The First Woman's Church

History of the InnerCircle University (ICU)

founded in 1981 by Rev. Clara L. Bujol and Nathan L. Crawford, Jr.

The InnerCircle University was formed out of a quest for and a love of education and spirituality. In the foundation of this institution was poured the commitment to honor both African spirituality and Woman’s spirituality as an essential element on the path of Self Knowledge.

The Founder, Rev. Crystal Clarity Bujol, is the daughter of Leslie Joseph Bujol, Sr and Rev. Dr. Ruth Bujol, both now deceased. Dr. Ruth Bujol served as Director of Women’s work for People’s Independent Church of Christ for twenty-two years and was the president and senior teacher of the Metaphysical Bible Institute of America for over fifteen years, until her death.  Her dream, to be fulfilled in the evolution of InnerCircle University, was to create an institution where she could teach people to:

Read it for yourself, be it for yourself, know it for yourself . . . Recognize that the “it” is you and the you is the “I Am” of the everything of God.

In 1980, then known as Clara Leslie Bujol, she was a Licensed Religious Science Practitioner at The Guidance Church of Religious Science in Los Angeles, and a member of the International Board of Trustees for the United Church of Religious Science. 

With the encouragement and assistance of her husband, Nathan L. Crawford, Jr., she was inspired to write the first full companion workbook for the Science of Mind Textbook, written by Dr. Ernest Holmes, Dean and Founder of Religious Science. The name of her 3-volume set is The Science of YOUR Mind: A 30-Week Course of Enlightenment. Little did anyone realize that she and Nathan were becoming co-founders of a new educational institution and a new spiritual movement, soon to become a denomination which would encompass Christianity and other religions and be known as Graduate Christianity.

Eight students were attracted to her first class which used her newly published workbook. Beginning in October, 1980, the class met upstairs at the Elegant Manor, Monday evenings. Thus the seeds for InnerCircle University (ICU) were planted.

On April 13, 1981, the Board of Trustees of the InnerCircle Church was formed and met at the home of Clara's cousin, William Rucker and Marion Rucker (student).

Other members of that first Board were Leslie Bujol, Jr. (Brother),

Jeryl S. Thompson (son),

Mel Brown (student),

and husband, Nathan L. Crawford, Jr.  

          The first order of business was to call Clara Bujol to the ministry of this newly incorporated institution. The second order of business was to name the educational institution “The InnerCircle University of Graduate Christianity.”

          The following Sunday, April 19, Easter 1981, InnerCircle Church held its first official Sunday morning service at the Elegant Manor, giving birth to a new religious dance: Graduate Christianity. The following June, the first graduation exercise for InnerCircle University was held. The guest speaker was Rev. Dr. Marjorie Hebert, wife of Rev. Dr. Archille (Uncle Bubba) Hebert. All eight students completed the course and received certificate of completion.

The philosophy of Graduate Christianity can be found in African Spiritual teachings; The Aquarian Spiritual Teachings of Black Gnostics (as preserved and developed by Dr. Alfred Ligon); The Science of Mind; and the teachings of Rev. Dr. Ruth Bujol. That philosophy is: “It’s up to you to find a way to be at one with all life.” Graduate Christianity promotes Self Knowledge as being The Way, The Truth, and The Light in preparation for the Aquarian Age and all future Ages. 

In this institution, Graduate Christians are defined as those who write their own bible, design their own religion, sign their name to it and practice what they preach.

Some Historic Dates:

Our first ministerial Graduate was Rev. Marilyn Knipp, 1982.  Our first MA in Graduate Christianity was awarded to Rev. Kujichagulia, 1982.  Our youngest student to complete The Science of Your Mind course is Frederick Johnson in 1983 when he was 11 years old. Our first AA degree was awarded to Gene Brown, 1986.

