To train and support people to be of service through skill and spiritual practice
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ChIME
Box 3833
Portland ME 04104
207-347-6740
chimeadmin@gmail.com

Program

  • Two-year, 500-hour program for individuals with a BA degree or equivalent
  • Become proficient in leading interfaith community ceremonies and rituals, including: baptisms, weddings, organizational meetings, worship services, end of life care, funerals, memorials
  • Learn basics of world religious traditions
  • Explore, develop and present one (new) form of artistic expression of spirituality, the divine, etc.
  • In-depth study and report of one "Planetary Chaplain"
  • Core faculty and mentor program
  • Format
    • 60 weekly evening classes
    • 36 weekend workshops
    • Residential retreats
    • Independent study
    • 300 hours Community Service and intern requirements
    • Graduation/ordination thesis project
    • Spiritual journaling and papers
    • Presentations of ‘expressed interfaith spirituality’

    Current tuition for the two-year program: $5,400.
    Payment options available

The first year of the program focuses on inner work, preparing the self for chaplaincy.
The second year explores ways in which that inner development is applied to serving the larger community.

First Year: The Way of Contemplation

The Spiritual Call Sacred Ceremony & Worship Awareness of the Whole Person
The Physical Self The Emotional Self Meditation
Communication Skills Harvesting the Dream World Comparative Religion
Art-as-Meditation The Planetary Chaplain The Interfaith Tradition
Creation Spirituality World Religions Part One Community Service
Personal Spiritual Practice Project: “Planetary Chaplain”  

First Year Assignments

First Semester:

  1. Find service work and begin service hours. Report brief description of service and number of hours to ChIME administrator monthly. Share one paragraph of a learning from your service work for that month with your Core Teacher.
  2. Begin monthly meetings with Mentor
  3. Begin monthly meetings with assigned Core Teacher
  4. Choose and begin research on Planetary Chaplain Project
  5. Attend one ChIME Sunday Worship Celebration
  6. Begin Spiritual Journal. Explore using art as well as writing
  7. Experiment with a regular daily spiritual practice
  8. Attend one 'expressed interfaith spirituality in community and report to class
  9. Begin exploring forms of artistic expressions of expressed spirituality
  10. Assist with a ChIME interfaith worship service

Second Semester:

  1. Continue above
  2. Prepare Planetary Chaplain report, to be given in class in February
    1. 20 to 30 minute class presentation — any format that you choose
    2. One page written description of your Planetary Chaplain for our Planetary Chaplain book
  3. Begin monthly meetings with new assigned Core Teacher
  4. Continue monthly meetings with Mentor
  5. Harvest Spiritual Journal and share with class
  6. Over the summer — create one artistic expression of spirituality to share with the incoming class

 

Second Year: The Way of Action

World Religions Part Two Reinvention of Work Ritual and Ceremony
Ethics & Supervision Naming Ceremonies Sermons/Spiritual Leadership
Healing Rituals Praying with People/Body Prayer Illness, Death, Dying: Hospital & Hospice Chaplaincy
Funerals & Memorial Services Community Organizing Nature/Mother Earth
The Expressive Arts as Healing Tools Community Internship Project: "Community Ministry"

Second Year Assigments

First Semester:

  1. Establish Internship and provide a written letter or contract specifying job responsibilities, hours to be served and contact person/supervisor.
  2. Begin research on Minister's Manual*
    1. Marriage/Commitment ceremony
    2. Funeral and/or Memorial Service
    3. Naming ceremony
    4. Three other rite of passage rituals
    5. Guided visualization
    6. Using art in ministry
    7. Other
  3. Or other similar project* (By mid-January, submit a description of the proposed project to four Core Teachers for approval)
  4. Begin monthly meetings with new Mentor
  5. Begin monthly meetings with assigned Core Teacher
  6. Continue Spiritual Journal
  7. Deepen Spiritual Practice and share with class
  8. Lead Worship Services with Year One student

Second Semester:

  1. Continue above
  2. If planning to be ordained, write letter stating your intention to Board of Trustees by January 31. (See Requirements for Graduation and Ordination in Student Guide
  3. Continue development of Minister's Manual or other similar project. Share progress with Core Teacher
  4. Check with Administrator by mid-February re: status of courses to be made up, Service; Intern Hours (Total of 300 document hours needed); and other Graduation/Ordination requirements
  5. Harvest Spiritual Journal, and share with class
  6. Write Ordination/Graduation vow
*Minister's Manual and Graduation Projects are due two weeks prior to Graduation and Ordination, and after approval by the Core Teachers become a permanent part of the ChIME resource library.

Extended Program

A student may take up to five years to complete the Extended Program. An extended student may take weekend workshops at any time, with pre-registration necessary, but must complete the weekly classes with the same group of students the same year. The success of the Extended Program, which makes ChIME accessible to more students, depends on clear communication between the student and the student coordinator, and accurate documentation of classes attended.