Foundation for A Course in Miracles
The Foundation for A Course In Miracles (or “FACIM”) is the oldest A Course In Miracles (or ACIM) educational organization as well as the copyright holder of the Second Edition of ACIM, all of the foreign language translations of ACIM, as well as all other writings of ACIM scribe Helen Schucman. FACIM was founded in 1983 by Dr. Kenneth Wapnick, the sole living individual of the three persons involved in the transcription and compilation of the now standardized A Course In Miracles (or “ACIM”), the other two being the now deceased Helen Schucman and William Thetford. The organization is also staffed by Gloria Wapnick, Kenneth's wife, who is also a member of its Board of Directors.
In addition to teaching classes based on A Course In Miracles, FACIM oversees the translation of A Course In Miracles into other languages. To date, FACIM has overseen more than a dozen foreign language translations, which they claim has made A Course In Miracles available to more than 93% of the world's population [1].
In the late 1990s, FACIM was sued by Endeavor Academy over the copyright of ACIM, with the latter claiming that one cannot hold a copyright to a book channeled or scribed from a disembodied entity. As a result of the ruling, the first edition of ACIM is now in the public domain, though FACIM retains the copyright of the numbering system of the Second Edition of ACIM, as well as the entire ACIM section called "Clarification of Terms", and all foreign language translations of ACIM.
Organization
At the time of its foundation in 1983, FACIM was originally chartered and located in New York state, and was first established as a residential-teaching-school.
In response to a growing interest in its work in the California area, FACIM opened what was originally referred to as its West Coast Branch in La Jolla (near San Diego) in southern California, in 1997. In 2001, FACIM also moved its headquarters from New York to its current location in Temecula, California, approximately 50 miles north of the La Jolla location. The branch located in La Jolla (now referred to as the La Jolla branch) continues to provide regular lectures, workshops and other study programs to ACIM students in the San Diego area.
Since its initial inception in 1983, the teaching structure of FACIM has evolved into its current format in which daytime lectures are provided, which may last from 90 minute presentations, on up to five consecutive days. Living accommodations for students during these longer presentations are no longer provided by FACIM, as the residential aspect of the format is no longer a part of the presentation format. FACIM also provides an online Electronic Outreach program, which includes an online question and answer service.
The primary goal of FACIM is to assist students of the ACIM spiritual belief system to enhance and strengthen their understanding and experience of these teachings in their daily lives.
Lawsuit involvement
In the year 2000, the organization was a party to a multimillion dollar lawsuit over the copyright to ACIM. The organization was the losing party in the lawsuit, and as a result, the first edition of ACIM is now in the public domain.