(Mostly) Free Master of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership

[Stonybeach]

"Finally, your argument that the First Amendment serves as a blanket protection for these practices is flawed and unethical. " That is not my argument and not what I said. I quoted precisely the First Amendment.

When it comes to accrediting secular professions, there is a need for accreditation standards to protect the public, but society cannot demand those same standards for religious organizations. We don't live in a theocracy, and history has proven how dangerous theocratic governments are! My point is that just because something is accredited does not make it legitimate, and just because it is not accredited does not make it illegitimate. It becomes a slippery slope, requiring religious organizations to seek what someone thinks is acceptable and accredited for the good or "protection" of the whole. With that said, if that is what you demand of your religious leaders as a parishioner, that is your choice and the choice of the community that religious organization serves! I seek a higher authority of those that serve my religious needs and no earthly accreditor fits that bill.