NEW 2009:                                                                                                                   Application Process

The Esoteric Interfaith Church and Theological Seminary is pleased to offer a special curriculum track for men and women candidates seeking Holy Orders with valid Apostolic Succession. You will go thru the minor orders, thru the deaconate and onto Holy Orders and become ordained as a Priest. Upon ordination as a deacon you receive your S.T.B. degree. Entering the deaconate usually takes a year or less in our Seminary. With ordination as a priest you receive your S.T.L. degree, the time-honored graduate level ecclesiastical degree of the priesthood.

The Seminary program of priestly formation and study is erudite, eclectic, informed and meaningful.

Apostolic Succession is only transferred by the ancient rite of laying on of hands, so when your spiritual formation is complete you will be required to make a trip either to New Jersey or Florida, unless our Bishop or Archbishop is travelling thru your area.

This is a special concentration with higher seminarial fees, as the process is much more complex than what is required for one to become a minister.

In the works: audio files, podcasts, coursework, lessons, regarding the Sacramental Gnostic Way. Live Internet radio broadcasts and/or webcasts are a future goal.

After ordination you may continue your ecclesiastical career in the Church - to Archpriest (Monsignor) and further on, to Bishop.

 

Suggested Reading

Books you will need: (more will probably be added)

 

Requirements

We teach a sacramental gnostic alternative Christian approach. It is very important to understand that Candidates who become Seminarians with us will need to be able to work well with what the mainstream Church calls "heretic" and "heresy". We are semi-gnostic here and many people consider all gnosticism to be radical and heretical.

Also we always ask our married applicants to be sure your spouse is 100 percent behind you in your pursuit toward Holy Orders.  Our experience has told us that anyone whose spouse isn't behind them will eventually fail to obtain Holy Orders.

Gnosticism is a positive path, a path of Light, illumination -- not self-loathing and world-hating as some critics claim. Walking the Way of Gnosis is not for the faint-hearted.

Keep in mind we believe in an all-good and loving Heavenly Father, the True God, God Most High, and in Jesus his Son who came and brought the world salvation!  We also believe in Sophia, the Heavenly (and Earthly) Mother. There is much value in extra-canonical literature and Gnostic scriptures, especially the Gospel of Thomas and Gospel of Philip.

As for Gnostic writings, we focus solely on the earliest Gnostic Christian scriptures and writings, not on the later Gnostic writings, many of which our Archbishop says are indeed "psychotic" and make gnosticism seem loopy or downright dangerous. In addition to the non-Pauline portions of the New Testament, we adhere only to the primitive early Gnostic Christian teachings - of light and the Light of the World, Jesus the Christ and his "mother" Sophia. Read more in our Program Description.

Hopefully, we have not scared you off with our "radical" Christian "heresies". If you're still with us, below is the application process.

Application Process

1. Fill out the online application. Select "Other" when it asks what minister title you want, then type in Holy Orders in the "other" box. When you get to the fees section you should NOT pay the $150 tuition fee yet. Wait til you are accepted into the program, which requires the submission of the items below.

2. Write your spiritual history. Tell the story of religion and spirituality in your life from your childhood to present. Cover every aspect, don't leave anything out, and be sure to describe your Calling, when it came to you that you wanted to be a priest, how it came to you, etc. Tell all! (Must be at least 2 pages. Submit in either email form or .doc attachment)

3. Type up one page on WHY you want to become a priest. Tell why you want to receive Holy Orders and what ordination will mean to you and your current work. Describe your plans and / or hopes for your future work as a priest. (Submit in either email format or .doc attachment)

TUITION
Upon acceptance you will be asked to pay the $150 one-time entrance fee. And then $100 a month as long as you are actively studying with us. No tuition contract, you can drop-out any time, but tuition paid in is non-refundable.

LENGTH OF PROGRAM
You should possess patience and not be shy of hard work. It usually takes about two years to reach the point where Holy Orders as a priest are bestowed on you. However, you will go thru the minor orders, receive ordination as a sub-deacon and deacon / deaconess in progressive stages along the way. Ordination as a deacon is considered major Holy Orders, not the minor orders. Upon ordination as a deacon you receive your S.T.B. degree. Entering the deaconate usually takes a year or less in our Seminary. With ordination as a priest you receive your S.T.L. degree, the time-honored graduate level ecclesiastical degree of the priesthood.

While you're waiting to start your studies, be sure to read more of our website and blogs, feel free to make comments. You might also watch the movie, The Matrix, and if you are still waiting, why not dig around in the Gnosis Archive and the early Christian Gospels, Lost words of Jesus site.

Inquire for more information | Our Apostolic Succession

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