Wahe Guru Ji ka Khalsa, Wahe Guru Ji ki Fateh!

It has been a year since I first wrote to you about the inception of the Regional Minister Coordinator (RMC) program. The following is an update:

The RMCs have met as a virtual group four times. We are defining, developing, and implementing this new infrastructure of volunteer sevadars to better serve the Ministry as a whole. We are striving to follow in the footsteps of Guru Amar Das from the 1500s, with a modern structure for the Aquarian Age. Our intent is to build this slowly and gradually in a way that is meaningful to both the RMCs and the Ministry.

The RMCs’ primary responsibilities so far are to facilitate communication with Ministers in their geographic areas, gathering their ideas, concerns and feedback, and sharing that information with this office. Together we are building a grassroots “brain trust.” The Office of the Secretary of Religion will utilize this input to better serve the Ministry and attempt to respond to any concerns, issues, or ideas. We are seeking collaboration to generate a sense of unity among our global Ministry so that we can better serve humanity.

There are still some geographic areas that are unrepresented and we are working hard to address this need. One of the first things the RMCs were asked to do was to take the list of Ministers we gave them in their geographic area and give us updated information about addresses, emails, etc. This has been very helpful to our office.

Ministers Meet Locally

The RMCs were asked to hold either an in-person or online meeting of Ministers in their geographic area, depending on the scope of their location. These meetings ranged from a phone conference to an ice cream party! So far the feedback we have received is that Ministers do want to meet and do see the value in continuing that process.

Based on some of the issues and concerns generated from these meetings, an agenda item was submitted to the Executive Committee of the Khalsa Council and initial discussions and information about the topic were presented at the April 2016 Khalsa Council meetings. Your voice really does count!

Little by little, Sikh Dharma Ministers are helping to shape the future of our Ministry. The RMCs are vital to making this happen. I am grateful for their service. As Ministers, please continue to share your input. Together we are creating our future.

 

Humbly,

SS Dr. Sat-Kaur Khalsa
Secretary of Religion

Photos: (Above) SS Sangeet Kaur Khalsa enjoying the Ministers’ Ice Cream Social hosted by RMC SS Meher Kaur  in Phoenix, AZ. (Right) Southern California area Ministers met and shared at a meeting hosted by RMCs SS Dharam Dev Kaur Khalsa and SS Siri Marka Singh Khalsa. (Below left) In the Northeastern US, Sikh Dharma Ministers gathered for a casual barbeque meeting hosted by RMC SS Siri Krishna Kaur Khalsa.

About the Secretary of Religion

 

SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa has served as Secretary of Religion since 1991 and was ordained as a Sikh Dharma Minister in 1975. As Secretary of Religion, Dr. Sat Kaur oversees and is ultimately responsible for the delivery of the functions of this Office. Dr. Sat Kaur is a long-time member of the International Khalsa Council and the Khalsa Council Executive Committee. Dr. Sat Kaur maintains a full-time psychotherapy private practice in Santa Monica, California and Santa Fe, New Mexico. She counsels individuals, couples, and families to support their personal and spiritual growth. She is a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, facilitates White Tantric Yoga®, and is a published author.