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Rays of Healing Church Ministry
Becoming an Ordained Minister
(Revised September 10, 2004)
Rays of Healing Church, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation of the State of Virginia.
The Church has been granted all of the rights and privileges for religious bodies.
Table of Contents
Legal Purpose....
The legal purposes of this incorporated Church include the provision of:
- Service to Spirit through humanity and service to humanity through spirit,
- Divine healing services to as many beings as possible,
- Opportunity, education, and training for spiritual growth and development,
- Ordination and licensing of ministers in support of their ministerial duties for the church,
- To establish and oversee places of assembly, fellowship, and “Services to Spirit” under the guidance of Spirit,
- To create departments and branches as may be necessary to support our service,
- To have the right to own, hold in trust, use, possess, sell, convey, mortgage, lease or dispose of property, be it real or chattel, as may be needed for completion of the work.
Call to Service....
The members of Rays of Healing Church, Inc., are called by Spirit and God to provide service to
God and humanity and to assemble ourselves in fellowship and love to give that service. Through
service, the Church provides divine healing energies to those in need and spiritual education,
development, and guidance. We minister to the spiritual needs of those who seek truth and divine
healing. This ministry is provided informally by our members and formally by our ministers.
Call to Ministry....
Some of our individual members are called by Spirit and God into the spiritual ministry.
Spiritual ministry practices include spiritual healing, spiritual teaching and spiritual
mentoring and/or counseling.
Spiritual Healing: Healing may be provided through a variety of energy balancing modalities,
such as Reiki, Healing Touch, or Intuitive Healing, or through other natural means for enhancing the
function and integration of body, emotions, mind, and soul.
Spiritual Teaching: Spiritual teaching includes knowledge of spiritual and spiritual healing
concepts and skill-building in spiritual, healing, or ministerial practices. Spiritual mentoring is
providing knowledge, guidance, and support for spiritual growth and development.
Spiritual Counseling: Spiritual counseling may include intuitive counseling based on the tenants
of faith, psychological counseling combined with spiritually based tenants for those with appropriate
education and licenses, or counseling and coaching in healthy practices.
Formal Ministry....
Ministers will be ordained to carry on the mission of the Church.
Ministers will be ordained in established categories with specific titles, as defined in the by-laws, to perform a variety of duties.
Ministry Criteria....
The formal ministry consists of those individuals who:
- have been active members of Rays of healing Church for one year, attending Service to Spirit an average of two times per month, and
participating in the healings at the end of each service,
- adhere to the tenants of faith of the Church,
- heed Spirit’s call to the ministry,
- meet the requirements for formal ministry as set forth by Rays of Healing Church for acceptance to the ministry,
- are nominated by two Rays of Healing Church ministers,
- apply for ordination by the Church,
- and assume roles and responsibilities as ministers of the Rays of Healing Church, Inc.,
- attend continuing education classes, conferences or seminars as required by the Church to ensure that knowledge and skills are up to date.
Ordination....
Ordination is the act of being admitted into the ministry of the Church. Admittance to the ministry is
celebrated with an ordination ceremony. Each minister receives an ordination certificate.
Characteristics Of Ministers....
Ordination into the Rays of Healing Church ministry is reserved for those with the following characteristics:
- are of good character and sound mind,
- whose faith and belief in God and Spirit are unwavering,
- whose knowledge of spiritual and healing concepts is extensive and measurable and includes background knowledge of metaphysics (nature of principles of the ultimate reality) and ontology (nature of being),
- whose gifts for spiritual healing, teaching, mentoring, or counseling have been honed and are backed with learning and skill,
- who have completely and demonstrably dedicated their lives to God and their “Service to Spirit”, and
- who have committed their lives to serving the greater good of humanity.
Categories of Ministry....
Rays of Healing Church, Inc., will have three primary categories and six subcategories of practicing ministers.
An individual may be ordained in more than one category.
Primary Categories: The three primary categories of ministers consist of those ordained to practice spiritual healing and/or counseling and to teach spiritual concepts and/or train other ministers. All Rays of Healing ministers must qualify and serve as Healing Minister.
