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Quarterly Publication September 2009 Vol. II Issue 3
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GMU Is Proud to Introduce Three New Innovative Programs
Global Ministries University is now offering a Master of Theology degree in Contemporary Christianity, a Master of Theology degree in Sacred Arts, and a joint Doctor of World Religions degree through GMU and a Ph.D. through the College of Religious Studies at Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
The Master of Theology in Contemporary Christianity degree program in will address many of the historical issues raised by the studies undertaken by the Jesus Seminar in recent times and new insights into the origins of Christianity. Courses will include Introduction to Contemporary Christianity, Jewish Midrash and the Gospels, and Exploring of the Identity and Role of Jesus.
The Master of Theology in Sacred Arts degree program will feature the close relationship between artistic inspiration and the search of spiritual values found in historical and contemporary creative arts. Imaginative courses related to painting, music, cinema, and self-expression are a part of this program, such as Cinema: Inspiration for the Spirit, Chaos and Creativity, and The Sacred Artist for Today’s Spiritual Renaissance.
The third new graduate program, the Doctor of World Religions/Ph.d., is a joint degree with the College of Religious Studies of Mahidol University located just outside Bangkok, Thailand. Mahidol University is one of the leading public universities in Asia. There are several subject areas to choose from including the following concentrations: Buddhist and Christian Studies, Buddhist Art and Culture, Religious Traditions of East Asia, and World Religions. This is a unique opportunity to earn a dual degree by completing four courses with GMU and a dissertation through The College of Religious Studies at Mahidol University in Thailand. The program is completed entirely on line; there is no residency requirement.
Further information related to these outstanding programs can be found on this web site or contact the GMU Office.
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Message From the President...
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I was very pleased to award the Doctor of Ministry degree to two of our Global Ministries University students at the Federation of Christian Ministries Assembly in Columbus, Ohio this past July. Juanita Cordero and John Hardy were the recipients of these degrees and both gave inspirational messages to the Assembly about their GMU studies. What struck me about Juanita and John in their testimonials was that older adults can make significant contributions in later life despite serious challenges they may be facing. Juanita has started a home church in Los Gatos, CA after the death of her beloved husband, Don Cordero, just at the time she was ordained a Roman Catholic Woman Priest a few years ago. She has also taken a leadership role in the Roman Catholic Woman Priest movement. John Hardy is taking on a mission to our urban youth later in life with the intent of helping these youth to find a path to inner peace and spiritual development. John has had a successful career with the US Food and Drug Administration dealing with food safety issues. After his retirement from government service, he spent several years in a consultative capacity in the area of food safety with the Egyptian government and other African nations. John took on this new vocation as he also faced a physically disabling arthritic condition.
Part of the mission of GMU seems to be in helping older adults to establish encore careers or new vocations based upon a strong spiritual foundation. GMU provides a way for older adults to refashion their vocation in the light of their talents, spiritual gifts. As the Baby Boomer generation enters their retirement years, we know that many will be seeking new meaning for their lives beyond the jobs or careers that they are now leaving. GMU hopes to fill a role of helping these women and men who are seeking to serve others in a more spiritually explicit way than perhaps was possible earlier in their life.
As part of the expansion of GMU’s outreach on an international level, we have recently established a joint doctoral program with the College of Religious Studies of Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. Mahidol is a Buddhist university with a strong tradition of Buddhist spirituality. It is one of the leading public universities in Asia and noted for its College of Religious Studies as a center of Buddhist scholarship and spirituality. Many of the Buddhist monks in Thailand take their advanced studies at Mahidol University. GMU will be able to expand its curriculum to several courses in Buddhist studies with faculty who are highly trained in the Buddhist spiritual tradition.
GMU is also working closely with an organization entitled Globalization for the Common Good founded by Doctor Kamran Mofid of Coventry, England. Doctor Mofid and his colleagues have mobilized nine international conferences to help bring the light of spiritual and social justice concerns to many global issues such as the world financial crisis, global warming and the need for training of business leaders in global ethical concerns. We are in the process of working with Doctor Mofid to incorporate some of these global issues into our degree programs and collaborate with him in establishing a global education center of which GMU will be a key partner.
Sincerely,
Gerald Grudzen, Ph.D.
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Pamela Spence, I.M.A., one of the many well-qualified instructors on the Global Ministries University staff, is proudly featured in this publication.
Pamela Spence teaches two courses for our Master of Theology in Sacred Arts degree program: Chaos and Creativity and Transformational Theater. She received her BA in English with a minor in philosophy from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH; and an Individualized Master of Arts degree in Transformational Theater and Sacred Drama from Antioch University in Yellow Springs, OH.
