SCHOOL OF SACRED STUDIES
The Hometemple Group is an independent (autocephalous) seminary. Our teachings embraces “the whole.” We believe that Jesus' true mandate centered on the transformation of hearts and minds through union with the Divine (theosis), empowering individuals to bring healing and restoration to the world.
The central goal of the seminary experience is to help students discern their unique role within the Body of Christ. Answering the question, "What is mine to do?" sets the foundation for diverse post-seminary ministries, enabling graduates to activate this transformative power in service to the world’s needs today.
The Home Temple School of Sacred Studies offers Degree Programs and Certifications suitable for non-professional home ministries and chaplaincies. These are not academic degrees or professional certificates. They are church credentials for development of Home Temple and other Christian or interfaith ministry.
- Home Temple Clergy
If you are an Ordained Home Temple Deacon or Priest, or if you have been accepted into Home Temple Ordination studies with three character references and commenced the Diaconate Module, you are also registered for the Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) Degree Program.. Prerequisite for registration in the Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) Degree Program is enrolment in the basic modules for Ordination to the Sacred Apostolic Diaconate and Priesthood. The Ordination Modules and B.D. Program can be completed in less than one academic year, with both Ordinations received in one ceremony along with conferral of the Bachelor of Divinity Degree.
Ordination into the Priesthood and conferral of the B.D. Degree are prerequisite for registration in M.Div. or D.D. Degree Programs. Either of these fulfills the Home Temple academic criterion for Synodal nomination to Consecration as a Bishop.
Once you have been accepted into the Ordination Program, you can register for the Certificate Program in Pastoral Counseling at any point in your studies, or after Ordination.
- Clergy of Other Denominations
If you have been Ordained in another church or spiritual tradition, you may apply to register for the B.D. Degree program by forwarding the E-APPLICATION (link above). In the application, please give a complete description of your ministry and previous ministerial training.
If you are a Priest, you must have permission of your Bishop to proceed, but you will remain under his/her jurisdiction. Ministerial licenses earned through courses of conventional seminary curricula such as Old and New Testament, Church History, and Liturgics can be evaluated and supplemented if necessary for Fast Track to Apostolic Ordination.
To register for a Certificate or Degree Program, download the Registration Form to your own computer (CLICK HERE FOR REGISTRATION FORM). This is an *.rtf file that you can fill out on either Mac or PC computer. Follow instructions and email as an attachment to the email address given on the form. You will receive instructions on how to proceed by return email.
Ordination Program
The Ordination Program is the gateway to the Divinity Degree Programs, which are open to all Home Temple clergy in good standing. Those who have acquired Apostolic Ordination through other programs are required to “fast track” through the Home Temple Program to make up deficient areas for acceptance into the Divinity Degree Programs.
There is no tuition for the Home Temple Ordination seminary programs overseen by Bishop Lewis Keizer, but students are asked to make a minimal $5/presentation pledge to his Patreon site through which the required Jesus Studies and parts of other Ordination curricula are taught in both public and private 60-90 minute narrated presentations and must be studied sequentially over a two-year period.
For details of the curriculum modules, take this link to ORDINATION PROGRAM.
BILINGUAL IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH SERVING A PRIMARILY SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY?
Bishops Luis Londono and Roberto Certain Ruiz have provided Spanish translations of our Priesthood Handbook, the Sacramentary, and other Home Temple and THG materials.
PREFER TO USE SACRAMENTAL LATIN?
Bishop Luis Londono has provided parallel Spanish-Latin translations for the Home Temple Mass, available by request.
Prerequisite: Acceptance into Ordination program.
Certificate of Ordination to the Sacred Apostolic Diaconate
Upon completion of Diaconate Studies, the Candidate may chose to receive Apostolic laying-on-of-hands by a Home Temple Bishop (requires travel), or may use emailed interim Diaconate Certificate until Ordained as Priest(ess)
Certificate of Ordination to the Sacred Apostolic Priesthood
Upon completion of Priesthood Studies, the Deacon will receive Apostolic laying-on-of-hands and B.D. Certificate by Bishop Keizer or another Home Temple Bishop during a Eucharist. In Australia this is done by Bishop Francois Bothma.
