Category Archives: News

Cherry Hill Seminary Graduates Present at Parliament of World’s Religions

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For Immediate Release: October 13, 2021

 

Cherry Hill Seminary Graduates Present at Parliament of World’s Religions

A human need for support

Old notions of spiritual support or ministry have historically concentrated on one leader or location. Yet, even before the pandemic, traditional place-based spiritual communities and support services were subject to social changes. Most of these changes are the result of increased mobility, personal independence, generational change, and a growing number of people who identify as some variety of Pagan or who blend earth-based spirituality with one or more religious background.

Studies show that most Pagans are unaffiliated with a spiritual group, whether by choice or through lack of choice, but have the same human needs for support during life passages, crises, and personal growth.

Addressing Pagan spiritual support

Three graduates from Cherry Hill Seminary will present “The Changing Landscape of Spiritual Support for Contemporary Pagans” on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 3:45 PM Eastern US Time.

  • Carol Kirk, MDiv, a longtime Wiccan priestess and retired military nurse, will address wounded warriors and moral injury.
  • Professional hospital chaplain Wes Isley, MDiv, will share his experiences on the floor during COVID.
  • Holli Emore, MDiv, will speak about engage collaborative networks, cultivating horizontal leadership in our communities and providing compassionate spiritual support.

Parliament of the World’s Religions

The Parliament of the World’s Religions (PoWR) is the world’s premier interfaith convening organization, and has featured Pagan involvement since 1993. It’s mission is to “cultivate harmony among the world’s religious and spiritual communities.”

Previous Parliaments have drawn thousands of participants from around the world for conferences in Chicago, South Africa, Spain, Australia, and Canada. The 2021 Parliament is virtual and anyone may attend, but registration is required. You can view the agenda here and filter the sessions by selecting “Paganism” under the “Tracks and Tags” feature.

Pagan Voices at PoWR: https://parliamentofreligions.org/paganism-2021-parliament

For more information about Cherry Hill Seminary contact us.

New Book Published by CHS Executive Director

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New Book Published by CHS Executive Director

Constellated Ministry book cover

Cover artist Sarah Kurlowich

We are delighted to announce that Constellated Ministry: A Guide for Those Serving Today’s Pagans by Cherry Hill Seminary’s Executive Director, Holli S. Emore, is now available for purchase, courtesy of Equinox Publishing. A book on Pagan ministry, we are proud of this contribution to the broader community and hope that future spiritual leaders will lean on its content for guidance as the develop their ministerial practice.

“There are no easy answers here; we are attempting to chart a map for a constantly moving starscape. My hope is that not only Pagans will use Constellated Ministry, but that it becomes a tool for the thousands of chaplains at military bases, hospitals, hospices and police departments who are genuinely committed to serving all who need them.” –  Holli S. Emore

Publishers Summary

“Pagan traditions are the fastest-growing religious group in America, or so it has often been said since British witchcraft arrived in the late 1950s. Numbers are tricky to come by, but we know that contemporary Pagans report themselves as living in every American state, and in countries around the world. Historian Ronald Hutton is fond of pointing out that witchcraft is the one new religion that England has produced and shared globally.

This volume reviews the shifting landscape of current Pagan spirituality, the unique culture and needs which must be understood in order to engage with contemporary Pagans, and the implications for future leadership, including organizational models, training and educational needs. The author has interviewed Pagan leaders about their own experiences and looks at data from the Pagan Engagement and Spiritual Support survey of 2016 to answer questions such as What does “ministry” mean for Pagans? Who do Pagans turn to for spiritual support? Who ought to be providing that support? Do Pagans want leaders who are trained for ministry? What kind of training do they need, and how do they get it?

If you are a Pagan who wishes to support others in these ways, you will find here a framework for your own work, including stories and examples. If you are an interfaith minister, a chaplain, or a spiritual leader who finds that Pagans are intersecting with your work, you will become acquainted with the culture of this old-but-new spirituality. If you are an educator, may you find Constellated Ministry useful in teaching seminarians and students of religious studies.”

Reviews

“Holli Emore offers a wise, inspiring and invaluable guide for all those called to the sacred task of tending to the spiritual needs of the modern Pagan community. She shares a framework of best practices and helpful recommendations, tools and ideas for effective, compassionate, and skillful Pagan ministry and a sustaining vision for all those also called to service.”

“The book is amazingly comprehensive, and perfect for Pagans/Heathens/etc. who feel called to do ministry of any kind. It gives guidance to untrained folks who find themselves unexpectedly in leadership positions in our changing times. Shifting the focus from locations and individuals, the usual Pagan group paradigm, to a more “constellated” point of view may provide a firmer basis for Pagan ministry in the future. This is a must-read for anyone considering a ministry in the Pagan communities.”

