(Mostly) Free Master of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership

[Kal Di]

There are some seminaries that are free, but the scholarships are mostly for on-campus students. What's rather common is that a person will express interest in becoming ordained to their church or the governing board of their denomination, and the church will pay for their education.

Every religious person isn't a part of a nationwide religious denomination who has the formal ordination process. There are thousands of religious churches who don't identify as a branch of a mainstream denomination. So, while there may be some truth in what you said, it isn't applicable to one-third of Americans who want to pursue a religious career.

Being open about utilizing a religious exemption from accreditation requirements is better than being deceptive by claiming accreditation from a useless accreditation mill. It's really not that much more expensive to become accredited by a national accreditation body than an unrecognized, questionable accreditor that no one is holding accountable.

It seems that you're implying that independent accreditation agencies are useless or the same as accreditation mills. That seems to be a stereotype. I don't disagree that some schools deceive customers by leveraging accreditation mills. However, it doesn't mean that all independent accreditors are accreditation mills.

Regarding the cost of accreditation, "expensive" is subjective. The most successful religious universities and seminaries can easily absorb that cost. If it's an EdTech startup, it isn't so easy to absorb that cost when the school isn't even profitable and they have other startup costs to pay. It's why Nations University was unaccredited for a while. Yet, a few members of this forum still enrolled there before they became DEAC accredited. They enrolled there based on what I said earlier. They had a positive online reputation, a comprehensive degree curriculum, a religious exemption from the state, and a total cost less than $5,000 USD.

Some seminaries and religious universities are currently like what Nations U was before their accreditation. Some of them will become accredited, and some won't. As stated before, the prospective employer will be always be the one to determine if an applicant's degree is sufficient for their needs.

[sanantone]

There are some seminaries that are free, but the scholarships are mostly for on-campus students. What's rather common is that a person will express interest in becoming ordained to their church or the governing board of their denomination, and the church will pay for their education.

Every religious person isn't a part of a nationwide religious denomination who has the formal ordination process. There are thousands of religious churches who don't identify as a branch of a mainstream denomination. So, while there may be some truth in what you said, it isn't applicable to one-third of Americans who want to pursue a religious career.    

Being open about utilizing a religious exemption from accreditation requirements is better than being deceptive by claiming accreditation from a useless accreditation mill. It's really not that much more expensive to become accredited by a national accreditation body than an unrecognized, questionable accreditor that no one is holding accountable.

It seems that you're implying that independent accreditation agencies are useless or the same as accreditation mills. That seems to be a stereotype. I don't disagree that some schools deceive customers by leveraging accreditation mills. However, it doesn't mean that all independent accreditors are accreditation mills.

Regarding the cost of accreditation, "expensive" is subjective. The most successful religious universities and seminaries can easily absorb that cost. If it's an EdTech startup, it isn't so easy to absorb that cost when the school isn't even profitable and they have other startup costs to pay. It's why Nations University was unaccredited for a while. Yet, a few members of this forum still enrolled there before they became DEAC accredited. They enrolled there based on what I said earlier. They had a positive online reputation, a comprehensive degree curriculum, a religious exemption from the state, and a total cost less than $5,000 USD.

Some seminaries and religious universities are currently like what Nations U was before their accreditation. Some of them will become accredited, and some won't. As stated before, the prospective employer will be always be the one to determine if an applicant's degree is sufficient for their needs.

I was an ordained, non-denominational Christian minister without a theology or ministry degree. I can't think of a reason why an unaccredited master's degree would be required. I can understand wanting to study for free because you're not going to earn any money, but you don't need an unaccredited degree for ordination. A lot of these unaccredited seminaries were never free or didn't stay free. I don't take issue with a seminary remaining unaccredited, but I don't see the point in paying thousands of dollars to an unrecognized accreditor. 

Nations showed an intention to become accredited. Some seminaries explicitly state that they will never seek USDE-recognized accreditation. 

Now, I'm curious. Which Christian denomination requires aspiring clergy to earn a master's or doctorate from an unaccredited institution instead of a school like Nations University?

[Rev]

I want to clarify several important points regarding the post addressing "Ministry Degrees, Ordination, and Accreditation."

1. There has been a significant rise in the number of religiously-affiliated, unaccredited institutions that present themselves as legitimate by claiming to be "state authorized." Many of these organizations are run by individuals who often lack credible degrees and are selling fraudulent diplomas and ordinations, frequently under the pretense of being exempt from standard accreditation processes. The truth is that the so-called Doctorates and graduate-level courses offered by these institutions lack authenticity and carry no real value in the academic or professional world.

