Ministry is a profound calling and an opportunity to offer one’s gifts and talents on the altar of God. To enter the ministry is to commit one’s life to the path of sacrifice, surrender, selflessness and service in the expression of love for God and His creation. The minister builds a sacred trust with the members of the congregation and all whom he/she serves. This trust demands honor, integrity, fairness and unconditional love and acceptance of others

“I call you … who would be ordained ministers of Church Universal and Triumphant that you might always remember that the minister is the servant of the Christ in souls mounting unto the Shekhinah glory of the Mother of Israel.” – Gautama Buddha

In short, the ministry is about teaching others successful living in the spiritual sense. A minister is one who can, through the Holy Spirit, impel people to their inner reality and exhort them to action. To serve our members and seekers well, our ministers will need ongoing “education of the heart” as well as a strong academic training, provided in the Church’s ministerial training program.

“The chelas are coming to your heart. You are the ones that they will see. They will not see me at first, or even the Messenger. They will see you! By your love and joy and mastery and the giving of yourself, they will know that they are Home.”  – Lanello

From our Lay Sister

It is with great joy in my heart and most humbling to me to serve the Christ in each one at the TSL Study Group of Miami as a lay sister of our Church. This was a long time coming as in my heart I always felt the calling to serve mankind as an instrument so that God’s Love and Light may be conveyed to those whom He sends my way. To me it was such a blessing to have had the opportunity to meet my Guru, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, our Beloved messenger whom we address as “Mother,” and feel that love that she conveyed to me when she was physically with us, and that is the Love that she taught me to convey to others as I continue to feel her Presence with me, more and more, at inner levels.

Mother is a role model for all of us, irrelevant of what professional or vocational path we come to follow. And I felt the calling to follow the ministerial path of serving God’s children in whatever need of the hour at a very early age, and after meeting Mother as well as Rev. Annice Booth, this calling was clearly intensified. And so, I embarked on a spiritual journey of preparation to finally have that calling manifest in my life, through the ministerial course of Summit University School of Theology. I encourage all those who feel the calling in their hearts to follow that road. It is an amazing journey! It has been a long road for me, full of treasures with some hardships on the way, but not once did I feel alone. Mother’s Presence was and is always with me, as well as Rev. Annice’s, Lady Master Dorcas, and the Masters’, guiding me, teaching me the way to come up higher every step of the way, showing me where there may be a need for change and transformation, prayer and transmutation, spiritual growth and surrender. The most gratifying of which is to be able to apply all that they have taught me and continue to teach me, to my personal life, but most importantly, to apply it when ministering to the Christ within each brother and sister on the Path. We truly become the Brotherhood’s instruments so that others may be touched by their Love and healing and peace and all that they are able to convey to God’s children through us. 

The greatest lesson that I have learned is to be able to understand the mystery of keeping the immaculate concept for all because that is the only way we may serve the Christ in them. It is the only way to let go and let God. It is the only way to adhere to Jesus’ message, “What is that to thee, follow thou me.”

My prayer is that as we come up higher, that we may lift everyone up with us in that same wave of spiritual growth and understanding with God’s Love in our hearts. And for all that, I AM eternally grateful to Mother and Rev. Annice Booth, both who served as examples to me of total surrender to the Will of God and to leading a life of ministering service to the Light, to Beloved El Morya, my Father and Guru, and all the Masters who have held me in their arms of Love, supported me throughout this journey and continue to support me every day of my life, every step of the way until my Victory in the Light. Thank you! May the Christ Light shine brightly upon everyone’s heart.

Always Victory!

Sister Maria Carolina Paraventi

Roles of Lay Brothers and Lay Sisters in Church Universal and Triumphant

Our Church has nine sacraments and lay brethren may assist ministers in all sacraments when necessary and when asked. The following sacraments may be performed by lay brethren:

Anointing of the Sick | Last Rites

Lay brethren may also:

1. Conduct Sunday Services
2. Serve Holy Communion
3. Give a Sermonette
4. Perform cremation and memorial services
5. Assist ministers with sacraments and other functions
6. Assist at sacrament table at conferences
7. Assist the board

Lay brethren are always available to pray for the sick, visit them at the hospital or hospice, pray for the community and with them, either individually or as a group, give them counseling, conduct and train those interested in services and decree leading, as well as creating matrices.