Universal Life Church

Discussion in 'Accreditation Discussions (RA, DETC, state approva' started by rosie, Jan 10, 2003.

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  1. rosie

    rosie New Member

    The Universal Life Church appears to legally sell (worthless)degrees. They do not seem to need state approval. What kind of approval do they need? Can any church issue these kinds of degrees? Who regulates them? Is this legal in every state? Is there any way to stop this?

    Are there any organizations at all that govern religious degrees?

    Are there better non-accredited religious degrees? Or are all of the non-accredited earned religious degrees worth the same as purchased ULC degrees.

    Rosie:confused:
     
  2. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    Different in each state. Some states don't care at all (Alabama, Wyoming). Many require that religious schools offer only religious degree titles (Doctor of Theology, etc.). Some permit any degree title but say the degrees must be in a religious field (Ph.D. in religion).

    All six regional accreditors will accredit religious schools, and there are five recognized professional accreditors of religious schools, such as the American Association of Theological Schools. Bad or fake religious schools are at least as prevalent as bad or fake non-religious schools and no, there is probably no way to stop them

    ULC is especially complex, in that they charters to start your own church, which can then go into the degree-offering business, quite independent of the home office in Modesto.
     
  3. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    The ULC sell degrees - never. You make a prescribed donation.

    The ULC is unique in they actually were the ones that won a decision based on separation of church and state that said states could not judge the content of religious education degrees.
     
  4. ahchem

    ahchem New Member

    And whatever you have to say about the ULC, you can not deny that it would be cool to be "Doctor of the Universe" (an actual title of one of their degrees).

    Unfortunately, to become a Doctor of the Universe, you have to actually read a short book and take a multiple choice test. A donation alone is not sufficient.

    That is just too much work for me. :)
     
  5. oxpecker

    oxpecker New Member

    Nice article about the Universal Life Church in the New York Times today: Need a Minister? How About Your Brother?. The ULC is now issuing over 100,000 ordinations per year. Soon we will all have one. You can even buy ULC degrees on ebay (search for "college degree").
     
  6. Bill Grover

    Bill Grover New Member


    ...........


    There are a few nonaccredited religious schools which offer more valuable degrees --were value measured by a modicum of work, and in very rare cases work equal to expectations of accredited programs, and measured by at least a very qualified acceptance into grad programs or church leadership roles. The issues for some will be the limited acceptance of nonaccredited degrees, their being held generally in low esteem by academe, and the devotion to one's convictions to do and be his/her honest best for that which is of ultimate concern....the very reason for being in a religious program at all. Safest to go accredited!

    Congratulations on being aware that differences exist.
     
  7. rosie

    rosie New Member

    ULC and Florida Statu(t)es

    we have two threads goingnow - this one the one about the florida statutes ... how does florida deal with the ULC degrees? what if the ULC moved to florida? do they need state approval? ...could ULC move to any state? is there a separation of church and state when it comes to religious education or not? ... rosie:confused:
     
  8. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

    Legal opinion - pay for a lawywer

    Worthless opinon - having the government decide what is appropriate religious education would be unconstitutional in any liberal democracy. My own province of Alberta does not license schools providing strictly religious degrees.
     
  9. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    The Most Reverend Bishop Doctor

    I have a few colleagues here at the office who have been ordained by the Universal Life Church in Modesto, CA. If you log onto their web site you can receive your ordination online.
    It's kind of neat when you walk around the office, we address each other a Reverend, Bishop, Brother and Monsenior........we`re working on a Pope.
     
  10. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    You think the ULC is doing a brisk business now? Just watch what happens if the government re-institutes the draft!
     
  11. David Williams

    David Williams New Member

    Hi Rich,

    Its funny you say that. On a lark a pal and I sent off for ordination papers from, I think it was ULC, in about 1970. I recall the name Kirby J. Hensley. We weren't serious about trying to get out but we thought it would give the first sergeant a buzz. He wasn't very impressed and the only event I recall as being more uncomfortable was when my TI in basic spied a peace symbol on the back of a letter my girlfriend sent. At that time it was difficult for a basic trainee to get access to a telephone to call home but I moved mountain and earth to call to ensure she didn't do that a second time.

    Dave:)
     
  12. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    ULC is one of the better degree mills, in that when they charge you $100 for a diploma, they are only overcharging you by $100.
     
  13. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    There are a couple of unknown church groups in Toronto that have a similar operation as ULC. These groups have graduated hundreds of individuals with DMin, DD and Doctor of Theology degrees (no course work involved). Do these degrees carry any validity? Absolutely not. So...would you take someone who was ordained from ULC seriously?
     
  14. David Boyd

    David Boyd New Member

    Interesting - I never heard this. Do you know the name of the case?
     
  15. roysavia

    roysavia New Member

    What????????? Does this ruling mean that we are all clergy here at the office! Most of us received on line ordination.
    HOLY TOLEDO! (amen)
     
  16. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    I think that the original case that dealt with this was 'Universal Life Church, Inc. vs. United States of America', a case filed by the ULC against the IRS in order to claim a church tax exemption.

    http://www.ulc.net/legalnew.html

    The judge wrote this in his order:

     
  17. BillDayson

    BillDayson New Member

    As I understand it, you are all clergymen in the eyes of the law. You are entitled to whatever legal rights and privileges are due any other clergyman.
     
  18. bozzy

    bozzy New Member

    Rights?

    What Rites?

    :)pun intended
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 17, 2003
  19. rosie

    rosie New Member

    accredited religious degree

    If a relious degree, say a masters in religious ed is also regionally accredited, would that qualify for a pay increase etc., for a teacher? Is there a list of RA religious graduate programs?

    Rosie
     
  20. Dennis Ruhl

    Dennis Ruhl member

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