Category Archives: News

Cherry Hill Seminary Saddened by Violence in Boston

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For Immediate Release

April 17, 2013

Contact: Holli Emore, 888-503-4131, CHS@cherryhillseminary.org

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Cherry Hill Seminary is saddened by the violence of Monday’s bombing at the Boston Marathon.

Trustee Aline “Macha” O’Brien stated, “Our hearts go out to those directly affected by the explosions, as well as to everyone else who was there, to all the runners of the world, and to the good people of Boston. The pain of such terrible loss crosses all boundaries and unites us in our resolve not to be intimidated by such cowardly acts.”

“Although our students study and train to minister effectively in times of crisis,” said Executive Director Holli Emore, “we hope for a future in which fear no longer erodes the bonds of community.”

“We who honor and walk the sacred path of the Earth and all of Her children mourn the tragic events surrounding the bombing in Boston. We feel the violence done to the Earth and to her children as well as to the possibility of peace and well-being that belongs to all of the Earth. We extend our own community’s work for healing, peace, justice and support to the Boston community and all who were harmed in anyway by this attack,” said Bob Patrick, Chair, Department of Ministry, Advocacy and Leadership.

And from Valentine McKay-Riddell, Chair, Department of Pagan Community Education, “If we stand together for peace, patience, understanding, and support of both the victims and even the perpetrators (because even the most vicious acts of violence are usually catalyzed by deep suffering on some level, and Goddess knows there’s been far too much of that lately!), we will eventually midwife the birth of a new and more compassionate world.”

The students, faculty and staff extend sincere condolences to the survivors and to the families and loved ones of those killed in the attack.

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry, and personal growth in Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities.

For further information contact Cherry Hill Seminary at 888-503-4131 or CHS@cherryhilllseminary.org

Cherry Hill Seminary Saddened by Loss of Pagan Scholar Patricia Monaghan

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Cherry Hill Seminary is saddened to learn of the passing of noted scholar, author and women’s spirituality movement leader Patricia Monaghan.

Academic Dean Wendy Griffin said, “We mourn the loss of poet, visionary, and rigorous scholar Patricia Monaghan, PhD, whose contributions to those who venerate the Goddess cannot be overstated, from her early work in helping to develop Women’s Spirituality, through to her founding of the Association for the Study of Women and Mythology.  With an Irish heart and a Pagan soul, Dr. Monaghan found the mythic in the mundane and took joy in the exploration.  We are deeply grateful for the books and poems she shared with us.  ‘So many stories…each worthy of telling.’ (Seasons of the Witch, Monaghan, 2007)”

Dean of Students Candace Kant reflected on her recent work with Monaghan:  “It was from Patricia Monaghan’s many books that I discovered the breadth and depth of Goddess.  I was very honored to be able to meet her and spend a few days with her and her devoted husband Michael in Black Earth, Wisconsin, which they so loved.  Working with Patricia and Michael on the Brigid Anthology this past year was a pleasure, and I know it was a labor of love for them.  I am deeply saddened by her loss, but am thankful for the legacy of scholarship and love for Goddess that she left with us.”

“She believed in my writing and what I had to say,” said Aline O’Brien, a Cherry Hill Seminary director and longtime instructor.  “Patricia opened doors for me, giving me unique opportunities to contribute to the Pagan literature and dialog.  She was supportive of Cherry Hill Seminary from our early days, allowing us to feature her as a guest lecturer in our 2006 Second Sunday online lecture series.  Both of us being Irish-American, we shared a love of Irish culture.”

In honor of Monaghan’s immeasurable contributions to scholarship Cherry Hill Seminary will name a scholarship in her memory, the Patricia Monaghan Scholarship.

Monaghan’s husband, Dr. Michael McDermott, has served on the Board of Directors of Cherry Hill Seminary since 2007.  We extend our sincere condolences on the loss of his beloved Patricia whose joy in living will be missed by all.

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry, and personal growth in Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities.

