INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY is …?

[dr. latin juris]

This INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY is a …? :D

“The AA, BA and/or MA Degrees may be earned with Life Experience/Education alone.” :rolleyes:

“Make Cashier's Check, Credit Card Courtesy Check or Money Order(s) for Tuition payable to:” :o

http://www.education-1.net/

[Jimmy Clifton]

This INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY is a …? :D

“The AA, BA and/or MA Degrees may be earned with Life Experience/Education alone.” :rolleyes:

“Make Cashier's Check, Credit Card Courtesy Check or Money Order(s) for Tuition payable to:” :o

http://www.education-1.net/

Run Forrest, run!

[dr. latin juris]

:D :D Exceptionally comical Dr. Clifton, incredibly humorous. :D :D

[Jimmy Clifton]

:D :D Exceptionally comical Dr. Clifton, incredibly humorous. :D :D


Thanks but it would have been funnier had I authored the quote.

[Jabbezzz]

“The AA, BA and/or MA Degrees may be earned with Life Experience/Education alone.”

Well.........................at least the doctorates require a bit of work...... :D

[dr. latin juris]

Possibly, FALSUS IN UNO, FALSUS IN OMNIBUS :cool:

[J]

There is an "interesting" dialog between the president of ITU and someone who is, shall we say, skeptical of his institution here:

http://www.angelfire.com/alt/uldc/morefun.html

I am interested in the claim that Revd Chief Swift Eagle is in valid apostolic succession.

[Jabbezzz]

I am interested in the claim that Revd Chief Swift Eagle is in valid apostolic succession.

Move over John Paul II, Chief Swift Eagle is the true Pope................ :D :p :D

[milotach]

The wonderfull thing about this university is that they are not listed in any manner in any place like a mill, neither the ODA nor other place. Is this because they are a native indian university?. By the way how can they offer a degree in a foreign religion not practicated for anyone of the members. I have never seen an Indian or Budisht or Muslim school or temples given degrees or ordination on christian religious. This so called interfaith it seems to me like a good oportunity to have acces to a big market. I wonder what will be the face of one lider on the other religions looking at one of this autodegrees in any spiritual practise.What will be the opinion of the Chief Eagle if I would go to his place with a diploma that say: Swift Eagle Mahatma, spiritual lider of american indian natives. Of course my diploma will be legal signed by Budhist temple for example.

[J]

The wonderfull thing about this university is that they are not listed in any manner in any place like a mill, neither the ODA nor other place. Is this because they are a native indian university?. By the way how can they offer a degree in a foreign religion not practicated for anyone of the members. I have never seen an Indian or Budisht or Muslim school or temples given degrees or ordination on christian religious. This so called interfaith it seems to me like a good oportunity to have acces to a big market. I wonder what will be the face of one lider on the other religions looking at one of this autodegrees in any spiritual practise.What will be the opinion of the Chief Eagle if I would go to his place with a diploma that say: Swift Eagle Mahatma, spiritual lider of american indian natives. Of course my diploma will be legal signed by Budhist temple for example.

My understanding is that all purely religious organizations should lie outside the ODA's remit. That's absolutely right in my opinion.

Interfaith schools are interesting and varied. I don't really see any that offer an improvement on the Universal Life Church model. All of those schools are what you make of them. I see a lot of people who take internet interfaith ordination seriously, value the credentials that are either obtained simply for a donation or after a short study course and then perform a serious and committed ministry in whatever faith they follow. What the seminary offers doesn't make you a minister - your calling and your faith do that. It does however give legal standing, of which degrees are a part.

[milotach]

My understanding is that all purely religious organizations should lie outside the ODA's remit. That's absolutely right in my opinion..

This is also my opinion, complitly agree with you on it. The ULC I think is not a bad solution if you consider to become in christian priest, the founder was a priest so they can give it to you properly.What I can not be agree in any manner is that they can ofer an ordiantion in other religions complitly uknow for them. How can you sell the title Swami for example, this is the most respetfull treatament for an Indian monk wich is living in the renounce ordinace, this is only possible to reach across the proper master in temple in a proper ceremony, they can not jump the original followers and do this, with no idea of the indian scriptures. Interfaith means not to fight for religions questions and to have an open mentallity to accept each follower in any religion like a servant of God, but in any manner this mean that you can have the authority to give religiuos titles with no idea. If you want a be a chirstian priest, at least you borned in a christian country and is part of your vital experience during all of your live, you was on church when you was child, etc... so whay not to serve to Jesus if you fell this atraction, but how to be called Swami if you never puted one foot in one indian monastery in all of your live and without having no idea you can call your self like this.

