Successful applicants will meet or be in the process of meeting the following four “Minister Training Requirements”:

• Medicine Experience. A minimum of one year working with a minister or guide and a significant number of guided experiences. At least two group experiences with expanded states, one of which may be the group experience at the end of the Preparation & Reading Class.
• Consulting Skills training. By the completion of the Training of Minister, students must have completed at least 300 hours of training in consulting skills. Starting before the training is a good idea. Those with a Master’s level, PsyD, or PhD clinical psychology degree likely already meet this requirement. Other clinical disciplines (spiritual direction, coaching, body based therapies, intuitive medicine, etc.) may meet this requirement. We will also require 80 hours of Body/Energywork during the first year of Part 3. During the Preparation & Reading Class, candidates for the Training of Ministers may consult with Paul and the training faculty to create a plan to satisfy this pre-requisite.
• Counseling. A minimum of one year of regular spiritual direction, psychotherapy, counseling, or life coaching in the last three years. A portion of this requirement can be completed during the Preparation and Reading Class.
• Readiness. Successful applicants will be sufficiently developed in their personal process to participate in the training and to support people in expanded states. This requirement protects the training container, the other students in formation, the ministers of the Congregation, and the future sacramental participants. It will be assessed as part of Part 1 and the formal application process.

Upon successful completion of Part 2: Training of Ministers: Foundations, students will be prepared to guide Congregational members and clients into expanded states of consciousness with skill, safety, and impact. Students will also be eligible for employment with the Congregation as Assistant Ministers. The Training for Ministers is 10 months long. Upon completion, employment by the Congregation is not required.

Students will gather in-person for five residential training weekends and periodic Zoom calls. Some Zoom calls will be offered by the training faculty to provide new material. Some Zoom calls will be offered by assistants to work through any questions about the training and work through learnings that arise from student exchanges. Approximately, every two weeks, students will be attending either a class or an assistant call.

During the training, students will continue reading, explore important topics with faculty, do extensive practice sessions with each other (including sacramental exchanges), meet regularly with faculty and assistants, and grow in their knowledge and confidence as medicine carriers. In addition to their regular meetings with a minister, guide, therapist or coach, students will also begin monthly meetings with a mentor.

Upon successful completion of Part 3: Integration and Practice Development, students will be eligible to become Associate Ministers. The Integration & Practice development period is two to four years long.

Part 3: Integration & Practice Support. Upon the successful completion of Part 2, graduates will be ready to work with people in expanded states, and, if desired, graduates are eligible to become an Assistant Minister.

Your formation as a medicine carrier and sacramental officiant does not end upon completion of the training and exchanges. All students are expected to engage in three developmental areas upon completion of the basic training:

• Continuing Education
• Mentoring & Supervision
• Practice Development

Continuing Education. A medicine carrier is never finished learning. There are always more frameworks and modalities to support expanded states of consciousness. Students are expected to earn 36 CEUs (or equivalent) in each of the four years after their graduation from Part 2. This coursework can be completed within and outside Congregational offerings. Students will also be required to finish 80 hours of Body/Energywork during their first year of Part 3.

Mentoring & Supervision. Students are expected to meet with a mentor at least monthly during Part 2 and for a minimum of two years after. Students are also expected to attend a group case review session at least once a month for at least two years after completing Part 2. With the support of mentors and group facilitators, students will be ready and encouraged to guide clients after and once their trades have been completed.

Practice Development. All graduates of the training will work with their mentors or the training staff to set up their practices. This training will be facilitated through the Congregation for Sacred Practices, a 501(c)3 religious organization. During the training, students join a growing community of medicine carriers and are able to participate in Congregational functions.

The suggested donation for Part 1 of the training is $2500. 100% of the donation is tax deductible. To secure your spot a $500 donation should be paid upon acceptance. The balance of the donation pledge should be paid by Dec 31st, 2024.

Pledge plans and scholarship support for candidates from underserved communities are available.