Hi! I was intrigued by the discussion about New Seminary. Entering a period of transition from academia (currently a prof. of music at the University of Dayton) to ministry (counseling), I'm looking at programs that offer distance learning, a comprehensive coverage of spiritual systems, opportunities to explore, discover and maximize my gifts, etc., all without adding to my already impressive student loan debt. What can anybody tell me about another New York interfaith seminary, All Faiths Seminary? Here's the link: http://www.allfaithseminary.org/. I welcome discussion and ideas.
I'd never heard of All Faiths Seminary, so I Googled it. There were 52 hits before I hit that 'essentially the same' point. Some things that caught my attention: The distinctly less-than-wonderful Commonwealth Open University lists AFS as an "affiliate": http://www.commopu.org/commopu.htm The Lakeshore Institute in appropriately named Ganges Michigan offers ordinations: http://www.accn.org/~baba/ministry.htm The Lakeshore Institute offers a 9 month DL certificate course in world religions, apparently aimed at their clergymen who don't find a seminary program appropriate for some reason: http://www.accn.org/~baba/interfaithstudies.htm They do seem to have some active congregations in the NYC area: http://www.nycinterfaith.org/interfaith_pilgrimage.htm Activities at Ball State: http://www.bsu.edu/cpcs/main.html There were webpages showing Rabbi Gelberman at a Ramakrishna Vendanta event and at a Sivananda yoga event in the Bahamas. There were also a number of websites that seemed to belong to additional small congregations or to ministers offering things like wedding services. My impression: I think that this thing looks very sincere. I really like their interfaith approach, and if I lived in the New York area I might even contact them. Degrees from All Faiths Seminary, which I'd guess operates under a religious exemption, might have some utility within the boundaries of this tiny denomination, but they probably would get very little recognition beyond that. What's more, I really doubt that their education offers the kind of background necessary if one proposes to seriously teach any of these traditions. I would be happier if they didn't offer academic degrees or credit at all, and just offered their courses for whatever edification they are worth. (And lose the COU affiliation!) While on the subject, something called Interfaith Theological Seminary seems to have a similar approach. It's not taking new students at the present time, but interestingly it seems to have an articulation agreement with Prescott College in Arizona, allowing students to take courses residentially at IFTS leading to the award of an RA M.A. in Spirituality from Prescott, leading in turn to ordination in this different tiny interfaith denomination. (It looks like they also have their own non-accredited M.Div.s) http://interfaithseminary.org/
Starr King at UC Berkely If you are somewhat liberal in approach to politics and religion, you may want to consider Starr King in Berkely. They have a limited but expanding DL program. The Unitarian Universalist approach is one that embraces the interfaith movement and values most forms of spirituality and multiculturalism. Take a look at their in-resident course selection to support my assertion (one course is Islamic ethics, for example) They are developing a world religions DL course I know Cal is far from New York, but here is the link anyway. Good Luck http://www.sksm.edu/index.html
All Faith's Seminary's Rabbi Gelberman says: In addition, I am pleased to welcome Reverend Professor John Rossner, Ph.D. D. Lit., founder of the International Institute of Integral Human Sciences and an Episcopalian priest, as Chancellor of All-Faiths Seminary International. The Seminary at present offers three programs: the Accelerated Modern Interfaith Minister program; the Divinity School, where Ordained Clergy can received additional training in ministry and spiritual counseling; and the Doctorate Program in cooperation with the International Institute of Integral Human Sciences (an organization affiliated with the United Nations). http://www.allfaithseminary.org/letter.asp Here's the International Institute: http://www.iiihs.org/ IIIHS doesn't seem to offer doctorates. But in turn, the IIIHS operates something called the International College of Spiritual and Psychic Sciences. This Montreal school offers DL courses leading to certificates that they say are the "equivalent" of academic degrees. In order to turn them into "real" academic degrees, you can pay an additional $295(US) to Medicina Alternativa & The Open International University of Columbo, Sri Lanka and receive a bachelors, masters or doctorate in therapeutic counseling. http://www.iiihs.org/college_page_4.htm IIIHS also offers its own ordinations through something called the Spiritual Science Fellowship: http://www.iiihs.org/ssf_page_1.htm They even feature their own monastic order, the Order of Transfiguration: http://www.iiihs.org/otr_page_1.htm In May, IIIHS is hosting a conference in Montreal that will feature some big names like Rupert Sheldrake and Matthew Fox.
Ganges, Michigan is a truck stop on the cusp between the gay resort towns and poor white towns of Allegan County, and not much else. I assure you there is no significant institution of higher learning in the town. If you wish me to investigate in person I will happily do so when the weather clears up somewhat, as Ganges is on my way in my regular trips to Holland and Grand Rapids. I looked at the All Faiths website. It appears that "Rabbi" Gelberman has created his own syncretistic religion called "Interfaith". If you are part of this religious organization, fine, go to this tenuous school. If you wish a genuinely interreligious academic venue, then NNAD's suggestion of Starr King has real value (as might Meadville Lombard--also UU--or perhaps the Earlham School of Religion--Friends). You might also consider any number of the most liberal university divinity schools : Harvard, Chicago, the Claremont schools, Union Seminary in New York, the Berkeley area theological consortium, to name just a few. Any number of universities have departments of comparative religion or religion which operate on a non-sectarian basis. In short, I think you can get what you want under far more stable academic auspices than those of All Faiths, whose only value appears to me to be confined to actual followers of the very particular group which sponsors it.
The Gift of All Faiths Seminary, New York City Having just completed the Interfaith Ministry program at All Faiths Seminary International I felt very compelled to respond to this thread. It's true, the Seminary is not accredited but it is also not stuck in a world of mostly outdated and spiritually unhelpful theological arguments and positioning. There is plenty of reading and writing involved but the most valuable part of the Seminary is not in study....it is in EXPERIENCE! My journey through AFSI brought me into personal contact with 9 major world faith traditions. In order to be ordained as an Interfaith Minister I was required to attend and participate in services and interview spiritual leaders from all the major traditions. I spent whole afternoons with Taoist masters from China, Imams from Pakistan, Brahmin's from Benares and Priests from both the Orthodox and Catholic traditions as well as Ministers from a half dozen different Protestant denominations,etc. I attended services in Synagogues, Churches, Gurudwaras, Zoroastrian Fire Temples, Quaker meeting houses, etc. My point is that through the work of All Faiths Seminary International I was gifted with the ability to participate in and fully experience the living faith of the world's wisdom traditions and for this I will be forever grateful. It was an absolutely life transforming experience! Rabbi Gelberman...(A very real Rabbi from a Hasidic community in Hungary by the way) was a great Spiritual light and I recommend perusing one of his wonderful books such as "Spiritual Truths" before beginning to cast stones.