Any case I like very much the USA laws on this area and may be some problems can be find it on it but for me like a man of faith is the very best.

[Jimmy Clifton]

This is also my opinion, complitly agree with you on it. The ULC I think is not a bad solution if you consider to become in christian priest, the founder was a priest...

Actually, the founder, Kirby J. Hensley, was an illiterate Baptist minister from North Carolina.

He envisioned a universal church that would unite all religions.

There are dangers with organizations like the ULC. Every nut in the world that wants to can be ordained and inflict serious injury on the unsuspecting.

Most major denominations have some type of accountability for its ministers; the ULC has none.

On the other hand, totally independent congregations (Christian churches/churches of Christ, Baptist, Congregationalist, etc.) don't officially hold their respective ministers accountable either.

[James Grey]

Actually, the founder, Kirby J. Hensley, was an illiterate Baptist minister from North Carolina.

...

There are dangers with organizations like the ULC. Every nut in the world that wants to can be ordained and inflict serious injury on the unsuspecting.

...



Did you have the performance of marriages in mind?

[Jimmy Clifton]

Did you have the performance of marriages in mind?

Didn't have any specifics in mind but yes, marriages do come to mind now, especially pre-marital and marital counseling.

[James Grey]

Didn't have any specifics in mind but yes, marriages do come to mind now, especially pre-marital and marital counseling.

You were meant to and are allowed to smile Rev Father :lol: :rolleyes:

[Jimmy Clifton]

You were meant to and are allowed to smile Rev Father :lol: :rolleyes:

I have trouble with "smilies" and "icons."

I want to state I am sure there are many ministers in the ULC (I have known some.) who are sincere, ethical, moral, and take their ordination and vows very seriously.

On the other hand......... :) (Hey, I got it!).

[J]

Most major denominations have some type of accountability for its ministers; the ULC has none.

On the other hand, totally independent congregations (Christian churches/churches of Christ, Baptist, Congregationalist, etc.) don't officially hold their respective ministers accountable either.

And some of those that do (I am thinking particularly of Roman Catholicism) nevertheless have some well-publicised and serious problems with a small minority of those ordained.

To some extent I suppose the accountability is governed by secular law; the one big area that strikes me as not being so is that of spiritual counseling. I suspect that abuse in this area is also slow to come to light in many cases.

I want to second what Jimmy has said. There are many who have been ordained online who pursue a ministry of faith with high integrity and answer a call that the mainstream churches would not have allowed or would have made prohibitively difficult. I am not a pagan myself, but I see a lot of pagans in particular finding through the ULC the means towards a ministry that is meaningful and does good in the world.

[Jimmy Clifton]

And some of those that do (I am thinking particularly of Roman Catholicism) nevertheless have some well-publicised and serious problems with a small minority of those ordained.

To some extent I suppose the accountability is governed by secular law; the one big area that strikes me as not being so is that of spiritual counseling. I suspect that abuse in this area is also slow to come to light in many cases.

I want to second what Jimmy has said. There are many who have been ordained online who pursue a ministry of faith with high integrity and answer a call that the mainstream churches would not have allowed or would have made prohibitively difficult. I am not a pagan myself, but I see a lot of pagans in particular finding through the ULC the means towards a ministry that is meaningful and does good in the world.

True. However, if the RC had no accountability I suspect the abuses within the priesthood would be far greater.

Now, back on topic, I have changed my mind considerably regarding online and/or mail order ordinations. I think anybody that ordains either online or via mail, should require some personal interview sessions and some theological training.

While many major denominations and church bodies require accredited theological education prior to ordination, a number of legal, legitimate bodies have their own ministerial training programs. No, these programs don't equal to ATS, RA, or TRACS accredited programs, but they do meet a need.

For instance, the Christian Church of North America (http://www.ccna.org) has its own ministerial training program (http://www.ccna.org/SOTB/omorder.html) as does the Evangelical Church Alliance. (http://www.ecainternational.org/Bible_Extension_Institute/bible_extension_institute.html)

Personal interviews and some theological training are not too much to ask of someone who has others' spiritual and psychological lives are in his/her care and hands.