Clergy Training Program: Community Ministry Internship
Sacred Well Congregation (SWC) works with Cherry Hill Seminary to provide an option for formal and legally recognized ordination. SWC was founded as a non-denominational Wiccan church. Over the last year, SWC has transitioned to be more explicit in its inclusivity as a non-denominational Nature-Centered church. However, SWC’s foundational materials are still a regular part of its language and community practices. This language is in no way dogmatic in its application. SWC ordination requires an interview and acceptance into a one-year community ministry internship program overseen by an assigned member of the SWC clergy. Each month, at minimum, the intern and SWC clergy member will engage either by email or by Zoom to discuss the intern’s ministry and address any questions or concerns that arise. This internship path may be started by Cherry Hill Seminary’s Community Ministry Certificate program (CMC) students shortly after completion of the first month, being able to run concurrently with their CMC studies. It is not required for CMC students to begin their internship this early. Additionally, the intern will be asked to review SWC’s Deaconry Training Program (DTP) and Clergy Training Program (CTP) materials with their assigned SWC clergy member to develop a shared language and develop an understanding of organizational requirements and limitations associated with their ordained clergy. There is no fee required for the DTP/CTP materials as part of the internship. If you are or become interested in this path towards ordination, please reach out to Sacred Well Congregation to request a discussion about this process and any necessary steps to start this process.
Clergy Training Program: Chaplaincy Internship
For our clergy training to become professional chaplains, Sacred Well Congregations works
directly with Cherry Hill Seminary, Starr King School for the Ministry, and United Theological
Seminary of the Twin Cities to provide experiential context and serve as an ordainment option
for the students and graduates of these programs who identify as pagan. Sacred Well
Congregation also works to support students and graduates from other institutions of higher
learning who identify as pagan, as they work towards professional chaplaincy. Cherry Hill
Seminary is an institution of higher learning that specializes in preparing pagans for ministry.
Starr King School for the Ministry is a Unitarian Universalist institution of higher learning that is
open and welcoming to students who identify as pagan. United Theological Seminary of the
Twin Cities is a Progressive Christian institution of higher learning that specializes in
interreligious chaplaincy while being open and welcoming to students who identify as pagan.
Please visit the websites for each program for more information.
Ordination Information
The Sacred Well Congregation is led by an Ordained Clergy and an Ordained Deaconry. Our Clerics are fully trained and initiated practitioners of Traditional Craft Wicca. They are legally ordained ministers, have the same duties and responsibilities, and enjoy the same rights and privileges under law as any ordained minister of any other faith, denomination or religious body. Our Ordained Deaconry are fully trained, have a demonstrated competency and may or may not be initiated practitioners of Traditional Craft Wicca. They function as Lay Ministers, provide pastoral presence and perform all duties of the clergy except those prescribed by law to be performed by ordained ministers. Our standards for Ordination are high. Obtaining Ordination through the Sacred Well requires a serious commitment of personal time, energy, love and resources. It is not a commitment to be lightly taken.
General Requirements for Ordination into the Deaconry
- be a Supporting, Family or Sponsoring Member of the Congregation
- be at least 21 years old
- be a high school graduate or have earned a GED
- complete a prescribed course of distance and/or resident instruction under the supervision of an Ordained Officer
- be recommended to and approved by the International Executive Council
General Requirements for Ordination into the Clergy
- be an Ordained Deaconess or Deacon
- be at least 21 years old
- have earned a bachelor’s degree or have equivalent combination of education and life experience as determined by the IEC
- complete a prescribed course of distance and/or resident instruction under the supervision of an Ordained Cleric
- be recommended to and approved by the International Executive Council