For further information contact Cherry Hill Seminary at 888-503-4131 or CHS@cherryhilllseminary.org

Cherry Hill Seminary Awards First-Ever Pagan Master of Divinity Degree

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For Immediate Release, August 16, 2012
Contact: Holli Emore, 888.503.4131, CHS@cherryhillseminary.org

COLUMBIA, SC — Cherry Hill Seminary today announced the graduation of Sandra Lee Harris, awarding her the Master of Divinity in Pagan Pastoral Counseling. Harris is the first student to complete her master’s degree since Cherry Hill Seminary first opened its graduate program in 2009.

Sandra L. Harris, M.Div., Pagan Pastoral Counseling

“When I started in 2002, Cherry Hill Seminary was the first and best opportunity I found for inexpensive and trustworthy Pagan education beyond the training I received in the Fellowship of the Sacred Grove,” said Harris in an interview. “By the time the masters program was introduced in 2009, I had committed myself to becoming a board-certified chaplain. I embraced the Cherry Hill Seminary program as a way to add the necessary qualification of an M.Div. or equivalent.”

Harris served her internship at St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., and prior to that was for several years a volunteer pastoral caregiver and on-call interfaith chaplain at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia. She has been accepted into the Fairfax County Community Chaplain Corps, beginning service following November Corps training.

Executive Director Holli Emore notes that the needs of students like Harris have helped shape the seminary program, and the needs of local and regional communities have shaped the educational choices of Cherry Hill Seminary students. Academic Dean, Wendy Griffin, Ph.D., comments on the unique assets of Cherry Hill Seminary: “Our Masters classes are multi-disciplinary and taught by leading scholars in their fields. A major advantage of an online seminary is that our instructors come from all over the United States, as well as Canada, Britain, France and Australia, and are scholars with whom students would never come into contact except through their writings. Ms. Harris has taken full advantage of the opportunities that Cherry Hill Seminary can offer and we know she will make us proud as she takes up her calling.”

Harris’ department chair and advisor has been Dr. David Oringderff, also founder of Sacred Well Congregation. Oringderff says, “On behalf of the Pagan Pastoral Counseling Department, I would like to extend our congratulations to Sandra L. Harris, M.Div., for an outstanding job well done. Having worked with Sandra as a professor and academic advisor for much of her academic career, I can attest to her diligence, dedication and academic excellence. I am both proud and gratified that she wishes, as an alumnus, to continue her close association with and contributions to Cherry Hill Seminary. Conferral of the Master of Divinity, Pagan Pastoral Counseling, was both a personal milestone for Sandra, and an institutional milestone for the Seminary. As our first Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling, she helped set the high standards of excellence for all of our students who follow. We wish her all the best, and pledge our continued support in her endeavors to become a Board-Certified Chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains.”

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leader in providing education and practical training for Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities, leadership, ministry, and personal growth.. Incorporated in the state of South Carolina, all studies are through online distance education, with occasional retreats and conferences. For more information, visit www.cherryhillseminary.org or write CHS@cherryhillseminary.org.

Cherry Hill Seminary Saddened by Attack on Sikh Sacred Space

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The Cherry Hill Seminary family of students, faculty, staff and board leadership is deeply saddened by yesterday’s attack on the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek.  We express sincere condolences to all those who have lost loved ones, and to the wider Sikh community across our nation and the world.

As Pagans, we are particularly sensitive to the violation of sacred space and disregard for human life which occurred.  Furthermore, we cherish the pursuit of ongoing education as an antidote to the violence bred in ignorance and misunderstanding.

We call on each member of our seminary community as well as our supporters and friends to set aside a moment of contemplative silence today in memory of those who lost their lives, and in support of all who are suffering because of this tragedy.  In addition, we recommend that you seek ways to express support for Sikhs in your own community.

Cherry Hill Seminary provides distance education for Pagan and Earth-based spiritualities and prepares individuals for ministry to their communities.  For more information, visit www.cherryhillseminary.org.