2. An examination of these programs reveals that nearly 99% of them are neither authorized nor recognized by mainstream religious organizations. Consequently, graduates of these programs are not welcomed into reputable congregations or institutions of higher education. None of these individuals can fulfill roles within established Adventist, Catholic, Jesuit, Baptist, Lutheran, Jewish, or Muslim organizations; most recognized faith groups require their clergy and educators to possess accredited degrees. Furthermore, ordination is not a decision made by a college or university; it is solely the responsibility of an ecclesiastical body comprised of operational ordained clergy. The ordination process includes a rigorous vetting procedure, time spent in ministry, an internship experience, and ultimately, a formal ceremony characterized by the laying on of hands, fervent prayer, and the issuance of credentials.

3. Let me share a pertinent example: I know of a clergyman who graduated high school nearly 35 years ago. Within his local independent faith group, he was "affirmed" by his church community as someone possessing the "gifts" to preach. While that affirmation was granted, the fact remains that for over 25 to 30 years, he did not pursue formal theological training. Instead, he attended various unaccredited religious schools, ultimately obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (BA), a Master of Arts (MA) in Pastoral Ministry, and a PhD in an unspecified field.

- None of his degrees hold accreditation.
- He is ineligible to serve in any official capacity as a chaplain in healthcare, military, law enforcement, hospice, or on college campuses, as accredited training (a BA and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) with 72-96 credits) is a prerequisite, alongside completion of four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
- He cannot teach at any accredited schools, seminaries, or universities.
- He is unable to hold any official state license.
-He is prohibited from publishing in Academic Journals [as they ALL require accredited advanced degrees in the field one is publishing in]

The harsh reality is that individuals like him perpetuate a facade. They engage in fraudulent practices that not only undermine the authenticity of ministry but also inflict significant harm on the church and on genuine clergy members who have dedicated their time and resources to earn accredited degrees and obtain authentic ordination.

It is intriguing to observe how many individuals associated with these unaccredited institutions often manage to evade thorough scrutiny regarding their credentials. This evasion allows them to perpetuate their claims without facing legitimate questioning or accountability. By operating within the confines of church walls, they can effectively maintain their façade, creating an environment where their lack of qualifications goes unnoticed.

These individuals often create a bubble of legitimacy that isolates them from outside criticism. In many cases, they might leverage their affiliation with a faith community to gain the trust of their congregants, who may not have the tools or knowledge to assess the validity of their educational backgrounds. This dynamic can lead to a troubling situation where congregations are left vulnerable to deception, as the lack of transparency shields these individuals from accountability.

Moreover, the protective nature of religious environments can cultivate an echo chamber. When questions about qualifications arise, dissenting voices may be silenced under the pretense of loyalty to the faith community. This can foster a culture of acceptance based on belief rather than evidence, allowing these individuals to thrive despite their lack of real credentials.

Furthermore, some may exploit the deep-seated respect for spiritual authority that many congregants hold, which can further solidify their status within the church. The interplay of faith and education can create an imbalance, where trust in spiritual leaders is prioritized over critical evaluation of their qualifications. When followers are conditioned to accept teachings uncritically, it becomes increasingly challenging to question the authenticity of someone’s credentials.

The consequences of this lack of scrutiny extend beyond the personal; they can damage the integrity of the entire church community. Genuine clergy members who have invested in their education and adhere to the rigorous standards of accredited institutions may find their efforts undermined. This scenario not only impacts the credibility of ministry but also raises broader concerns about the potential for misinformation within spiritual practices.

In essence, as long as these individuals can continue to operate within the protective boundaries of religious communities, the façade is likely to persist, disallowing the critical dialogue necessary to ensure the integrity and credibility of their ministry. It is imperative for congregations to foster an atmosphere of inquiry and accountability, where questions around qualifications are welcomed and addressed, ultimately preserving the authenticity of spiritual leadership.

I guess Michael falls into the same category because he is going after an unaccredited degree. "Dr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, an MBA & Masters of Business and Corporate Communications from Universidad Isabel I, Barcelona, Spain, and is currently pursuing an additional Master of Theology (ThM) & Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from the American International Theism University."

https://www.blackleadersworldwide.com/po...GrzpX4wYKg

Also on his website, it claims he has a PhD from an unaccredited school, Ph.D. in Management ©- Swiss School of Business Research Zurich, Switzerland
https://phoenix-risk-management-consulti...t-dr-smith

This is not a good look if you are trying to downplay unaccredited faith-based degrees

A DEI shill who is a hypocrite? I'm sooo surprised.