions Manager is available to guide you in your discernment about enrolling and can be reached at bendis@applebranch.org .

FEES

Students may pay monthly on a recurring subscription of $69.95 per month with an initial enrollment fee of $100.