Through the years, InnerCircle University has continued to recognize our students and deserving members of the community. At all our graduations, we present certificates of recognition, completion, earned degrees and special awards for service to the community. At the original suggestion of one of our first students, Alma (Robinson) Sanshagrin, we have continued to diligently search out the most honorable servants of humanity to recognize and honor for their outstanding legacies by conferring the InnerCircle University Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities. In our twenty-year history, we have conferred these Honorary Degrees the following individuals who are also pictured to the right:

               1981 - Dr. Majorie Herbert

               1982 - Dr. Juanita Dunn

               1983 - Dr. Beverly Coleman

               1984 - Dr. A. Hasani Perry

               1985 - Dr. Hilda S. Spragin

               1986 - Dr. Elaine Armour Word

               1987 - Dr. Yolanda Thompson

               1988 - Dr. Crystal Clarity Bujol

               1989 - Dr. Ahman

               1990 - Dr. Patricia Pratt

               1991 - Dr. Bernice Ligon

                2001 - Dr. Rainbow Johnson

               2001 - The First Earned PhD awarded to Rev. Dr. Crystal Bujol, PhD in Spiritual Psychology In our twenty-year history, we are proud to report that we have continued to live up to our mission statement, which follows:

The InnerCircle University of Graduate Christians

Mission Statement

---- Know Yourself; There’s No Other Way

InnerCircle University is an educational organization dedicated to spiritual growth and personal development, as a means of advancing on the path of authentic self-determination while contributing to the collective power and wisdom of the community.

We utilize Universal and African spiritual principles that honor the Sacred Feminine and masculine Essence of God, to invoke a fuller and more joyful expression of the Divine Presence in each person.

We are committed to nourishing and empowering the individual within the context of community, in order to promote and inspire a higher spiritual evolution of human consciousness.

We offer this profound formula from the African Mystics as an essential key to higher spiritual evolution of all human consciousness.

Know Yourself, There’s No Other Way.

Facts and Intentions of the Corporation:

The InnerCircle University is a non-profit educational and spiritual organization dedicated to building bridges between the individual and God that transcend social, religious and cultural barriers, connecting us to a new reality - a now reality - of Oneness of Being.

We offer explorations in personal and spiritual development, workshops and retreats promoting physical, financial, and emotional health and well being, and special seasonal festivals, celebrating the planetary cycles of nature, and acknowledging the sacredness of all life, while honoring the Divine Masculine and Feminine Essence of God.

We invite our students to experience genuine personal transformation that takes them beyond the limitations of traditional thinking in order to advance on the path of authentic self-determination within the context of community.

We encourage our students to forge a deep understanding of and working relationship with their own Divine Inner Authority, supporting spiritual growth, and nurturing personal development leading to individual contributions to the collective power and wisdom of the community.

We envision the creation of a more joyful and harmonious world, dedicated to peace, security, and justice for all, guided by the African spiritual principles of truth, justice, harmony, balance, righteousness, reciprocity, and beauty — all sustained by a benevolent love and compassion for everyone and everything.

We intend all of this as a twentieth-century cultural endowment from the creativity and self-determination of African American society to the global spectrum of religions in the spiritual community and the universal curriculums in the educational community.

Long live InnerCircle University:

Long may you Know Yourself!

.

  What is a Mistress Degree?

It is a degree in self and community nurturing.

By Rev. Dr. Crystal Bujol

1.      The Mistress Degree is a degree in the Divine Application of universal and university’s curriculum for the “Y” chromosome, the masculine essentials to serve as the authority on life.  All living beings do not possess the “y” chromosome, though it is essential, respected and honored in this catalog/curriculum.      

2.      The Mistress Degree is the curriculum for the “x” chromosome which all living beings possess.  The Mistress Degree requires the individual to shift from the personal to the “next”, from the individual to the community, from the particular one to the collective one.      

3.     The etymology of the word mistress comes from the : Middle English word maistresse, from Middle French, from Old French, feminine of maistre master -- more information under the word “master.”    

4.    As of the 15th century, the definition included: a woman who has power, authority, or ownership: as:     

       a.     the female head of a household      

      b.    a woman who employs or supervises servants      

      c.     a woman who is in charge of a school or other establishment     

     d.    a woman of the Scottish nobility having a status comparable to that of a master      

     e.     a chiefly a chiefly British : a female teacher or tutor    

     f.       a woman who has achieved mastery in some field     

    g.     something personified as female that rules, directs, or dominates (when Rome was mistress of the world)    

5.     The archaic definition is “Sweetheart.”

Crystal's definition of "Sweet Heart:"  The ability to give birth, recreate itself, nurture itself, and stand for life after life after life, with no end.

Volume 1 - $40 plus shipping

Volume 2 - $50 plus shipping

Volume 3 - $60 plus shipping

All 3 - $150.00 plus shipping

Shipping charges differ.  Email -  xtalankh@gmail.com to get shipping charges for your address.

