Ulc Degree Granting Status

[Rose]

CEC 04739:

(6) A nonprofit institution owned, controlled, and operated and

maintained by a bona fide church, religious denomination, or

religious organization comprised of multidenominational members of

the same well-recognized religion, lawfully operating as a nonprofit

religious corporation pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section

9110) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code, if the

education is limited to instruction in the principles of that church,

religious denomination, or religious organization, or to courses

offered pursuant to Section 2789 of the Business and Professions

Code, and the diploma or degree is limited to evidence of completion

of that education, and the meritorious recognition upon which any

honorary degree is conferred is limited to the principles of that

church, religious denomination, or religious organization.

Institutions operating under this paragraph shall offer degrees and

diplomas only in the beliefs and practices of the church, religious

denomination, or religious organization. The enactment of this

paragraph expresses the legislative intent that the state shall not

involve itself in the content of degree programs awarded by any

institution operating under this paragraph, as long as the

institution awards degrees and diplomas only in the beliefs and

practices of the church, religious denomination, or religious

organization. Institutions operating under this paragraph shall not

award degrees in any area of physical science. Any degree or diploma

granted in any area of study under these provisions shall contain on

its face, in the written description of the title of the degree

being conferred, a reference to the theological or religious aspect

of the degree's subject area. Degrees awarded under this paragraph

shall reflect the nature of the degree title, such as "associate of

religious studies," or "bachelor of religious studies," or "master of

divinity" or "doctor of divinity." The use of the degree titles

"associate of arts" or "associate of science," "bachelor of arts" or

"bachelor of science," "master of arts" or "master of science," or

"doctor of philosophy" or "Ph.D." shall only be awarded by

institutions approved to operate under Article 8 (commencing with

Section 94900) or meeting the requirements for an exemption under

Section 94750. The enactment of this paragraph is intended to

prevent any entity claiming to be a nonprofit institution owned,

controlled, and operated and maintained by a bona fide church,

religious denomination, or religious organization comprised of

multidenominational members of the same well-recognized religion,

lawfully operating as a nonprofit religious corporation pursuant to

Part 4 (commencing with Section 9110) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the

Corporations Code, from marketing and granting degrees or diplomas

that are represented as being linked to their church, religious

denomination, or religious organization, but which, in reality, are

degrees in secular areas of study. An institution operating under

this paragraph shall file annually with the council evidence to

demonstrate its status as a nonprofit religious corporation under the

Corporations Code. A college or university operating under this

paragraph shall file annually with the council evidence to

demonstrate its status as a nonprofit religious corporation under the

Corporations Code.

"

California recognizes the ULC as a degree granting institution. It is not to be confused with accredidation which is something different and means something different.

And yes, the court cases are really interesting.

[ClericThomas]

I was just noting used in general a state or nation may not recognize the ULC degrees and so you could note note them. In the US I agree that is very unlikely but say in another country. If you say get the religious title Reverend Doctor though that would be no different than a Priest or Rabbi I would think.

[Rev Ed]

That's why I suggest any degree from the ULC go after your name - DD, DUL, PhD, etc.

[ClericThomas]

That's why I suggest any degree from the ULC go after your name - DD, DUL, PhD, etc.

There is one state this is a problem Oregon that tightened its rules for using a degree.

Oregon, like many other states, does have an exemption for religious degrees. However, it's not an automatic or general exemption: it only applies to certain schools that have specifically applied for the exemption, and that have been found in compliance with the requirements as defined by state law. At present, only 7 schools are listed as qualifying for the religious exemption in Oregon.

A school that seeks to qualify under the Oregon religious exemption must meet a number of requirements and accept a number of limitations. These are listed under Oregon Revised Statutes 348.604 and 348.605.

This Oregon ODA page on religious exemptions also lists the various other states which do and do not have such exemptions. It seems possible that an unaccredited religious school could bypass any restrictions, even in states without a religious exemption, simply by using some term other than "degree" for its religious credentials.

Might I suggest the ULC change this to allow the earning of a degree or a diploma in the subject that would give members more options when earning these and using them. One trick might be to buy a relgious title with doctor in it such as Reverend Doctor with the degree in that state and just never use the degree professionally. But the degree if even legally issued may be illegal to USE in a given location.

[Yael - HaMorit]

Just to give my opinion th title Doctor as in for a degree may be contested if the degree is from our Church and could be illegal in some areas to use if you state Rev.Dr. in your title on its own. Mostly outside the US from my research. But if you get the SPECIAL CHURCH TITLE Reverend Doctor since its a relious title sactioned ,akin to priest or rabbi, it would be allowed to be used before your name. Most countries can't dictate titles inside a church hierarchy it seems outside of very fundmentalist ones.

Okay, TKolter...checked out your website about your new religion and find it honestly genuine...but can I spell check the site for you? One of the hallmarks of a valid scientific philosopher is the ability to present ideas in a rational (or fairly rational) scholarly manner. No scientist would take you seriously with so many errors.

[ClericThomas]

That's why I suggest any degree from the ULC go after your name - DD, DUL, PhD, etc.

That would still be illegal in a state unless you meet that states requirements. Its true most states and territories won't go there but Oregon has. To even use a degree at all the state must officially approve the unacredited degree, even if religious. And only a few schools have opted to do that. Your far batter off not ,in that state, using the degree after the name and buying the title for the front since one can argue, is a title similar to Reverend or Rabbi or some other one. Even if that is Reverend Doctor.

[Ems. F. Bayer]

In Germany and most of Europe it is illegal to use Doctor Titles from churches and religious organisations, because they do not represent a stately acknowledged doctorandum. Honorary doctors are only allowed to be given out by universities. This is only if there is strong similarity to the real doctor titles, though. It would be okay if you'd call yourself "Ehrenhalber promovierter Doktor des Göttlichen der Universal Life Church", because then everyone knows you didn't study at a University to get this degree.

[Bro. Hex]

Going back to the original question of this thread, I found the original court document stating ULC has the rights to grant Honorary D.D.

http://www.ourlady.biz/images/ULCvUnitedStatesOfAmerica.pdf

Wow!,

Viet Nguyen,

I don't know how you found this,

but I REALLY APPRECIATE that you have shared it with all of us here.

Thank you!

Hex

[dsand8472]

The way that "legaleze" is used, it is not always easy to understand some laws.