“Ministry and chaplaincy grow increasingly complex and nuanced as Western societies evolve and diversify in their spiritual affiliations and needs. Holli Emore’s book is a wise guide through the landscape of Pagan chaplaincy that will aid both those working or training as Pagan chaplains and those who may be called to serve Pagans in a non-denominational ministry. The book draws on insights from Emore’s wide experience in chaplaincy and from her important research in the Pagan Engagement and Spiritual Support Survey. Constellated Ministry is a highly useful resource for those interested in Pagan practice today.”

Cherry Hill Seminary Announces Release of “Paganism and Its Discontents: Enduring Problems of Racialized Identity”

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Columbia, S.C. — Cherry Hill Seminary announces the release of “Paganism and Its Discontents: Enduring Problems of Racialized Identity”, a volume containing papers presented at a 2019 symposium by the same name, plus a preface by sociologist Helen S. Berger. The symposium was a joint effort of Cherry Hill Seminary and the University of South Carolina Institute of Anthropology and Archaeology (SCIAA). The symposium was the first academic conference to address the specific issue of racialized identity theology in some contemporary Pagan religious traditions.

Proponents of racist interpretations of pre-Christian Norse-Germanic spiritualities have claimed to be preserving “heritage”, while others belonging to the contemporary Heathen movements have moved to distance themselves from “volkish” thinking. Long-simmering just beneath the surface of American Paganism, racialized Heathenry was on full display in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Tragically and ironically, news of the Christchurch, New Zealand shooting reached symposium attendees as they arrived for the opening session.

“Paganism and Its Discontents” is edited by Holli S. Emore and Jonathan M. Leader. Contributors include Michael F. Strmiska (keynote address for symposium); Jefferson F. Calico; Ben Waggoner; Diana L. Paxson (guest speaker for the symposium); Gus diZerega; Tahni J. Nikitins; Holli S. Emore; and Stephan Grundy.

“Symposium papers are presented not just for the purpose of scholarship, although they will add considerably in that regard,” states Seminary director Holli Emore. “But they are also shared in the hope that better knowledge of the ideas underlying white supremacy presenting as a religion will begin to turn back the ugly tide of rising hate and violence.” Co-editor Jonathan Leader, SCIAA director and S.C. State Archaeologist, noted that, “The book is the direct result of individuals who were engaged with the communities of concern. The information they provide is not simply from an academic standpoint but represents the communities themselves.”

Currently available in hardback from Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

For more information, contact Tracie Mooneyham, Marketing Coordinator at tmooneyham@cherryhillseminary.org.

Aline O’Brien Awarded Honorary Degree In Recognition of Lifetime Achievement and Service

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Contact: Holli Emore, Cherry Hill Seminary, CHS@cherryhillseminary.org

Aline O’Brien, M.Div. honoris causa

Columbia, S.C. — Aline O’Brien, also known as M. Macha NightMare, has been awarded a Master of Divinity, honoris causa (honorary) by Cherry Hill Seminary in recognition of her many years of service and leadership to the Seminary.

The surprise announcement took place at the October 12 South Carolina Upstate Pagan Pride Day (Greenville area) at the end of a ritual led by O’Brien. Holli Emore, Executive Director of the Seminary, presented an honorary Master of Divinity on behalf of the Board of Directors, acknowledging the vital role O’Brien has played in the life of the Seminary for at least fifteen years.

Originally invited to participate in an online class by co-founder Cat Chapin-Bishop, O’Brien went on to develop and teach “Call of the Dark Mother,” a course addressing issues around dying and death. She recruited many individuals who became faculty, served on the board, or chose to support the Seminary as donors. O’Brien served as a director from 2008 to 2011, chairing the governing body for two of those years.

“Being a living legend within American (and indeed, global) Craft and feminist causes, Macha’s contributions have inspired countless people who need spiritual sustenance during challenging times,” said Jeffrey Keefer, Board Chair. “Macha has been a steadfast supporter of Cherry Hill Seminary’s educational mission and vision over the years, previously serving on our Board of Directors, and it is with great honor that we present this honorary degree for her many contributions to Pagan and Nature-Based spiritualities.”

Emore noted, “While Cherry Hill Seminary is an organic creation which has emerged from the vision and work of a great many people, including our students, it is difficult to imagine where we would be without Macha. She has been phenomenal.”

As a token of appreciation for her many years of dedication, the Seminary gifted O’Brien with a red silk stole embroidered with the Seminary logo which is reserved for graduates.

To read more comments by Pagan leaders about O’Brien, visit Tributes to Aline O’Brien

For more information, contact the office at CHS@cherryhillseminary.org.