A qualified "teaching master", under these guidelines, is one to whom CNR has already issued the certification or credential the applicant desires, and who has been approved by the Board of Directors' Clerical Trainer to train others. Some credentials may also be regulated by Canon directives.

Certificates are awarded after completion of the apprenticeship upon recommendation of both the teaching master and the Clerical Trainer, and are signed by both. Award of some credentials may require appeal to and the approval of the full Board of Directors.

Mentoring Spiritual Counselor (MSpC)

• Open to lay and clergy.

• Requires 12 hours of personal mentoring by a qualified teaching master.

• Requires 12 hours of apprenticeship level attendance in MSpC sessions with a qualified teaching master and that master's client.

• Requires applicant to conduct at least 6 hours of mentoring with the teaching master in attendance.

• At the end of (at least) 30 hours of training, and with the approval of the teaching master and Clerical Trainer, the applicant is certified as a Mentoring Spiritual Counselor.

Certified Clerical Therapist (CCT)

• Open only to clergy. (If the cleric was not ordained by CNR, proof of ordination may be required.) Training subject to approval of both teaching master and Clerical Trainer.

• This credential may overlap with MSpC, but is primarily intended for a more clinical, therapeutic approach to counseling. However, the approach to therapy is spiritual, not psychotherapeutic. This credential is not intended to, and does not provide expertise in psychotherapy or psychiatry.

• Applicants must complete a minimum of 12 hours of this type of counseling for themselves, i.e. they must be counseled.

• A minimum of 12 hours of apprenticeship level attendance in CCT sessions with a teaching master and that master's client.

• The applicant must also conduct a minimum of 6 hours of Clerical Therapy sessions with a teaching master in attendance.

• At the end of at least 30 hours of training, and with the approval of the teaching master and Clerical Trainer, the applicant is certified as a Certified Counseling Therapist.

Authorized Clerical Trainer (ACT)

• Open only to CNR credentialed clergy who meet the Canonical requirements for certification.

• This certification authorizes CNR's clergy to train other candidates for ordination by CNR.

• Applicants must apply to a qualified teaching master directly. Once accepted by a teaching master, that master must notify the Clerical Trainer that apprenticeship has begun.

• The applicant must have accepted a candidate for ordination under the requirements of the Canon.

• The applicant will conduct the apprenticeship of their candidate under the supervision of the teaching master.

• Certification will be considered upon completion of the candidate's apprenticeship. The teaching master will review the work of the applicant with the candidate to determine whether certification is warranted, and make a recommendation to the Clerical Trainer.

  Note: Due to the difficulty of the ordination process, certification of the applicant is not predicated on the successful ordination of the candidate. Rather, the quality of instruction provided by the applicant is the prime governing criterion.

Mediation-Facilitation Certificate (MFC)

• Open to lay and clergy.

• Applicants must complete a minimum of 12 hours of apprenticeship level attendance in mediation and facilitation sessions with a teaching master.

• The applicant must conduct at least 6 hours of mediation and facilitation with a teaching master in attendance.

• At the end of at least 18 hours of training, and with the approval of the teaching master and Clerical Trainer, the applicant awarded a Mediation-Facilitation Certificate.

Doctorate of Divinity (D.D.)

• Open to lay and clergy.

• Applicants must apply in writing directly to the Clerical Trainer prior to beginning work.

• Doctoral work may be in any of several forms but must contribute something new to the field of mysticism; or must provide a new perspective on a previously known aspect of mysticism. Acceptable forms of work include:
  • A written thesis resulting in a publishable work. The candidate may use previously published material in support of his or her thesis, but the majority of the material must be original, researched and written by the candidate, and otherwise fulfill the requirements listed.

  • A novel length work of fiction which in some way illuminates mystics or mysticism. (Example: Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land; Mary Doria Russel's The Sparrow)

  • A thematic musical composition of operatic or symphonic length. (Examples: Handel's Messiah; Bach's Mass in B Minor; Hildegard Von Bingen's Oh Jerusalem; Philip Glass's score to Kundun)

  • Sculptures, paintings, or other art works in a series or show devoted to illuminating the Mystic Way or some other facet of mysticism.

  • A screenplay, theatre script, or documentary, the content of which reflects the above criteria. (Examples: The Last Temptation of Christ; The Messenger; The Matrix)

• Work should be submitted to the Board of Directors through the Clerical Trainer (or made available to the Board, if the work is a show, play, or production). Doctorates are awarded by majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Ordination (Rev.)

• Open.

• Ordination is never offered. It must be requested.

• Applicants may approach either an ACT certified member of the clergy, a member in training for the ACT certificate, or request contact with one of the former from the Clerical Trainer.

• The requirements for ordination are governed by Part IV, Chapter 2 of the Codes of the Canon.
  • Those requesting ordination by the Church must serve an indefinite period of apprenticeship.

  • Applicants must show:
    • A respect and honor for all religious traditions and symbols.

    • A well-defined, personal honor code.

    • An intrinsic understanding of the human energy field, historically referred to as the "Aura," or the "chakra system."

    • Have moved through internal fears, shown mastery over them, and will no longer be motivated to react out of fear-based emotions.

    • Will have moved beyond the need for most personal judgements.

    • Will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the seven truths/mysteries inherent to the human experience (also the sacraments of the Church).

    • Will have accepted and embraced responsibility for the life they have created.

    • Will be able to state clearly for what reason they seek the special legal status associated with formal ordination, state which of their gifts they will treat as sacred and how, and explain why the exercise of those gifts requires sacred orders from the Church.

  • When the teaching master and applicant have determined the applicant is ready: The applicant must set forth, in writing, the reason they are seeking formal ordination by CNR for review by the Board of Directors.

  • The teaching master will then notify the Board, in writing, of the readiness of the applicant to receive ordination and will include with this communication the paper prepared by the applicant for the Board's review.

  • If the Board finds the applicant's reasons for seeking ordination valid, it will convene a hearing to which the applicant and teaching master may be called and questioned.

  • Ordination is conferred upon the applicant by majority vote of the Board of Directors.