The three primary categories are listed below:
- Healing Minister – A master of spiritual and alternative healing arts.
- Counseling Minister – A master of spiritual, psychic, nutritional, or psychological counseling. Psychological counselors must have appropriate degrees, certifications, and licenses. Spiritual and/or psychic counselors must have demonstrable knowledge and skills.
- Teaching Minister – A master of spiritual teaching.
Subcategories: The sub-categories of ministers are individuals selected to carry out specific functions within the church. These ministers must be ordained in one or more of the primary ministry categories.
- Senior Lead Minister – Leader of Church headquarters.
- Assistant Senior Lead Minister – Assistant Minister for Church Headquarters and fills in for and assists Senior Lead Minister.
- Senior Minister – An officer or director of Rays of Healing Church.
- Lead Minister - Leader of branch church.
- Assistant Lead Minister – Fills in for and assists lead minister.
- Music and/or Art Minister – A master of music or art who uses music and art for spiritual healing or celebration of life.
- Education Minister – A minister who oversees the curriculum and educational programs.
- Youth Minister – A minister who specializes in working with children and adolescents.
General Duties/Responsibilities of Healing Ministers....
All Ministers of the Rays of Healing Church are Healing Ministers. Healing Ministers of the Rays of Healing Church are generally responsible for:
- Representing the Church at all times through behaviors that model the Tenants of Faith.
- Regular attendance to at least two Rays of Healing Church “Service to Spirit” meetings per month.
- Providing unsalaried healing or counseling services to individuals in need (Church members and non-members) during “Service to Spirit”.
- Providing healing services on a salaried or volunteer basis for individual Church members upon request of the Church and in accordance with the Church budget and resources.
- Providing healing services in Church-sanctioned spiritual healing centers on a fee basis for members and nonmembers.
- May volunteer to make presentations and/or provide demonstrations at Service to Spirit.
Specialized Duties/Responsibilities Of Counseling Ministers....
In addition to their duties as healing ministers, Counseling Ministers are responsible for providing
Church approved spiritual, psychic, nutritional, or psychological counseling or coaching to members and
nonmembers for the Church as outlined under Healing Minister. Psychological counselors must have
appropriate degrees, certifications, and licenses. Spiritual and/or psychic counselors must have
demonstrable knowledge and skills.
Specialized Duties/Responsibilities Of Teaching Ministers....
In addition to their duties as healing ministers, teaching ministers are responsible for providing information,
instruction, and skill-building in spiritual concepts, spiritual healing, or ministerial practices.
Teaching ministers may serve as mentors and provide knowledge, guidance, and support for spiritual growth and
development. Teaching ministers will also:
- Instruct classes, seminars and workshops for the Church,
- Provide orientation for new members,
- Participate in designing, developing, and updating Church curriculum,
- Train new ministers,
- Train new teachers.
Application Process....
To apply for ordination as a Healing Minister, the candidate shall:
- Seek the nomination of two Rays of Healing ministers,
- Complete the application form,
- Prepare letter to lead minister as to why you wish to be a minister,
- Obtain character references from:
- Two healing practitioners familiar with your work (practitioner reference),
- Two people for whom you have provided healing services (client reference),
- Submit the application package to the Lead Minister of the local Rays of Healing Church,
- Pay the application fee of $150.
Application Package:
The application package consists of the application form, the singed nominations from two ministers,
and the character reference letters.
The application will ask the following questions along with requesting pertinent personal data and background information:
- Have you been an active member of Rays of healing Church for one year, attending Service to Spirit an average of two times per month, and participating in the healings at the end of each service?
- Do you adhere to the tenants of faith of the Church?
- Have you been called by Spirit and God to the ministry?
- Do you meet the requirements for formal ministry as set forth by Rays of Healing Church for acceptance to the ministry?
- Are you ready and able to assume the roles and responsibilities of a minister?
- Will you agree to attend continuing educations classes, conferences, or seminars as required by the Church to ensure that your knowledge and skills are up-to-date.
Approval Process....
The Lead Minister appoints a selection team to review the application. The selection team will:
- review the application package,
- schedule an interview with the candidate,
- perform the interview,
- recommend selection,
- notify candidate of decision.
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