Send check to: 

InnerCircle University Books

c/o 8 Vista Gardens Trail #102

Vero Beach, FL  32962

Allow 10 - 12  days for delivery.

Volume 1:  Chapters 1-10

Volume 2:  Chapters 11 - 20

Volume 3:  Chapters 21 - 30

JESSIE MAE CHRIS{T}, a Religious Science Fiction Book about Jesus' Twin Sister by Dr. Crystal Bujol.  Includes the Woman's Church Myths from 1988 and conversations with her twin brother.

VOLUME 1 OF 5

JESSIE MAE CHRIS{t} MAY BE ORDERED ON AMAZON.COM

12.99 PLUS TAX AND SHIPPING

Send your email to xtalankh@gmail.com.

I will send you the free summary so you can have a guide to write your own Bible.

Sometime in 2020, the Book:  How I Wrote My Own Bible . .  and you can, too! will be ready to purchase from Amazon.  We will keep you posted on its availability.  If you should desire further assistance with writing your Bible, contact us through the above email for personal guidance.  For this personal service, a donation to the InnerCircle would be appreciated.  

Rev. Dr. Crystal Bujol (Clara Bujol) - 2000

Rev. Dr. Carla Hardy - 2021

WHO, WHAT AND WHY

Their Honorary Degree is equivalent to an ICU earned PhD.  These degrees can not be purchased, or applied for.  They are supremely unique in nature, services to humanity, and adding to the "Shoulders of Giants" that support the future. 

Their life experiences are equivalent to all ICU requirements and they were part of the teaching staff of InnerCircle University in its infancy, nominated by and voted on by past PhD recipients, ICU Board of Regents, and the Founders.

1981 – Dr. Majorie Hebert

1982 - Dr. Juanita Dunn

1983 - Dr. Beverly Coleman

1984 - Dr. A. Hasani Perry

1985 - Dr. Hilda S. Spragin

1986 - Dr. Elaine Armour Word

1987 - Dr. Yolanda Thompson

1988 - Dr. Crystal Clarity Bujol

1989 - Dr. Ahman

1992 - Dr. Patricia Pratt

1999 - Dr. Bernice ligon

2001 – Dr. Rainbow Johnson

InnerCircle University Awards Archive

All the inhabitants of this heaven known as earth are eligible to be nominated for these awards in accordance with the criteria stated below, except those who by way of accepting the ICU honorary doctorate or having been recognized as the Graduate Christian of the year, have reached the status of Graduate Christian Persona Emeritus.  Past recipients form the future selection committee for each award area, except for the Founder’s Award and Board awards.

Additionally, the Kwanzaa award nomination is voted on by ballots taken from the InnerCircle Church, First Woman’s Church, and Board of Trustees, and The Crystal Foundation.

The “first” award - The Graduate Christian Black Eye Peas Award,

Awarded annually to a member or student of the InnerCircle Institutions for the obvious diligent and consistent of the four basic Graduate Christian Black Peas: Personalize, Plan, Practice and Produce.

Past recipients/year:

1982    Jan Freeman

1983    Kujichagulia

1984    Gene Brown

1985    Rev. Edmund Cleaver

1986    Nawili Ayo

1987    Nubi

1990    Rev. Victoria Lee

1991 Denise Cunningham Reed

1992 Rev. Betty Robinson

The Performing Artist of the Year Award 

Awarded annually to a member of the InnerCircle Institutions for artistically expressing the higher consciousness of Graduate Christianity through any of the various mediums and art forms.

1982    Pat Hodges, music

1983    Leslie Bujol, recording engineer/productions

1984    Nathalie Forrest, music

1985    Kujichagulia, art (painting)

1986    Gene Brown, textiles/fashion design

1987    Don Level, music

1990    Glory Dean Scott, music

1991    Corneila McDonald Playwright/performance

1992    Rev. Victoria Lee-Owens, poet

The Graduate Christian Gift of the Year Award

Awarded every year for the obvious increased expression of the Graduate Christian gift for the year as expressed through service to the InnerCircle Institutions, application of the principle in one’s personal life and enrichment of the community.  The Theme for this award changes every year in celebration of the gift of the year.

