Category Archives: News

Seminary Remembers Longtime Faculty and Leader David Oringderff

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Columbia, S.C. — Cherry Hill Seminary is sad to learn of the death on October 6 of longtime faculty leader David Oringderff, Ph.D. Fondly called “Dr. O” by many students, Oringderff taught for the Seminary beginning in 2002, headed the Department of Pastoral Counseling & Chaplaincy for about a decade, assisted in the development of the Community Ministry Certificate, and helped the academic dean to develop curriculum standards for his department.

“But his stellar work on behalf of Cherry Hill Seminary was just one facet of David’s extraordinary life,” said director Holli Emore. “Biographies that emerge in the wake of his passing will more fully detail all of David’s accomplishments. But I knew him as a co-founder and executive director emeritus of Sacred Well Congregation, an international Pagan coalition, and as the person behind the Wiccan circle at Fort Hood, Texas, when a national media firestorm erupted.” Emore continued, “David was also active for many years with the COMISS Network on Ministry in Specialized Settings. But I remember him best for always making himself available to students, his colleagues, and to me. We could always depend on David to follow through with whatever he committed to, quietly sharing his wisdom when asked.”

Others in the Seminary community also shared their memories.

I first got to know David when he was a U.S. Army major and he requested that I become his Europe-based doctoral supervisor during his NATO posting in Europe. His dedication to Paganism and Earth-based traditions, and to ensuring that those in the military have access to the spiritual resources that they need, was outstanding. His legacy lives on in the military in the form of the Sacred Well Congregation and the generations of chaplains, students, and Pagans that he has inspired. He will be greatly missed by his friends in Europe, the States, and beyond.—Vivianne Crowley

Only last December 2025 I was privileged to present David with the Hypatia Award for Excellence in Education in recognition of lifetime achievement and his service to the Cherry Hill Seminary community. During that time, he advised and taught scores of students, and mentored the first Master of Divinity graduate.—Margo Wolfe, Ph.D., Academic Dean

As a fellow psychologist, and an early instructor in the counseling program, I respected and admired David’s leadership at Cherry Hill. David mentored and guided students to achieve successful and satisfying careers as pagan counselors. He was compassionate and sincere, and a joy to work with.—Valerie Cole, Ph.D.

As a fellow chaplain endorser, I always knew David to be friendly and truthful. A person of integrity, he was not afraid to engage myself or others of differing faiths. And I do remember him well as an endorser and colleague. I am a past Chair of the COMISS Network, and he attended during my tenure. I respected him.—David B. Plummer

David has been a close friend and trusted mentor for many years. In many ways, he served as a father figure. He will be well remembered in this realm, and may he be well received in the next.—Shane L. Nelson, M.Div.

To David’s wife, Willow, his family and the many, many people whose lives he touched, Cherry Hill Seminary extends our sincere condolences. Read more about David here

A visitation will be held from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Thursday, October 15, 2026 at Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler, Missouri. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am Thursday, also at the funeral home, with burial in Fort Scott National Cemetery, Fort Scott, Kansas.

Cherry Hill Seminary Holds Fall Ordination Ceremony

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Cherry Hill Seminary Holds Fall Ordination Ceremony
For Immediate Release
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026

Columbia, S.C.—Cherry Hill Seminary held a service of ordination on Saturday, September 19, 2026 for four of its graduates: Timothy Billbrough, CMC; Brenda Ann Cole, Certified Spiritual Director; Karen Bilan (Bee) Gomez CMC; and Lisa Lake, CMC, Certified Spiritual Director.

Each of the ordinands completed a thorough course of study, including a supervised internship local to them. A Clergy Review Committee which included Rev. Wes Isley, MDiv, HPs Carol Kirk, Rev. Karen LeBlanc, MDiv, Rev. Cedar Monroe, MDiv, and Dr. Robert Patrick, MDiv, reviewed applications and interviewed each candidate before approving them for ordination. Prior to this review the Seminary contracted with an outside firm to conduct extensive background checks.

Rev. Cedar Monroe conducted the ceremony, concluding with remarks appropriate to the approaching equinox. Rev. Monroe shared that people have said that ordination is both the culmination of and the beginning of one’s ministry.
Seminary director Holli Emore added that each student is on a unique journey, saying, “The choice to seek ordination shows a willingness to cross a threshold into the next stage of their life path.”

Cherry Hill Seminary is not tradition-specific, and does not train students for particular traditions. Core elements of seminary training include ethics, exploring the student’s personal theology, interfaith leadership, ritual development and more. Candidates for ordination have demonstrated the understanding of and ability to support others spiritually.
Those who wish to make a gift in honor of one or all the ordinands may do so here.

