Do You have to be a "Rev. Dr." to start a Wedding Chapel?

Al Sharpton attended Brooklyn College for two or three years, but did not graduate. A friend of mine from NYC says that Al had been a boy preacher in the Penecostal Faith--like from six or seven--and is licensed by the state of NY. He doesn't know if he ever went to a theological seminary.

Jesse Jackson is a graduate of North Carolina A & T University in Greensboro NC and the Chicago Theological Seminary, which is under the auspices of the United Church of Christ. They are on line at
http://www.chgosem.edu

Scott Metcalf
who may still get to Heaven

 

Jackson's official biography was "amended" a couple of years ago to read "attended the Chicago Theological Seminary," rather than "graduated." His son, Jesse Jackson, Jr., does indeed hold an advanced degree from that Seminary, however.

Scott

 

Hi Ohnalee (PM):

Haven't seen you post for some time, glad you have surfaced again.

You know, this is the 3rd dead dog this thread has encountered. First, mine (beagle, rest his soul). Then, PCap's (beagle). Now, Gladys'(?). And don't forget the man who wanted to marry his cat, which John posted.

Could this be a sign, or an omen, regarding degree/ordination/wedding chapel mills?Perhaps the four animals (3 dogs, 1 cat) symbolize the four pillars of degree/ordination mills:

1. Fraud (Feline)
2. Deception (Dog, PCap's)
3. Greed (Gladys' Dog)
4. Bomb, which will eventually go off (Beagle)

Oh well, maybe I need to put down this Steven King novel, as it seems to distort reality.

Russell,
who expresses his sympathy over Gladys' dog.

 

I still maintain many from schools labeled degree mills are sincere folks who received a good education but chose an alternative route for many, many reasons such as finances, specific purposes, etc. Now, where in the U.S. Constitution does the government any role in education? My contention is that if an entitiy is legal then that ends the discussion insofar as the ULC, et. al, are concerned. Finally, for those interested, the American Unitarian Association is now organized which is an attempt to reclaim 19th Century Unitarianism. http://www.americanunitarian.org

Jimmy

 

We revisit the legal/legitimate on this one. If an entity is operating legally, then it is indeed legal. The issues of legitimacy, acceptance, recognition, validation, marketability, etc., well, these are entirely different matters.

Trinity C&U was operating legally in SD, but are TCU degrees marketable? Well, maybe until someone finds out where they came from.
Numerous non-accredited (or accredited by a mill) religious schools are operating legally. But are their degrees recognized, accepted and marketable in the broader academic/professional community? No, not even in the broader ecclesiastical community. If most of these schools were secular, they would not be allowed to legally operate.

The same is true of ordination. There is legitimate ordination (which is legal), then there is legal ordination (which may or may not be legitimate). While ULC ordination may be legal, surely, one must question the fact that anyone can be ordained without meeting criteria of any kind.

Russell

 

Russell,

How dare you say one need not meet any criteria for earning a degree from ULC. I had to write out money orders and drop them in the mail after addressing the envelopes.That's enough work for me for one day.

 

My apologies, PCap, I underestimated the criteria for ULC credentials. And I appreciate your humility in not listing all the requirements you had to meet to earn the ULC degree, e.g., licking the stamp, walking to the mail box, walking back, and the emotional trauma it must have been as you waited for the diploma to arrive.

After rethinking the whole scenario I have come to the conclusion that you did indeed "earn" the degree.

Russell