Circle Sanctuary's Ministry Training Program
Program Overview:
Circle Sanctuary, also known as Circle, was founded in 1974 with the purpose of helping people from many spiritual orientations to connect with each other as well as with the spiritual dimensions of Nature. Our ministers are dedicated to serving peoples of many Nature Religion paths through the creation and sharing of rituals, meditations, music, images, and other spiritual art forms. Our ministers promote dialog, cooperation and mutually beneficial networking among individuals, groups, and organizations. Living and connecting in mainstream society, Circle Sanctuary ministers promote understanding and tolerance through public education, interfaith networking, and public relations media work.
As an endorsing organization for Wiccan and Pagan ministers, our ministers are legally recognized to perform religious services, chaplaincy support, and related work in hospitals, hospice, state and federal prisons, college and university campuses, and US military installations. Circle Sanctuary Ministers provide a variety of spiritual services as part of their work including counseling, healing, and conducting weddings, child blessings, funerals, house blessings, and other rites of passages. Successful completion of the Circle Sanctuary Ministry Training Program is a requirement for ordination from our organization.
The Circle Sanctuary Ministry Training Program is a guided spiritual journey culminating with ordination. Students are mentored throughout their journey learning essential ministerial skills such as: pastoral counseling, leading small and large group ritual, connecting with community, developing an ethical code of conduct, ability to work across traditions, basic education in the tenants of major religions, group problem solving, media interface, interfacing in public institutions, and much more. All students participate in a minimum of a one year practicum that is individually designed to interface the ministerial focus of the student with the overall vision of Circle Sanctuary. The ultimate goal of the Circle Sanctuary Ministry Training Program is to prepare students to carry out the Mission of the church through their Ministry.
Each cohort of students begins their studies in September, and a complete course of study may take two to four+ years depending on prior experience and coursework. Applications for prospective students closed July 7, 2024.
Circle Sanctuary's Ministry Training Program Application can be found here: MTP Application