NEW PROGRAMS AT GMU
Creation Spirituality & Environmental Justice Certificate Program  
Laudato Si Week may have concluded but the commemoration of the encyclical extends throughout the year. GMU's Certificate Program in Creation Spirituality and Environmental Justice is in full swing. An integral part of the program is Marita Grudzen's Zoom webinar, "Laudato Si’: Pope Francis’ Call to Care for Our Common Home." The course will launch on Monday June 8 at 4 pm (PDT) and run for seven sessions on every other Monday. Find out more.
Dr. Gerald Grudzen of Global Ministries University interviews William DeVincenzi on "The Climate Crisis."
Community Chaplaincy Program
Global Ministries University has identified a need for initiating a community-based chaplaincy training program. This Program will begin at the certificate level but could later take the form of either a Master's degree program in chaplaincy or a Doctor of Ministry degree.

Community-based chaplains serve in ministry settings such as: senior care facilities, rehabilitation programs, homeless shelters and a variety of other settings where interfaith spiritual care is a component in recovery,
rehabilitation or personal growth. This chaplaincy program would include at least two units of clinical pastoral education (CPE) which would require an internship in an approved CPE setting located in the student's home community. 

While our initial Certificate Program would not be focused on healthcare institution chaplaincy which requires a level of accreditation not available to GMU at this time. we are, however, in negotiations with the University of Theology and Spirituality in Tacoma, Washington for development of a joint Master’s program in chaplaincy which would prepare students for professional certification with most of the major certification organizations. This would allow graduates from GMU the opportunity to serve both in healthcare settings and in community-based settings. 

Most chaplaincy training programs are expensive and GMU sees the need for a community based chaplaincy training that is affordable to most students since many will come into such a program as a second or third career and may not wish to take on a large student debt. 

Doctor John Jeffery, ThD, a graduate of GMU and a certified CPE Supervisor, will be overseeing the development of the GMU chaplaincy training program over the next few months. We hope to launch this program by September of 2020.
Spanish Language Program
Global Ministries University is now offering an Introductory certificate program in Spanish on the historical origins of the Christian Faith in the New Testament era, its evolution through the Roman Empire, medieval Catholicism, the Protestant Reformation and the challenge of the modern and postmodern eras to the relevancy of the Gospel message. Information will be available in Spanish on our website by the end of June. These courses should be available in Spanish by July 1: History of God, the Historical Jesus, Church History I (early Christianity to the Protestant Reformation) Church History II (Protestant Reformation to the present) and Basic Christian Communities (Comunidades de Base). Email for more information.
GMU Honors Our Graduates
Congratulations to Roberta Fuller and Teri Smith-Jones on the completion of their respective degrees. Roberta has completed her Th.D and Teri has finished her M.Div and is now embarking on a D.Min with GMU. Global Ministries University wishes them success and fulfillment in their chosen fields and ministries.
A "Farewell" and a "Welcome"!
GMU bids a fond farewell to Gail Schultz who is retiring after many years of dedicated service as the university's registrar. Gail will remain on GMU's faculty, teaching courses in Spiritual Direction.
GMU welcomes Lee McCoy as our new registrar. Lee brings the enthusiasm and commitment she had in her former position as Enrollment Specialist to her new post. Lee is a GMU graduate with a D.Min in Spirituality and Aging.
Podcasts
Rick Silvestri, GMU's Information Technology Director, has set up a dedicated page where you can hear all of GMU's podcasts. Stay "tuned" for more!
During this difficult time as we shelter-in-place Global Ministries University is here for you!
Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath —
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love —
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

Lynn Ungar

See more Spiritual Resources from Progressive Christianity here.