Ministerial Studies 2022-23
with Dr. James Mellon

• Thursdays, weekly, 6:30p to 9:30p

• Begins 9/15, continues 40 weeks

• Classes online and in Westlake Village

• Convenient payment options

• Accredited through the Emerson Theological Institute

• Admission by interview. Please email Dr. James to arrange.

*All units will include work on the Minister as Speaker/Teacher/Counselor/Leader

*Note:  Some students will have completed “Advanced Consciousness” and will graduate in 2023, Others will take AC in 2023/2024 and will graduate in 2024.

Year One

Unit One (8 Weeks):  The Consciousness of Ministry

Fundamental Review (using today’s understanding)
How We Got Here!

Part One:  Spiritual Origins of New Thought (“Spirits In Rebellion”)
Part Two:  Quantum Physics (fundamentals as they relate to Metaphysics)

Unit Two (8 Weeks):  Minister As Communicator (Innovator)

“Unleash the Power of Storytelling” Rob Biesenbach
“The Sale is in the Tale” John Livesay 

Unit Three (8 Weeks):  Ministerial As Counselor

Part One:  The History of Psychology
Part Two:  Practical Counseling/Coaching 

Unit Four (4 Weeks):  The “Politics” of Ministry

Part One:  The Bible – “Bible Mystery and Bible Meaning” Troward
Part Two:  World Religions  (Individual Projects)

Unit Five (4 Weeks):  Business / Leadership

Part One:  The finances of Organizational Structure
(Gary Keller – “The One Thing”)
Part Two:  Leadership  (Brene Brown – “Dare to Lead”)

Year Two

Advanced Consciousness Studies
Overview

The Advanced Consciousness Studies presented by Dr. James Mellon and sponsored by the Global Truth Center is offered to qualifying students interested in delving deeper into the philosophy, mysticism and science of the mind, as well as the practical applications of both theoretical and scientific discovery.  Its purpose is to create a mindful collective where each student is free to discuss and explore religion, science, philosophy and the intersection therein. This course is required for Ministerial Studies and can be taken either as Year One or Year Two of accreditation for Ministry.

Class Focus

The focus of the class will be on the individual and his/her ability to think, reason and expand core beliefs based on current and past premises, hypotheses and proven information from the world of science and spirituality.  Books will be chosen and read based on the evolution of the class and the excavation of information that comes forth from the discussions.    That being said, each student will be responsible for bringing his/her perspective to the ideas being debated.  The Mind, as a whole, will be the ongoing focus of the class as it pertains to the individual use and expression of what one might call God.  As such, we will also focus on a set of Core Beliefs that either correlate to or deviate from the teachings of Dr. Ernest Holmes.  It is up to the individual student to argue for or against prevailing principles of The Science of Mind and Spirit or any of the New Thought ideas that will certainly be presented as part of our weekly discussions.  

Class Sharing

The purpose of sharing is to facilitate self-discovery and self-healing, where it is required.   It provides the opportunity for you, the student, to see your life, in all of its many facets and idiosyncrasies, in an impersonal way so as to process how it was created and how it can be understood from a scientific/spiritual context.  

Class sharing and discussions are not secret but sacred. It is expected that you honor one another by not revealing what your classmates share. Our intention in this class is to be free, open and expansive in our willingness to allow for a greater understanding of science and spirituality.  With that receptivity comes an understanding greater than our individual selves.  Sometimes that will come from an opinion that is quite different than your own.  Give yourself the gift of an impersonal appreciation for what might not agree with your perception of life.  Open minds create expansive growth.  

Class Assignments

There is no specific “homework” for this class other than staying current with the reading assignments and providing short thought papers each week with your salient points of the material.  That said, this class is fluid in nature and may, at times, call for an outside project or research to be brought to the class.  We will discuss this as a collective as we move through the emergent curriculum.  

Final Thesis/Paper/Book

Each student in the class, in order to qualify for entry, has chosen his/her path of achievement.  Requirements are agreed to prior to acceptance and each student is responsible for the fulfillment of said requirements.

Reading Curriculum

*ongoing selections – changing year to year 

The Science of Mind / The Seminar Lectures – Dr. Ernest Holmes

The Allegory of the Cave – Plato     

Buddha’s Brain – Dr. Rick Hansen, Ph.D.

The Everything Answer Book – Amit Goswami, Ph.D.

The Quantum Revelation – Paul Levy

For Small Creatures Such as We – Sasha Sagan

What is Consciousness – Ervin Laszlo Ph.D., Jean Houston

Also Required: 

Written Thesis for Ministerial License (as stated above)

Book/Project for Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate accreditation

Workshop – Self produced and facilitated

Written Final Exam

Final Orals:  with an invited panel of Spiritual Leaders

Ministerial Financials

Two Years:  $8,000

*If you’ve taken Advanced Consciousness, your fee would be $5,000 for the final year.

*If you are beginning at Year One, your fee would be $4,000 per year

You may pay in full or in monthly installments.  

We are happy to work with you on how this best fits into your budget in terms of payment structure. 

*There will be an additional fee for the final week of Orals, not to exceed $1,000 for room/board and speakers/panelists.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Are there any requirements to take this class?
A: Students must interview with Dr. James Mellon to be admitted into this advanced course of study. Interviews will be scheduled in August. Please email Dr. James to arrange.

Q: What are the assigned books or readings?
A: Projected authors and materials covered: Plato; Dr. Ernest Holmes; Rick Hanson, PhD.; Amit Goswami, PhD.; Sasha Sagan; Paul Levy; Jean Houston, PhD.; Ervin Laszlo; and Larry Dossey, MD.

Q: Please explain the accreditation process.
A: This class is accredited through the Emerson Theological Institute. Please discuss with Dr. James Mellon how this program of studies will fit with your educational path.