Re: Who is Cturley2 ??

[Roy and/or Janet Miller <millers@inetnebr.com>]

Penman wrote:

>  Just where did
> you get the Ph.D that you claim you have?  Why not name
> the institution that granted you this degree?  Could it
> be the same one that granted you the Rev. title that you
> used to use? (and you still might be using it--I haven't
> noticed)

I received an email from Mr. Turley were he reproached me for a comment
I made, and appealed to me as a fellow minister. I do not know what
organization ordained Mr. Turley; I don't know it's name or its
reputation. However, just as there are "diploma mills" where you can buy
a degree, there are "ordination mills" were you can buy an ordination.
While both are bogus, the latter is usually done for tax evasion
purposes, or to set up a marriage chapel somewhere. I am NOT saying that
that is what this organization does, and I am NOT saying that Mr. Turley
has obtained an ordination for that purpose. Nor do I know what
standards are required by the organization that ordained Mr. Turley.

For me, however, and for what it's worth, I had to have a call to a
place of ministry: serving a congregation, or teaching in theological
seminary, or doing mission work, etc. before I could be ordained. I also
had to sustain three levels of examination (candidate, licentiate,
ordinate) at three separate times over a three year period from the
judicatory that had authority over me (I had to undergo the licentiate
twice, because I did a student pastorate in another denomination, and
they had to license me to do that), and had to have "a bachelor of arts
degree, or its academic equivalent, from a college or university of
reputable academic standing" and "an adequate course of study in a
theological seminary equivalent to that required for a regular
three-year theological degree." The exams I had to pass covered
"Christian faith and life",  "knowledge of the Bible, theology,
apologetics, ecclesiastical history, the Greek and Hebrew languages...
the confession, government, discipline and worship of this Church." I
also had to prepare a theological paper and an exegetical paper, as well
as preach a sermon (unlike the old days I didn't have to write it out in
Latin first - whew!).

While there are differences between various Christian denominations,
most have similar requirements, unlike those "churches" that have been
set up for tax evasion or for ordaining "marrying parsons." In other
words, "real" ministers, in "real" churches, have had to meet similar
standards to be ordained. If Mr. Turley has done the same, then he is
worthy of some respect.

>  If so, let inquiring minds know where you
> matriculated.  (Note to The Kitty--this last part, much as
> it sounds like Tom's doing something, isn't bad.  :) )
> Penman

Roy