Special Ministries
The special ministries certification programs are designed to develop skills of Home Temple clergy in Pastoral and spiritual healing. However, they are also open to non-ordained members of the Home Temple. Thus Apostolic Ordination is not required, but successful APPLICATION to the Home Temple is required. Non-Ordained special ministers earn the title of Minister and qualify for appointment to the Office of Subdeacon by any Home Temple Priest.
Certificate in Pastoral Counseling
Distance-learning module including handbook, online presentations, and clinical supervision by email, telephone, and/or Zoom/Skype conference. Student will submit one hour of his/her audio or video-taped pastoral counseling work at least twice, or until mentors are satisfied of his/her skills.
Prerequisite:
Acceptance into the Home Temple through APPLICATION.
FEES to the Home Temple:
Registration and Administration Fee: $100
Due upon acceptance into Degree Program
Recording, Transcript, and Certificate Fee: $100
Due upon recommendation of Faculty Mentor that all requirements have been met
Handbook and Tapes: Cost to be announced when program opens
Mentor:
Home Temple clergy member with credentials in counseling or case-taking.
MENTOR FEE: $80/hour paid directly to Mentor.
Texts:
The Heart of Pastoral Counseling: Healing Through Relationship (Revised Edition 1998), Richard Dayringer, Th.D.
The Haworth Press, Binghamton, New York
ISBN 0-7890-0421-6
Clinical Handbook of Pastoral Counseling, Volume 1 (Expanded Edition 1993), Edited Robert J. Wicks, Richard D. Parsons, PhD; Donald Capps, PhD
Paulist Press, Mahwah, New Jersey
ISBN 0-8091-3351-2
Award of Certificate:
Recommendation of Mentor based on acquisition and demonstration of basic pastoral counseling skills.
Divinity Degree Programs
TUITION: Fees to be discussed with the Presiding Bishop.
All publication and copyrights for Theses and Dissertations produced in the Home Temple School of Sacred Studies belong to the student. However, the School of Sacred Studies has the option to reproduce all or part of any Thesis or Dissertation as a model or illustration for the educational benefit of other students through onsite or online forums.
Bachelor of Divinity Degree (B.D.)
Prerequisite:
Successful completion of Ordination Studies to the Sacred Apostolic Priesthood or “fast track” through the Home Temple Diaconate and Priesthood modules for those already Ordained in other churches.
The Baccalaureate in Divinity is a seminary degree program offered to Priests and Priestesses of the independent Apostolic churches, including those of the Home Temple, as well as Ordained ministers of other churches and spiritual traditions. The emphasis of the program is immersion in the historical teachings of Mar Yeshua, the Master Jesus—as opposed to ecclesiastical dogma and theological doctrine offered by Christian churches. Through a study of the Aramaic language, vocabulary, Jewish Kabbalistic and Messianic concepts used by Jesus, we arrive at a new, unique, and profound understanding of the Master’s teachings.
Curriculum is supplied online through Dr. Lewis Keizer’s YouTube site, as well as the Home Temple Diaconate and Priesthood sites. In addition to submission of Spiritual Journal, Questions on Jesus, and Questions on the Bible, the student is required to complete the curriculum in the module entitled: Yeshua: The Unknown Jesus.by writing a substantial paper interpreting five of the logia and parables of Yeshua following clearly defined rubrics that earn specific percentages. A total of 70% is required for graduation and 90% for graduation cum laude (with honors).
Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.)
Required Education for Office of a Bishop
The M.Div. Degree program, along with training in the First Order Empowerments of T:.H:.G:. (Temple of the Holy Grail), is required education for Candidates for Consecration to the Episcopate as a member of the Home Temple Synod of Bishops.
T:.H:.G:. Initiation is offered once a year in Spring and there are $80 fees for the modules. See THG
Prerequisite:
Bachelor of Divinity Degree (B.D.) from Home Temple.
The Master of Divinity Degree program is designed to facilitate education of Home Temple clergy in World Religions, esoteric spirituality, and the Western Mystery Tradition. It helps qualify Priests and Priestesses for nomination to the Episcopate, since Home Temple Bishops are required to have knowledge and skills in esoteric as well as exoteric areas of spirituality.
