“Thou Shalt Have Purpose” ~ Rabbi Joseph Gelberman
Since it’s the beginning of the school year for All Faith Seminary International, I thought it best to give you a little bit about the man who founded the school n 1999 in partnership with prominent clergy from several faiths and traditions, along with what you can do with an Interfaith Ministry degree.
Rebbe Gelbermann, as he was affectionately called by his students and friends, was a pioneer in bridging understanding between people of different religions and spiritual paths, emphasizing that they have more in common than being different and advocating that all humankind see each other as brothers and sisters.
Because of his belief that we should have purpose in our lives, AFSI strives to bring that spiritual purpose to fruition all the while continuously honoring the the man and his 11th Commandment — “Thou Shalt Have Purpose”. As an interfaith Minister, you have the advantage of flexibility with your ministerial degree. You will be qualified to serve a larger community of varying faiths. Rabbi Joseph Gelberman taught Interfaith Ministers to go deeper into the faith of their choice or faiths they are drawn to, so that they can continue to study, serve and teach these areas of interest in their community.
As a recognized “Spiritual Leader,” you will live and grow creating “Oneness,” all the while bringing spiritual service to our divisive world. This can be done by serving others in informal encounters, as well as in formal ways, such as” life-cycle celebrations performing: private weddings, commitment ceremonies, funerals, baby namings/welcomings, memorial services, vow renewals, handfastings, adoption ceremonies, family unions, ship christenings, and home blessings, just to name a few.You may also participate in local, state, national, and international Interfaith associations, religious conferences, the World Parliament of Religions, Interfaith Seminaries, Ashrams, Retreat houses, Holistic Institutes, and the United Nations. You can work in hospitals as a Spiritual Care Coordinator or assist other pastors/ministers in their churches/temples and maybe even start your own church!
You can also join or create an Interfaith Association in your community and participate in community events in your own town. Let people get to know you and your talents by creating podcasts or webinars on current interfaith topics or write articles, books, and blogs on various Interspiritual and Interfaith topics.
As I see it, your spiritual calling is an important one and it should be shared with the outside world in what ever way that coincides with your belief systems. For those of you who are about to join us or are thinking about joining, please know that All Faiths Seminary International will strive to teach you to have spiritual purpose in your life by knowing, loving and serving God in your own special, personal way. You will also learn that He speaks to you through all faiths. One thing is for sure, becoming a licensed Interfaith Minister through AFSI, assures that you will be part of changing the world for good, one person at a time and that God is leading you there!
~ And You Will Have Spiritual Purpose! ~
~ Fran Cosentino, AFSI Bursar/Registrar