Animal Clergy Training (ACT) Course
FAQs
Q. Is the ACT course a college course?
A. No, it is not accredited. We do not offer it for college credit. We do not offer it for licensing or certification in any other Chaplaincy program. The purpose of the course is to provide knowledge in the field of Animal Ministry to anyone who wishes to take our course, and to train clergy members to become Animal Chaplains. Anmal Chaplaincy is a separate field of ministry than Human Chaplaincy. You will not be prepared to work in a human hospital or the military, as you would in a professional (human) Chaplain training program.
Q. Do you ordain Ministers, Rabbis, Priests, or anyone else?
A. No. We are not a church or other religious institution. The course is to be taken by people who already have a religious title within their denomination, or are working, or plan to work in the field of Animal Ministry, whether as a volunteer or a professional. This is a course designed to guide students to begin their work in Animal Ministry, led by people who have already been in the field, and to give them resources to continue their training after the course is completed. The course lends a level of professionalism and credibility to the field of Animal Ministry, and helps congregations and community groups to be confident the leaders of their Animal Ministries are well qualified.
Q. Can I take the course if I am not ordained?
A. Yes. Any religious leader in the community may take this course. We need your title for your diploma, if you have one. If you are not ordained, your diploma will read, "Animal Ministry Leader". If you are ordained, it will read, "Animal Chaplain". It is the same course for everyone; only your diplomas will be different, depending on whether or not you are a member of the Clergy.
There are a number of religious groups in the United States who will ordain you easily, quickly and legally, on-line if you are interested in that. For more information about how to become ordained through one of many outside ministerial programs, see the bottom of the Details page.
Q. How long will this course take me to complete? I have little time.
A. That is up to you. You can fill out your application and send it in with your tuition fee right away, and begin working immediately on the reading lists and requirements. Or, you can work on the requirements first and send your completed materials in with your application and tuition fee. You have one calendar year to complete your coursework after your application has been received. If you need more time, just let us know, and we will work it out with you. Upon completion of the course, you will receive your Diploma.
Q. I have been working with animals and their human companions for years. Can I get credit for work I have already done?
A. Yes. Contact the instructor at animalclergy@aol.com to discuss how you can get credit for previous work. You will still need to fill out the application and pay the fee, however.
Q. Is this program attached to any religious denomination, and do you proselytize?
A. No and no. This is an interfaith program. Our stand is that each religion can nurture its members in its own way, and Animal Ministry is an important part of all paths and traditions. How you adapt what you learn here to your particular faith is up to you.
Q. Do I have leeway in what I want to study?
A. Yes and no. Requirements are consistent for all graduates. You can choose your required reading assignments from a long list of books, choosing those that are consistent with your own personal faith, or which interest you the most. Students must read three books under the category of World Faiths, so they will feel confident in ministering to the needs of people of all faiths, or no faith at all.
Q. Are all of the clergy listed on your site graduates of the ACT course?
A. No, this site lists independent Interfaith Animal Chaplains as a courtesy to the public. Each has their own background, affiliation, training and credentials. Contact the ones near you to find out more about their ministry. The ACT course is still new - as people graduate, they will be listed on the site with the (ACT) mark next to their names to indicate they have successfully completed the course. Only those with the ACT credential after their name are graduates.
Q. Will I be guaranteed a job in Animal Ministry when I complete the course?
A. No. What you do with the education you receive here is completely up to you. Some graduates will become Animal Chaplains as a hobby, or volunteer position in their congregation or community. Others will find that it helps them get a job working for an animal-related non-profit agency, or the additional credentials may boost their compensation at their current job. Some graduates will simply use what they have learned to help friends and family in their private lives. Still others may start their own Animal Chaplain business or ministry, and may choose to charge fees for their services.
Q. Who offers this course and how are they qualified?
A. This course is offered by Chaplain Nancy Cronk, founder of Interfaith Animal Clergy. Nancy has been involved in mentoring and organizing Animal Chaplains for several years, in addition to serving those whom she has comforted after the loss of their beloved animal friends. Nancy was ordained by Rev. Sandra Shaw, founder of Chaplain of the Pets ministry, in 2004, as well as by Universal Ministries and Spiritual Humanism prior to that. Rev. Shaw's group no longer offers ordainment in the field of Animal Ministry, and has retired from her organization. It is with her inspiration that Nancy continues training other Animal Chaplains in this new way. Nancy also continues her work as an Interfaith Officiant (for human weddings and funerals) while serving as Chair of Animal Chaplains.com.
Q. Is this course affiliated with Chaplain of the Pets, the Pet Chaplain, Chaplain for the Pets, Veterinary Chaplains, or any other Animal Ministry with a similar name?
A. No. It is completely independent of all other ministries.
Q. Do Animal Chaplains believe animals are more important than people? Or, do Animal Chaplains believe that animals go to Heaven? Or, do Animal Chaplains believe animals have a soul?
A. Animal Chaplains come from a wide range of backgrounds, and represent congregations and ministries in many different faiths. These questions may be answered differently in each faith. Each Animal Chaplain should represent their own faith beliefs when answering these questions. A common thread which underlies the beliefs of most Animal Chaplains is that animals are "sentient beings"*.
Q. You did not answer my question yet.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
* sen•tient
Pronunciation: (sen'shunt), [key]
—adj.
1. having the power of perception by the senses; conscious.
2. characterized by sensation and consciousness.
—n.
1. a person or thing that is sentient.
2. Archaic.the conscious mind.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
