Become an ordained minister?

Re: Universal Life Church

So did my bulldog. http://ulc.org

 

Re: Re: Universal Life Church

This is the danger and absurdity of online and mail order ministries. Sadly, I did not realize how this type of enterprise insults the Christian faith and brings shame upon our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, until recently.

 

Actually, the ULC doesn't really bring shame on Our Lord, but some people may.
If one reads the original founders articles (a Rev Hensley) it would appear that the intent was for all to be able to follow their personal path. One could take their Ordination, and be equal in the eyes of the law for any legitimate activity such as street ministry, evangelism, etc. The downside of such ease in obtaining ordination is multi-fold. People have tried to use their ordination to escape taxes (didn't work, they wound up in jail) and most recently, from what I can find, it is being used to ordain Wiccans, Pagans, and other such entities, including dogs, cats, and parakeets.
This is too bad, because the ULC seems to have been founded on a good idea.

 

Well put, Jimmy.

 

That's why I like it. It seeks to open up the civil benefits of being a clergyman, such as they are, to individual religious practioners, without requiring that they be associated with government recognized denominations.

I think that dogs often have a purity of heart that's extremely rare in humans. They are better spiritual guides than many people realize.

But even if we agree that getting ULC ordinations for pets is wrong, remember that it wasn't the pet that sought the ordination, it was the pet's human owner.

Concerning contemporary "pagans" and "wicca", I don't have a whole lot of interest in them because they bear very little resemblance to the countless very different religious manifestations in the ancient and early medieval worlds that the Christians gave the general perjorative label "pagan". (The Latin slang word meant something like 'yokel' or 'hick'.) My understanding is that "wicca" is a modern adaption of the Old English word for a 'male spell-caster'. A female spell-caster would be a "wicce". (Unlike modern English, Old English had noun genders.) That's kind of ironic since the movement seems most popular among feminists and is often seen as something of a women's religion.

But regardless of whether or not I like it, I see no reason why practitioners of wicca shouldn't seek ULC ordinations if they want to. I see no reason why their doing so discredits the ULC. There is absolutely no reason why the ULC has to exist to serve what Jimmy terms "our lord and savior, Jesus Christ".

I consider the ULC an ordination mill, pure and simple. But nevertheless, I still like it. I like it a lot more than I like all those phony internet denominations that pretend to be derived from eastern patriarchates or something. The ULC is honest and upfront about what it is and doesn't try to mislead people.

I strongly oppose degree-mills because I believe that earning degrees in academic subjects involves reaching generally agreed upon levels of skills and knowledge.

But unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) religion doesn't seem to possess any agreed upon body of truth.

Obviously the various traditions and denominations have bodies of what they believe to be truth, agreed upon in-house. And I have no problem at all with individual denominations and traditions requiring whatever qualifications that they desire from their prospective clergymen. If the catholics or the methodists want to require x years of seminary training learning their particular stuff, then cool. If somebody presents himself as a catholic priest, people should have some idea what that means.

The problem is justifying why those who aren't catholics or methodists need to follow that model.

Until religion discovers objective means to distinguish between religious truth and falsity, means that are persuasive to those who don't already think that they know that truth, then the whole thing remains a question of personal choice. And that's something that's very hard to generalize into standards binding on the entire population, including those who make very different choices.

 

AMEN

 

Hmmm. This explains so much! [kidding]

See! It's true, after all, what mothers say about being careful not to get one's eyes poked out.

Ohgod... this thread.

 

Hmmm. This explains so much! [kidding]

See! It's true, after all, what mothers say about being careful not to get one's eyes poked out.

Ohgod... this thread.

 

I think first off you should examine yourself and make sure you actually meet the qualifications of a pastor and determine whether your called or not. Mama called and papa sent pastors don't last long in the ministry. Check out 1Tim 3:1-7. Ordination should not be taken lightly and should really only be done for these seeking to pastor a church or start one.

Second if you feel that you are called and sure of that calling then you should get involved in your church. For instance you should work in at least the majority of the children,teen and adult ministries to get a good idea of how a church works. I am a deacon in my church and I've worked in every aspect except for a pastor. This gives me a huge advantage in understanding the church and it's inner workings. But in no way do I feel called to be a pastor or be ordained.

Third before you do any of these above things seek council from your pastor and deacons. Also bathe yourself in prayer. College is not where you should be ordained you should be ordained be a your local church. If you are not then you have no credibility. You will need the reccomendation of your church to pastor or start another in most cases.

I know the bible says study to show thyself approved but that doesn't neccesarily mean bible college. It's learning about Christianity and it's learning about your denomination, learning to love people in your community and also get closer to God.

 

Have never seen this one before. Wouldn't be surprised if it were not begun by some malcontents from a Presbyterian or Reformed church in the area.

 

They are calvinist because of the belief that we cannot be changed. Calvinist do not believe in salvation but that everyone that is going to be saved already is and those who aren't can't do anything about it. This is called election and is not truly bibical. It seems they take the word election out of context. Do a search on yahoo for TULIP this is 5 point calvinism. Reform churches, Some Baptist and various other denominations fall in this trap.

I am an Independent Fundemental Baptist we believe in being Born Again and being baptized by immersion. We believe these two things were required for membership in the local church. Our church is assembled by local people who have voting rights. We have a clearly stated set of rules for meetings and things that must be voted on. Rules must be adopted by a majority vote. The rules are made be deacons and leaders of the church. But can be voted down.

We also have a check and balance system in place. The deacons are voted in by the people and they screen new pastors that come in. Then the pastor is voted on by the people. The deacons are then under the pastor and have no say over him. The pastor can be removed at anytime by a majority vote of the church. Of course there is an examination of why he would need to be voted out.

We also believe if at all possible to settle civil disputes between believers within the church. The pastor or a deacon sits as a mediator and then it is decided what is to be done. This is very bibical. Criminal matters are handled outside the church like normal. If you steal something at the church and we catch you get turned over to the authorities. This whole governing system resembles the United States Government and the blue print is laid out pretty well in the Bible.

 

Awright already

Listen up, mes chuckwallas:
The original poster is long gone.
His intent was, um, different.
This thread belonged on off-topic.
It's now a theological debate.
With no relation to DL.
Not that it had much for starters.
It's Reformed churches, Reform shuls.
Get it, got it, good.
Have a blessed day.
I gotta take a bath.
In the tub. With water. And soap.
Not prayer.
Unless
the water suddenly scalds
in which case
I call upon Jesus
abruptly.
Now this post is going from bad
to verse,
with apologies
to Dr William Carlos Williams, M.D.,
late of Paterson, N.J.

Janko the Mad Priest

 

a bath? So, Lutherans DO immerse. You are NOT mad afterall!

 

Oh, dear.

 

A number of Calvinists take exception to what you say. Many Calvinists do feel people can change. Jay Adams is one. Lloyd Ogilve is another and James Kennedy is still another.

I've seen a number of Presbyterian ministers give altar calls.

 

Some feel it is. They believe election was from eternity. They believe salvation was not decided or gained in time, and it cannot be dissolved or lost in time. They cite Ephesians 1:4, Rev. 13:8, and Second Tim 1:9.

 

Jimmy

Na. Not the time or the forum.