Men As Learners and Elders (M.A.L.E.s)

The MROP weekend addresses the problem of what men in our western culture are lacking in their experience and understanding of the transcendent power of God. This weekend will offer Rites of Passage programs to help guide men through a formal initiation process that they may have missed during their critical developmental period as young men. The Men As Learners and Elders (M.A.L.E.s) program was established in 2002 to carry out the vision of creating a school for male spiritual development by expanding the scope of Men’s Rites of Passage programs throughout the country and abroad. One of the goals of M.A.L.E.s is to form an extended network of initiated men and leaders who have an ecumenical vision of Gospel based male initiation. These Initiated Men will then serve as Elders in providing leadership and guidance in spiritual development for other men of future generations.

The Rites of Passage are most appropriate for those men who are spiritually searching, who have probably done some men’s work already, and are not in a major reaction against God, grace or transformation.  This is not just another ecumenical men’s retreat.  While we use images and ritual from other religious traditions, we don’t apologize for our Judeo-Christian heritage.

The MROP and M.A.L.E.s program are open to:

• Men of all races and religions.
• Men seeking wisdom for the journey
• Grandfathers, fathers, sons, godsons and grandsons.
• Men without fathers.
• Young men at least 16 years old.

Mission

As initated men we purpose to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind. And to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
                                                            Matthew 22:37-40

Vision

The restoration of a “tradition” of initiation over the next five generations that can rediscover and retrieve the Judeo-Christian sacraments of baptism, forgiveness, reconciliation, communion, and confirmation. All initiated men would be challenged to embrace their Journey of Illumination with the support of a community of Elders.

Staement of Faith

The leadership of NorCal M.A.L.E.s believe in the following:

We believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.