There is an SSSC election occurring this year, with 8 seats up for re-election. Newly elected SSSC Trustees will take their seats at the Fall Khalsa Council meetings in September 2022. The Office of the Secretary of Religion is here to support all Ministers in getting current so that they can participate in the various aspects of the SSSC election. In order to vote in the election, and write letters of recommendation for Sangat members applying to join the electorate, all Ministers must be in good standing. This means that they will have completed their annual credential renewal process for the 2022-2023 calendar year.
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Archives for News
Minister News & Notes (2022 Second Quarter)
Minister News & Notes (2022 First Quarter)
Annual Sikh Dharma Minister credential renewal notices have been sent out in early February. This is an exam year. Be sure to complete your renewal early this year! Our electronic Minister Renewal System facilitates annual Minister credential renewals through a secure online portal. You can review and update your Minister record, submit your renewal letters and exams, and securely pay your annual Minister fees. If you did not receive your 2022 renewal notice (by email or letter), or if you have questions or need assistance in your renewal process, please email [email protected] Sikh Dharma International announced the launch of a
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Minister News & Notes (2021 Third Quarter)
The Office of the Secretary of Religion of Sikh Dharma International offers congratulations to two newly ordained Sikh Dharma International Ministers, who took their Minister vows in August 2021. Wahe Guru ji ka Khalsa! Wahe Guru ji ki Fateh! Singh Sahib Kirpal Singh Khalsa, France SS Kirpal Singh Khalsa took his Sikh Dharma Minister vows on August 15 in a “hybrid” ceremony. He was blessed to be surrounded in person by his students, friends, and his spouse Ishwara Kaur at a cozy gurdwara at his farmhouse/teaching center in a town south of Paris, France. Secretary of Religion SS Dr. Sat
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Minister News and Notes (2021 Second Quarter)
Sikh Dharma International (SD) is expecting to put forth a program proposal for the 2021 World’s Parliament of Religions, according to SDI COO MSS Kirtan Singh Khalsa. This is an opportunity for joining together with other religions to discuss important topics, including this year’s meeting theme: “Opening our Hearts to the World: Compassion in Action.” The event is scheduled for October 17-18 and will be held in a “virtual” venue in light of the ongoing health concerns. Sikh Dharma Ministers have participated in past Parliaments and are encouraged to attend this year’s event, which is being held virtually for the
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Minister News and Notes (2021 First Quarter)
Congratulations and Wahe Guru to Sardarni Sahiba Hari Bhajan Kaur Khalsa of Espanola, NM, on her recent ordination as a Sikh Dharma International Minister. She was able to take her Minister vows virtually via Zoom at her home gurdwara surrounded by family and was also joined online by friends. The vows and Minister oath were administered by Secretary of Religion Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa on January 23, 2021. Attending the Guru, MSS Hari Dharam Kaur, Granthee of the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das Gurdwara, looked on with pride as her eldest daughter became an ordained Sikh Dharma Minister. SS Siri
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Ministry News and Notes (Winter 2020)
In this time of quarantine, the Secretary of Religion wanted to ensure that individuals seeking to become ordained Sikh Dharma Ministers would have the ability to take their Ministerial vows in a timely fashion. Traditionally, Sikh Dharma Ministers took vows at our Winter and Summer Solstices, as well as at the European and Chilean Yoga Festivals and—in some rare cases with permission—within their local sangats. This Ministerial ordination tradition began in 1971 and has continued for nearly 50 years, following the first “group” ordination ceremonies at the Summer Solstice celebrations in the early 1970s. That all changed in 2020. Fortunately,
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Minister News and Notes (Summer 2020)
During this global crisis, we are all experiencing the unexpected effects of the pandemic. Recently, the Office of the Secretary of Religion produced a training module entitled “Trauma-Informed Seva for Sikh Dharma Ministers in Crisis and Disaster.” This video was created in response to feedback from Ministers as one of the primary topics of interest for Minister Enrichment. While we originally produced this video specifically to address disaster situations such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, or fire, it is also rich in helpful tools and information relevant for this pandemic—first and foremost for you as an individual (especially the grounding techniques)—and secondly to
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Minister News and Notes (Spring 2020)
by SS Pritpal Singh Khalsa, 2019 Winter Solstice Ministers’ Gathering Facilitator The sun was shining and the tropical warmth of Central Florida created a welcoming atmosphere at the 2019 Sikh Dharma Ministers’ Gathering at Winter Solstice. We started out talking about what it means to stand under each other and about how it takes compassion, patience, and acceptance. We used the example of Guru Ram Das as the ideal manifestation of these qualities. Reviewing the details of the life of Guru Ram Das helped to remind us of his path to becoming this ideal example. To invoke the presence of
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Minister News and Notes (Winter 2019)
As part of the Sikh Dharma International yatra to India celebrating the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, a multi-language volume of Japji Sahib was presented at the Golden Temple. The volume represents the devoted efforts of people in communities around the globe who contributed to the translation of Japji Sahib into their local language, so that the beauty of Japji Sahib can be shared with more people worldwide. Read more…
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Minister News and Notes (Fall 2019)
Congratulations and Wahe Guru to five new Sikh Dharma Ministers who took their vows during the summer of 2019. Four Minister candidates who took their vows at the end of the June 2019 3HO Summer Solstice Sadhana are SS Siri Chand Singh (Espanola NM), SS Guru Darshan Kaur (Puebla, Mexico), SS Angad Kaur Khalsa (New York City, NY) and SS Harsimranjeet Singh Khalsa (Ottowa, Canada). Vows were administrated by Assistant Secretary of Religion SS Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur. SS Sham Kaur of Bolivia translated the vows into Spanish. At the 3HO European Yoga Festival in France, SS Ram Singh
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