Religious Science Ministerial Credential

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Attaining a Religious Science Ministerial Credential through TMEC requires:

  • A Professional Practitioner Credential
  • The successful completion of a course of study of 579 classroom hours of instruction*
  • The successful completion of 312 service hours attained through an 18-month Internship**
  • Enrollment in Emerson Institute
  • The successful completion of an Emerson Institute written and oral examination 

NOTE:  Students may take Ministerial classes at any time. They need not be enrolled in the Ministerial Credential program nor must they have their Professional Practitioner Credential.  However, to be an official Ministerial student and before beginning the Ministerial Internship, students must have obtained their Professional Practitioner Credential and must have enrolled in TMC's Ministerial Credentialling program.  Click here for an enrollment application. A new window will open.

*COURSE OF STUDY:

Consciousness of Ministry 90 hours
Theology/World Religions 138 hours
(Note:  Students may take any combination of Theology/World Religion courses that total at least 138 hours)
New Thought 120 hours
Science and Spirituality 45 hours
Pastoral Care and Ceremonies 81 hours
Church Administration and Operations 45 hours
Teaching and Public Speaking 60 hours

**INTERNSHIP PROGRAM:

The 18-month, 312-hour Ministerial Internship may begin after the ministerial student has successfully completed 300 classroom hours. Under the mentorship of the Senior Minister or his/her designee, the Internship includes the following areas of service ministry (NOTE:  Below each category in bold are suggested activities for attaining the required number of service ministry hours):

How to Teach the Fundamentals of New Thought - 45 Hours
Serve as a teaching assistant
Develop and/or teach a class or workshop

The Consciousness of the Ministry - 36 Hours
Congregant grief support
Holding high watch during church 
Work with Congregant Care minister to serve the needs of congregation
Spiritual counseling
Special projects assigned by the Sr. Minister (i.e., research projects, program development projects)
Create a plan for what your ministry looks like

Church Services - 36 Hours
Service on special committees or event planning
Gather information regarding and/or develop new programs
Newsletter; public relations activities; website assistance

Effective Public Speaking - 45 Hours
Offer Sunday lessons (in addition to at CLF, Arizona Pathways)
Participate in Toastmasters

Ministerial Ethics and Leadership - 45 Hours
Organize in-service trainings for practitioners and ministers
Attend in-service trainings, conferences, etc.

Board Function and Relationship - 15 Hours
Attend Trustees or Regents meetings
Follow up on tasks assigned by either Board

Outreach Programs - 15 Hours
Work with Community Outreach Ministry on a current project
Work with Community InReach Ministry in service to CLF congregation

Ceremonies - 30 Hours
Develop, conduct and/or participate in a memorial, wedding or christening ceremony
Develop and/or conduct another type of ceremony (i.e, croning, rite of passage, etc.)

Church Leadership - 45 Hours
Develop and/or serve in launching a new church ministry
Do a rotation through each ministry
Work/train volunteers within that ministry
Participate in annual budgeting process
Participate in church growth and development activities 

The Intern will track activities on the Ministerial Intern Tracking Form by providing the following information for all activities:

  • Date(s) of activity;
  • Brief description of activity; and
  • Amount of time spent in activity rounded to the nearest quarter (.25) hour