Curriculum is supplied online. It consists of three core seminars and Major Emphasis elective seminars totaling at least. Exams or other required academic work must be passed in each of the three core seminars. An approved Masters Thesis specializing in a Major Emphasis topic from the elective seminars must be submitted in the required format.
Core Seminars:
- World Religions and Spirituality
- The Initiatic Mysteries of Classical Antiquity
- The Western Mystery Tradition: Medieval and Modern
Major Emphasis Courses from the WISDOM SEMINARS:
YESHUA STUDIES
- The Gospel of Mary and Magdalenic Gnosis
- The Kabbalistic Words of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas Seminar
- The Lost Pre-Christian Teachings of Yeshua Seminar (included free with Priesthood study modules)
REQUIRED TEXTS: Yeshua: The Unknown Jesus (Novel)
The Kabbalistic Words of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas
(Book)
GNOSTIC STUDIES
- Gnosticism: Ancient and Modern
- Rosslyn Chapel and Esoteric Freemasonry
- Two other elective seminars
REQUIRED TEXTS: Yeshua: The Unknown Jesus (Novel)
The Kabbalistic Words of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas
(Book)
MAGDALENIC STUDIES
- The Gospel of Mary and Magdalenic Gnosis
- The Kabbalistic Words of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas (Seminar)
- Two other elective seminars
REQUIRED TEXTS: Yeshua: The Unknown Jesus (Novel)
The Kabbalistic Words of Jesus in the Gospel of Thomas
Spiritual Practicums: The doctoral candidate will combine academic studies leading to a doctoral dissertation with spiritual practicum. The practicum will consist of advanced progress in two Initiatic Paths. These will require acceptable Candidacy, Initiation, and Advancement in these independent orders and associations, which are overseen by faculty mentors of the Home Temple Synod of Bishops who are also international Grand Masters of these initiatic orders and associations. A minimum of two years is required to achieve sufficient advancement in the Initiatic Paths.
Two years of documented progress in another Initiatic path may substitute for one of those listed below. But the qualification of “Initiatic” must be met–in other words, it must involve preparation, Initiation, and two years of successful Advancement through Initiatic degrees.
INITIATIC PATHS:
TEMPLAR: Temple of the Holy Grail (T:.H:.G:.)
Available in English and Spanish
THG
TANTRIC: Temple of the Holy Grail (THG) Second Order Christ-Melchizedek Tantra
Significant progress in Generation Stages
THG
MARTINIST: Knights of Christ (+OMCC+)
Available in English and Spanish
Martinist and Elus Cohen
ILLUMINIST: Ordo Fratres Lucis
Available in English and Spanish
OFL
PANSOPHIC FREEMASONRY: Male-Female Esoteric Freemasonry
Available in English
Pansophic
OTHER: To be submitted and approved
Doctoral Dissertation Requirements:
200-Page (Minimum) Typed Doctoral Dissertation in Proper Format submitted electronically as an MS Word, RTF, or PDF file.
Presentation of Doctoral Thesis at Annual Synod of Home Temple Bishops in Late June or Early July
If a student has completed the M.Div. Degree Program, he or she has already fulfilled the Core Seminars requirement, but must in addition complete two of the Initiatic Paths, and meet all of the Doctoral Dissertation Requirements listed above. The Master’s Thesis must be expanded into a Doctoral Dissertation.
REQUIREMENTS: NOMINATION FOR CONSECRATION AS A BISHOP
- Completion of B.D. Degree program of the Home Temple School of Sacred Studies
- Minimum of two years in Priesthood
- Active ministry and spiritual leadership
- Regular contact with Bishops Keizer
- Successful completion of THG First Order Studies
-
- Weather Proving
- Dubbing as Knight or Dame of +OMR+
- Completion of all course work for the M.Div. or D.D. Degree programs of the Home Temple School of Sacred Studies as shown above
- Approval of Thesis or Dissertation proposal
- Nomination approved by Synod of Home Temple Bishops
-
- Informally by telephone
- Formally at annual Board meeting
- Bishop may continue work on Master’s Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation after Consecration with promise to complete the dissertation or thesis within a year