She is an arts outreach specialist, using the medium of puppet and mask theater and other expressive arts projects. She has worked extensively with populations at risk, including incarcerated juveniles, children of terminally ill parents, elder citizens and special needs preschoolers. She is also an ecumenical community minister, licensed by the state of Ohio and commissioned by the Federation of Christian Ministries. She has created “liturgical junta,” officiated at rites of passage for people who most often describe themselves as spiritual but not religious.
She was baptized Church of England, confirmed Methodist, graduated from Catholic College, has served on staff as youth minister for a Unitarian Universalist Church, and until recently was the editor of a Jewish Community newspaper. She understands God to be multicultural and lives an entirely interfaith life. Her favorite quote is from Voltaire who maintains “God is a comedian, playing to an audience afraid to laugh.”
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Global Ministries University student body includes a variety of outstanding individuals that have a variety of backgrounds and ministries. Following are three such students:
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Sylvia Richards
Sylvia is currently working at Maharishi University of Management as the Student Loan Administrator for the Accounting Professionals MBA program and is also a teacher of the Transcendental Meditation program, on a part time basis.
She has ties to both Protestant and Catholic churches and delights in all flavors of the Christian tradition. Her ministry is Vedic Christian Ministry and its mission is to apply the Transcendental Meditation program in Christian lifestyles. In addition to her Vedic Christian Ministry, she also leads a small group called Companions, which is a group spiritual direction endeavor.
She is enrolled in the Master of Theology degree program to further her understanding of Christian theology and to build a strong foundation for continuing and expanding her work in Vedic Christian Ministries. She feels that she is gaining a great deal from her GMU program and enjoys the luxury of progressing at her own pace by taking one course at a time. This method of study enables her to ponder and learn on a deep level and to relate and integrate the knowledge gained in her ministry.
Sylvia has a B.S. in Biochemistry from Iowa State University in Ames, IA, an M.A. in Maharishi Vedic Science from Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, IA, and has also completed the Journey Partners Training Program in Spiritual Direction, a two-year program offered jointly by the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Center for Ministry at Millsaps College in Jackson, MS.
She is married to Will Richards and has two grown sons from a previous marriage, William and Raphael Burnes and one daughter-in-law, Samara. She is expecting her first grandchild next Spring!
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Rosa Manriquez
Rosa Manriquez is currently preparing for ordination through Roman Catholic Women Priests. A Master of Theology is one of the requirements and she enrolled in the GMU program as a result. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Immaculate Heart College and is a member of the Immaculate Heart Community.
Rosa works for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. She is a Recreation Supervisor and has supervisory responsibilities for thirteen community centers in South Los Angeles. These include the community centers in three housing projects, two senior citizen centers and one child care center. She sees her job as a ministry and has met some of the most committed and spiritual individuals working in the recreation centers of the poorest areas of Los Angeles. She is honored to serve them.
She is also a volunteer as a speaker for GLIDE, Gays and Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality. Recently she was trained to be a lead speaker and has had the opportunity to speak and open the hearts and eyes of people concerning homophobia thanks to this organization, which she believes is doing sacred work.
Rosa is a single mother with three adult children, a son, Andy, two daughters, Rocio and Cecilia, and a daughter-in-law, Korina, who is married to Cecilia. Rosa considers Korina as one of her daughters, but prefers to introduce her as a daughter-in-law to proclaim the validity and sanctity of the marriage of Cecilia and Korina. Her first grandchild is due to make an appearance early December. Rosa's household also includes her mother and sister, five dogs, five cats and a parrot......she calls it a typical Mexican family.
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Carol Hushek
Carol has her own counseling business called The Shamebusters and works with individuals in the process of reducing the toxic shame they are carrying, as well as other issues, such as depression, grief, and addiction recovery. She also does couples counseling. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Ottawa University and is also a Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor for the State of Arizona (LISAC).
She and her husband have a ministry, called Comfortable Weddings, which has become a passion of hers. They are both certified ministers through the Federation of Christian Ministries and Carol performs around fifty wedding ceremonies a year, mostly non-denominational.
Carol is currently a Hospice volunteer, however, by earning her Master of Theology degree, she could become employed in the bereavement department as either a Chaplain or Bereavement Counselor. She chose to enroll in the Global Ministries University’s Master of Theology in Global Spirituality degree program because of its flexibility, credit for past experiences, affordable tuition, and the curriculum, that is, the opportunity to earn a degree with a concentration in Global Spirituality. She also trusts the administration of GMU and admires what they provide for their students. Earning her Master's Degree will fulfill a wish she has had for 40+ years and she is excited to be sharing this accomplishment with her children and grandchildren ... showing them that it is never too late to accomplish your goals.
Carol resides in Glendale, AZ with her husband, who was formerly a Carmelite Friar, has two children from a previous marriage and four amazing grandchildren who are the loves of her life!
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Send feedback, comments, questions to Jean Conley, editor and Vice-President for Operations and Development, at GMU5053@aol.com.
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