1982    Alma Robinson - Consistency

1983    William Rucker - Health and Wealth

1984    Nicole Piggee — Love and Happiness

1985    Susie Porter — Golden Opportunities

1986    Gregory and Dr. Helen Mendes Love - My Perfect Mate

1987    Joyce Downs — Self Realization

1990    Linda Hicks — Family Unity

1991    Mae Lynn Lee — Oneness With All Life

1992    Nirankar Kaur Khalsa - Higher Consciousness

The Kwanzaa Award

Presented annually in appreciation for and in recognition of this first African American Holiday, to that person who brigs from their inner plane, to ICU and the community, those qualities, resources, talents and expression of spiritual development representing the Kwanzaa for that seven year cycle and whose work contributes to the members and community a greater refinement of all Kwanzaa blessings. 

Past recipients are:

1985 Rev. Kujichagulia

1986    Rone’ Ellis

1987    Zandra Daniels

1990    El Rita Neusome

1991 Rev. Covese Silken

1992 Rev. Yvonne Stuckey

GRADUATE CHRISTIAN OF THE YEAR

Presented annually to that person who, in the opinion of the selection committee, (1) reflects a higher consciousness of the twelve Graduate Christian gifts, as demonstrated by their increased consciousness, enriched living, service to the InnerCircle Institutions, the world movement of Graduate Christianity and the community in which we are based; (2) designed and signed one name to one’s own religion, actively and obviously practices what they preach. (3) promotes InnerCircle Institutions and Graduate Christianity to the beloved community of the world.

Past recipients are:

1982    Arlillian Moody - Elegant Manor

1983    Nathan L. Crawford co-founder InnerCircle Institutions

1984    Rev. Kujichagulia

1985    Gene Brown

1986    Dr. Vera Epps Riley

1987    Nawili Ayo

1990   Rev. Dr. Archille Hebert II

1991 Rev. Susie Porter

1992 Rev. Denise Cunningham-Reed

OUTSTANDING MAN OF THE YEAR: Founder’s Award

Awarded annually in memory of the co-founder, Nathan L. Crawford’s father and in honor of all fathers, who, in the opinion of the remaining co-founder, will upon nomination from the Board, has demonstrated outstanding development in the three elemental areas of life: intellectual, physical and spiritual, as well as demonstrating an outstanding ability to use creative awareness to enrich the lives of himself and others.

Past recipients are:

1985    Frank Granderson

1986    Aaron Piggee

1987    Carl Totten

1990    Dr. Alfred A. Ligon

1991      Dadisi Sanyika

1992     Robert “Bobby” Lorenzo Adams, Jr.

FINER WOMANHOOD AWARD:  Founder’s Award

Awarded annually, to a woman who, in the opinion of the co-founder, Rev. Dr. Crystal C. Bujol, most exemplifies those qualities of her mother, the late Rev. Dr. Ruth Elenora Bujol, that were most admired by Clara: courage, integrity, service, Aquarian vision, sisterhood, womanship, adventure, unique individualism, poise, glamour, charisma, spirituality, reverence, and Family Unity. “The I Dare You” aspect of this award illuminates a challenge to all would take up the cross and not follow, but carve out a path of their own!

Past recipients are:

1982    Marilyn Knipp

1983    Helen Key

1984    Rainbow Johnson

1985    Butterfly

1986    Vinnie Liddell

1987    Ahneva Ahneva

1990    Rubyline Douglas

1991    Heshima Sanyika

1992    Barbara J. Piggee

INNERCIRCLE UNIVERSITY BOARD AWARDS:

Vision Award — presented to the one who holds a vision until it crystallizes, then uses that reality in service to “the beloved community”

Past recipients are:

1990 - Dr. Peggy Best

1991 - Rev. Betty Robinson

1992 - Dr. Linda M. Bridges, OMD

MAGNIFICENT WOMAN OF THE YEAR:  FOUNDER'S AWARD

Awarded on rare occasions for unusual and noteworthy excellence of service, primarily to the community in which we are based and have long term, far reaching physical and metaphysical effects on seeding and growing “the beloved community” of the world.

Past recipients are:

Aileen Crenshaw - 1985

The Honorable Maxine Waters - 1990

Cecile McCormick - 1991

Barbara O - 1992

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N. L. Crawford

Rev. Clara Bujol (not yet Crystal Bujol)