WINTER Term, 2008

December 15, 2008

Term 13!

Holy moly, TERM 13 AND I'M STILL ALIVE!

I actually finished my coursework last term. I don't graduate until spring, however, and i still have Senior Exams to deal with, which are comprehensive exams of all classes, so we're not out of the woods yet.

Senior exams consists of six modules, six seperate exams. Psychology, Philosophy, Science and Spirituality, Education, Religion, and Leadership. Each module addresses a handful of classes that we have taken that fall under that specific umbrella.

Did you hear that big sigh? That was me, thinking about this.

I still have a couple of internships to finish as well, and have to attend the Annual Gathering in Orange County in February '09, as well as the annual Asilomar Gathering in Monterey in August '09. Oral ministerial panels are there, at Asilomar, though I will grauate with my masters degree in spring, the second Saturday of June to be exact.

What a trip!

SPRING! Term 2008, Update

March 2, 2008

Term Ten

Next spring at this time, I'll have only a few short weeks until graduation. Hard to believe!

I have 2 full terms (quarters) left, and 3 very light terms of only one class, plus internships and retreats.

We are required to do a 40 hour internship each term. There are 15 competencies that all have to be addressed via internships somewhere in the course of school. In other words, we have 15 internships, covering such areas as Administration and Spiritual Leadership, Education Leadership, and Ecclesiastical Leadership. So we get to experience a bunch of differnt areas. Maybe I'll post the whole list soon, to give you a better idea of the work. Also we do retreats each spring and fall, spending a weekend with our classmates and some of the instructors off the beaten path in (hopefully) some lovely natural location. It's a good chance to interact, and most of the time the guest minister - who facilitates some process or another - contributes something good for us to consider.

Ok, so on to the course of Spring, '08. This term the classes I'm taking are;

The Essentials of Mind / Body Medicine

This course addresses the multifaceted dimensions of mind/body healing and reviews the experimental data emerging from a variety of fields of study and research. The question which underscores the whole realm of mind/body medicine is, "Can consciousness heal the body of disease as claimed in all spiritual traditions and is this vindicated by the data?" New and old answers to this question are explored as well as recent discussions about quantum healing and science within the study of consciousness. The subjects of wellness and creativity of the body in promoting wellness are reviewed and integrated into this survey course

Then there is The Art of Spiritual Leadership

This course explores the idea of leadership grounded in spiritual principle. Emphasis is placed on transformative styles of leadership which create orderly and systematic governing practices that "work for everyone". Students will assess appropriate styles to use in various situations, with individuals and groups.

and

Contemporary Applications of Science of Mind

Co-taught by two of the most respected leaders in contemporary Religious Science, Dr. Edward Viljoen of UCRS and Rev. Candace Beckett of RSI: The course is designed to engage students in rigorous discussions of the relationship between the world of the 21st Century and Science of Mind principles. Through written and oral presentations, students will apply  their love and mastery of the Science of Mind to everyday, contemporary situations. 

plus Spring Retreat, and yet another internship (which I still have to determine!)

And there's a light at the end of the tunnel! WOOHOO!

More soon!

XOJ

Winter term '07 - 08 Update

January 22, 2008

This is Term Nine! There really IS a light at the end of the tunnel!

Since I started in Winter '06, rather than graduating this spring, it will be next spring. But, I am cutting through the coursework faster than I had originally anticipated.

I have just 2 full terms left, after this one, being Spring and Fall of this year. I have finished with the Summer curriculum, so actually will be off school - except for the required internship each term - this summer for the first time literally in years. Then I will have 2 very light terms, winter ('08-09) and spring '09.

MONEY: The challenge from where I sit at the moment is money. Though the Universe clearly supports this path for me, I would sure feel better if I was in better shape looking at registration next month for the spring term. Thank God for Chase Visa, but even they have a limit (which I'm pushing!).

I figure the 2 full time terms will cost between $1800. and $2,000. each. The 2 lighter terms will be around $750 each.

The last item is that I'm required to attend a UCSL Gathering before I graduate. Which means either this year - March - in Kansas City, or next year in Denver. This year looks like a good conference, and at the moment it's around $1500. bucks that I cant see where it would come from. I'm assuming it will be similar money next year, and Denver would be fun to see too, so I dont know. Need to make a decision though shortly if it's going to be this year. We'll see.

So I'm looking to manifest somewhere in the neighborhood of $6,500 to get me through this adventure. I need to get the plastic paid down too, and am working on that.

I am open to suggestions, and even contrbutions in this area. I know the money exists somewhere. I'm just so amazed that I've been able, more or less, to keep this up until now. Who'd have thunk it??

Of course then, my idea d'jour is to open a Western Regional Spiritual Retreat and Conference Center, and then we're talking some bucks! (and, I seem to have a different idea of what I'm going to do every term so, stay tuned  : )

But, first things first!

THIS TERM I'm taking;

Classical Philosophy (it's all Greek to me!)

Diversity Training

Church Financial Management (oh boy!)

and Family / Youth Church Management

Only 4 classes this term, which is very nice compared to five, but I am to the point where I only need to take one distance class per term rather than 2, so that takes a little pressure off. So, this term one distance class, and 3 regional classes. Still keeps me busy!

That's the news for now. More soon!

xoj

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Fall term '07 Classes

October, 2007

The 2 that I have started already are;

REL 503 - Wisdom of the Kabbalah

I just finished listening to the fifth lecture (or the 10 lecture series) and am enjoying the class so far. Since it's pruimarily about mysticism, a lot of the writing is in parable and poetry form. First conference call for this class is Oct. 2, so I'll know more after that!

and

EDU 601 - Teaching Adults Science of Mind

Taught by one of the royalty of Religious Science, Rev. Dr. Margaret Stortz, this class has been a lot of fun ( and a LOT of work) so far. One of the assignments is to put together an outline for a five week, or five segment class, and I'm going to take the opportunity to play with the Quantum Physics workshop that's been living in my head for the past year or so. More on that soon perhaps as well!

2 other classes this term are;

PHI501 - A New Myth of God (I like philosophy classes, though they can be mind-benders)

and

PSY604 - Pastoral Guidance (companion to the pastoral care class I took in '95). This one is to be taught by Rev. Mary Murray-Shelton, so I'm looking forward to it as well.

More news soon!