(Mostly) Free Master of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership

[sanantone]

I also think it's important to know that, in the United States, there's really no such thing as a "recognized faith group." All religious groups have the same rights, including the Satanic Temple, which is an atheist group that mocks religion. If you want to be a chaplain with the DoD or VA, then you'll need an endorsement from a "recognized faith group," but becoming recognized is just a matter of applying and getting accepted as a legitimate religion or denomination of a religion. The Unitarian Universalist Church is recognized even though it is non-creedal. The VA and DoD also recognize endorsement organizations that endorse for independent congregations and non-denominational chaplains. The Order of Universal Interfaith was recognized by the VA even though they ordain and endorse people of all faiths, including no faith. Humanists have not been accepted by the DoD since they have no spiritual beliefs, but on the other hand, they've been recognized by the biggest chaplaincy organizations as a legitimate faith group.

Some organizations have made exceptions to their educational requirements for Buddhists. While a few Buddhist seminaries have popped up to deal with the Christian-centric and discriminatory MDiv requirements of some employers and certification boards, Buddhism does not require their clergy to have a degree.