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry, and personal growth in Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities, by providing transformative education and empowering students to advance academically and lead spiritually.. https://cherryhillseminary.org/

Media contact for more information: chs@cherryhillseminary.org or 1-803-862-9088.

U.S. Dept. of Defense Faith Codes Change Disrespects Military Personnel

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For Immediate Release
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026

Columbia, S.C.—This week media sources revealed that the U.S. Department of Defense has removed around 180 recognized religious faiths and belief systems from its list of faith codes. The excuse given by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was that this would “streamline” the department’s “collection of religious preferences to enhance the delivery of targeted religious support from the Chaplaincy.” (1) Cherry Hill Seminary strenuously objects to this action.

For more than 20 years Cherry Hill Seminary has served hundreds of individuals exploring their spirituality and training to provide professional and compassionate spiritual support to others. More than a few of these have been individuals wishing to serve as a U.S. military chaplain. The Seminary is grounded in Pagan and earth-based spiritualities but requires courses in world religions and interfaith leadership in order to prepare our graduates for a multicultural world. Chaplaincy requires someone of any or no religion to be able to attend the needs of all the personnel in their care. But part of that training is to know when to bring in another chaplain who shares the religion of the individual. For example, a Muslim or Pagan chaplain will not serve communion to a Christian soldier but will ensure that soldier has appropriate access to sacraments.

We are concerned that military personnel who must choose from this narrow approved list will fall through the cracks of service. Spiritual needs are heightened and intensified during the rigors of military training and deployment, and even more so by the trauma of combat. To impose these restrictive definitions sends a clear message that the 180 religious paths eliminated are no longer important enough to serve in the armed forces. It is hard to miss the steady forward movement of the ultra-conservative Project 2025 plan, which claims to “strengthen protections for chaplains to carry out their ministry according to the tenets of their faith,” while at the same time calling to “eliminate . . . newly established diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and staff.” (2)

Such statements strike us as un-American. The new list creates dividing lines between recognized and invisible religions, effectively, if not explicitly, disrupting the unity on which strong military defense relies. We call on the U.S. Department of Defense to discard this recent list in order to provide spiritual care for all of those who serve in the defense of our country.

(1) As reported by Military.com on June 4, 2026
(2) Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise, Project 2025 Presidential Transition Project, pp. 103-104

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry, and personal growth in Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities, by providing transformative education and empowering students to advance academically and lead spiritually.. https://cherryhillseminary.org/ Media contact for more information: chs@cherryhillseminary.org or 1-803-862-9088.

Congratulations to Our Spring Graduates

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For Immediate Release
Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2026
Columbia, S.C.—Cherry Hill Seminary honored eleven new graduates on Saturday, May 9 at the Spring Commencement. 
Selina Rifkin received her Master of Divinity in Ministry, Advocacy and Leadership. Selina began her Seminary journey in 2008, took a several-year break, then returned to complete the degree. Her thesis is entitled, “Seeking alternative religion: Leaving the culturally dominant religion for a Pagan, earth-based practice.” 
Board of Directors member Vanessa Hurst announced Meagan Fischer and Skyelar Peterson have received their Community Ministry Certificate (CMC). She also recognized Gabriel “Cap” Nix, an outstanding student who died this spring while working towards his CMC. Nix’s family and friends were present as Hurst shared about Cap’s talent and enthusiasm for serving others.
Rev. Amy Beltaine recognized four individuals who have received their Spiritual Direction Certificate: Brenda Cole, Tamara Van Jacobs, Lawrence Lerner, and Matthew Ricke. The certification is earned through two years of immersive learning and praxis. To date, twenty-one students have earned their Spiritual Direction Certificate. 
Professor Diane Cacciato presented the Writing as a Spiritual Practice Certificate to Mena Strong, Chris Rothbauer, Diane Sontum, and (posthumously) Linda Slack. A collection of the class members’ writings (including Slack’s) will be published this year as Hypatia Dreaming: Volume II.
Keynote speaker Robert Patrick, PhD noted in his remarks that we have “good trouble and good magic to work in this world . . . in this moment of human history, that is calling forth in this spot powerful presence, the will to take up the challenges of change, and courageous imagination.”
Holli Emore, Executive Director, closed with an admonition to the graduates: “In such uncertain times, there is a critical need for those trained to weave connection and bring forth healing. All of us present charge each of our graduates to tend your light carefully, and to shine it fearlessly for those who might look to you.”
A recording of the event may be viewed here.

Cherry Hill Seminary is the leading provider of education and practical training in leadership, ministry, and personal growth in Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities, by providing transformative education and empowering students to advance academically and lead spiritually.. https://cherryhillseminary.org/ Media contact for more information: chs@cherryhillseminary.org or 1-803-862-9088.
Spring Commencement 2026 original invitation