|
|
|
Procedure for Becoming a Sikh Dharma Minister January 2006 The process of becoming a Sikh Dharma Minister includes the following, which are described in detail below: Sikh Vows and living as a Sikh for three years following Vows, letters of recommendation, signed affidavit, possible background check, interview, essay, Minister Vows, formal application, and approval. 1) Before being considered a candidate, the person must have taken Sikh Vows and been living as a Sikh for at least three years after taking the Vows. The exception to these criteria is someone who has been living as a Sikh for at least the previous five years but has not yet taken Sikh Vows. In this case, the candidate must wait one year after taking Sikh Vows before applying. It is also highly recommended that the candidate complete the Sikh Dharma course entitled: “Journey to the Heart of Sikh Dharma.” Disclosure Statement: The information in the candidate’s application will be kept as part of the candidate’s permanent record with the Chancellor’s Office and the Office of the Secretary of Religion. 2) The candidate is required to have five different letters of recommendation from five current Sikh Dharma Ministers. If the candidate lives in or near a “Minister center” (defined as a geographic area where five or more Sikh Dharma Ministers live in fairly close proximity to each other, see attached list), the five letters must be from Ministers from that center; unless the candidate has lived in that center for less than two years, in which case two of the letters can come from Sikh Dharma Ministers from the candidate’s previous “Minister center.” If a member of the Central Section of the Khalsa Council (see names listed at the end of this procedure) lives in the candidate’s geographic area, one of the letters must be from that member of the Central Section. It is also highly recommended that one of the letters be from the person’s Sikh Dharma Granthi, who is also a Sikh Dharma Minister. If the candidate does not live in or near a Minister center, the letters of recommendation can be from any five current Sikh Dharma Ministers. The letters need to answer the questions listed on the Letter of Recommendation Form (see attached), be signed, and sent to: the Secretary of Religion (Dr. Sat-Kaur Khalsa, 409 E. Coronado Rd. #3, Santa Fe, NM 87505, faxed (505) 820-0197 or e-mailed [as long as the letter includes the recommender’s signature] to khalsask@aol.com). 3) A background check may be conducted on the candidate. The candidate will sign the attached affidavit. Any statements shown to be false could lead to candidate’s Minister ship being denied or revoked. 4) After receiving the five letters of recommendation for the candidate, the Secretary of Religion will contact the candidate. The Secretary of Religion may also contact the recommenders for additional information. 5) The Secretary of Religion will set up an appointment and meet with the candidate in order to conduct a phone or in-person interview. 6) Provided there are no serious concerns about this candidate becoming a Minister (details are described in the affidavit described below) or a need for additional self-development, the Secretary of Religion will give the candidate an essay question to be completed by the candidate in writing, dated, signed, and submitted to the Secretary of Religion. 7) Upon receipt and review of the submitted essay, the Secretary of Religion will be responsible for final approval of the applicant as a Minister of Sikh Dharma. 8) Upon approval, the Secretary of Religion will inform the candidate in writing that he/she has been approved and can take Sikh Dharma Minister Vows administered at an agreed upon time by a current Sikh Dharma Minister at Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice, or the European Yoga Festival. If there are special circumstances as to when and where the candidate can take vows, those details will be worked out with the Secretary of Religion. 9) After taking vows, the candidate must let the Secretary of Religion know in writing that he/she has done so. The Secretary of Religion will inform the Chancellor’s office. The candidate will receive a Minister’s packet from the Chancellor’s Office. After the candidate has submitted two passport style pictures in white dress turban for men, white turban and chuni for women, signed his/her Minister Vows, filled out the Minister’s application form, and paid the Minister fee (at this time it is $35US dollars/year) and sent all of the above to the Chancellor’s Office P.O. Box 35330, Los Angeles, CA 90035, the candidate will receive his/her Minister’s Identification Card and certificate as a Sikh Dharma Minister from the Chancellor’s Office. The members of the Central Section of Khalsa Council at this time are: MSS Dr. Guruchander Singh Khalsa, MSS Dr Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, SS Saint Guru Dev Singh Khalsa, MSS Gurudhan Singh Khalsa, MSS Guruka Singh Khalsa, MSS Dr. Guru Neil Singh Khalsa, MSS Guru Singh Khalsa, MSS Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa, MSS Hari Nam Singh Khalsa, MSS Livtar Singh Khalsa, MSS Nirvair Singh Khalsa, MSS Sada Sat Singh Khalsa, MSS Sat Santokh Singh Khalsa, SS Dr. Soram Singh Khalsa, and MSS Tarn Taran Singh Khalsa. Minister Centers (defined as a geographic area where five or more Sikh Dharma Ministers live in fairly close proximity to each other) are: Espanola, NM Eugene, OR Herndon, VA Los Angeles, CA Millis, MA. New York City/Brooklyn/Long Island Phoenix, AZ San Francisco/Bay area, CA Letter of Recommendation Form for a Sikh Dharma Minister Candidate 1) Contact information: Please list the candidate’s name, mailing address, along with home, business, cell phone numbers, and e-mail address. 2) How long and in what capacity have you known this candidate? 3) What has this person been doing that warrants his/her becoming a Sikh Dharma Minister? 4) What are this person’s strengths? 5) What are this person’s challenge areas? 6) Is there anything in this person’s past since they have become a Sikh that could jeopardize their ability to function as a Minister now? 7) Are there any areas of further development that you believe this candidate needs to strengthen before becoming a Sikh Dharma Minister? 8) Your contact information: Name, title, mailing address, along with home, business, and cell phone numbers, and e-mail address. What is the best way to contact you? Please send your signed letter of recommendation directly to the Secretary of Religion, Dr. Sat-Kaur Khalsa, 409 E. Coronado Road #3, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505, or fax (505) 820-0197, or e-mail (with a signature) khalsask@aol.com Thank you for your recommendation. Affidavit for a Sikh Dharma Minister Candidate “We must now have a standardized process…it must stand in a court of law. In a court of law this documentation is necessary.” Yogi Bhajan, April 1996. 1) Have you ever had criminal charges brought against you? If so, please explain. 2) Have you ever been convicted of a crime? If so, please explain. 3) Have you ever had disciplinary action taken against you in any state or country by an employer and/or governmental licensing agency? If so, please explain. 4) Have you ever been hospitalized for a mental/emotional condition? If so, please explain. 5) Have you engaged in behavior at any time during the last 10 years that is counter to the Sikh Dharma Vows? If so, please explain. I certify that all of the information in this affidavit and application is true and correct. Signed: ___________________________________ Date:__________________ |
|
|