Ordaining Selection?

[Jonathan H. B. Lobl]

Would it be beneficial for the credibility of our ordainships and the ULC itself, to have a slightly stricter acceptance procedure? My reasoning;

Being a new member to this forum, I have noticed a couple of comments of people being ordained 'for a laugh' and no spiritual basis whatsoever.

There has also been a comment about 'cerial box' ordainings - in other words, handing them out like sweets to anyone at all.

Whilst it is great that any non tradional religion is accepted, maybe it SHOULD just be for those that have a spiritual intent, for example, send a brief synopsis of their chosen path when applying as I did?

Blessings

Rowan

"Credibility" is an interesting word. For whom do you wish to be more credible?

Considering the disdain that many established churches have for each other -- and the history of religious persecution -- "credibility" is subject to interpretation.

Only a few years back, the Pope Emeritus said that only the Catholic Church had apostolic succession. All the other churches were nothing more than "ecclesiastic communities." When Romney was running for President, he found out a few things about how well the Mormon church is not loved by the Evangelicals. The Jehovah's Witnesses have much to say about why they have the only true church. Likewise, the Seventh Day Adventists. The Quakers have a rich history of being persecuted by the main stream churches. So do the Christian Scientists. The Baptist Churches don't like any of them.

That's just the Christian groups. I have not even mentioned all the different pagan groups; which get no respect at all. Or the Atheist and Agnostic groups that get nothing but resentment. Or the Muslim groups being spied on by the police. Or the............

Again, for whom do you seek greater credibility?

Edited March 24, 2014 by Jonathan H. B. Lobl

[starseed]

I have seen banned Ministers on this website, who and what does the banning is not arbitrary or in the area of freedom, more a mousetrap here waitng to "go off because it does", this and other forums have "Nazi" power hungry wrong doing folks that exzempt the first chance they get to feel important and "have a meal that day".

Religous Ministers know Jesus was also not liked for his speech and actions by the power drivers.

The most undemocratic forum I've run into is a flight simulator website forum, guarantees no free speech, a website that is proud there is a "wing clipping" immoderator, if you ask me, banned should not happen, poor speech and improper speech, should just be marked as sensative to whoever needs the protection or transfered to the colorful expression thread in a forum.

Restore any banned person and get with it not against it, whatever it may be.

[mererdog]

I have seen banned Ministers on this website, who and what does the banning is not arbitrary or in the area of freedom, more a mousetrap here waitng to "go off because it does", this and other forums have "Nazi" power hungry wrong doing folks that exzempt the first chance they get to feel important and "have a meal that day".

It takes a fair amount of trying to get banned from this forum, assuming you don't just spam it with pill ads or porn. There are even people who have been banned, given a second chance, and banned again. And those doing the banning have almost always seemed genuinely sorry that they felt it necessary to do so. It is also worth mentioning that being banned from the forum does nothing other than preventing someone from accessing some of the forum's features. It doesn't effect ordainment, or anything like that....

Edited April 7, 2014 by mererdog

[murphzlaw1]

Thank you, mererdog...

[gardengate32]

I too looked into the process of ordainment in the UU church i attend. Amazing! It can be a decade-long process. There are a number of lay-ministers which officiate a good many sermons, however. I am in the process of designing and building a small chapel on my property, for personal use, however i would always be amenable to building a congregation. The area i live in is very fundamentalist Christian, so i am going to take it very slowly and cautiously. Critical thinking is not well- understood here... on-topic, i agree ordainment should be free of a governing body. Go Kirby! :-)

[RevJohnG]

Without going into my beliefs....

I am an inactive ordained Old Catholic priest.

I am also a Unitarian Universalist. I am proud of my priesthood nonetheless.

I do not agree with what Catholicism espouses, yet do not shun others who do. I integrate the mysticism of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches into my belief system.

I was ordained with the ULC in 2010. I have done more with this ordination than my other one.

My spiritual path has been long, and sometimes hard, yet most of the time very satisfying.

Wouldn't change a thing.

[RevJackP]

RevJohnG well said. While I was not ordained in the Eastern Orthodox, I was raised in it. I always questioned why we had to bow to the priests and up and kiss the Bishop's rings. When we are taught that all men are supposed to be humble.

When my family needed the Easter Orthodox church the most, they refused to help us. The local priest wanted $600 in cash and for my brother and I to crawl before him begging forgiveness for our mother who had died from alzheimers. My family, going back to my grandparents, literally built that church. And we supported that church very much. I think that the local priest was on a power trip and was trying to bilk us out of extra money.

This is why I like the ULC I can work for God without a lot of politics getting in the way.

I'm glad to see that you are intergrating the mysticisms of both religions. There is a lot of truth in this method as I believe that most of the real truth has been shunted aside in the quest for the religions to keep up their elitist clubs.

Keep up the good work, God Bless!

[Raincloud]

I think of it as an expression that: Ordination is free and open... but it's up to you to do the work of ministry.

Here it is, the ordination... now what?

Well the what is: Being the clergy. In whatever capacity you want.

I think it eliminates the use of titles as an Ego thing. Drop the ego, show me 'the fruit'.

[RevJackP]

Raincloud, that was well put.

[Rev Douglas Trouten]

Remember Rev. Kirby Hensley when he founded the Church believe we are all ordained from the start using John 15:16 as the precedent.

Also remember the Churches one Belief (Doctrine): To do that which is right.

As I believe previously mentioned even with more strict requirements, it doesn't stop the bad apples from getting in. Then again look at the larger established churches like the Roman Catholic church, they are racked with scandals because of the behavior of their priests, and even cases where priests have stolen from the coffers for their own personal gain.

[Key]

Would it be beneficial for the credibility of our ordainships and the ULC itself, to have a slightly stricter acceptance procedure? My reasoning;

Being a new member to this forum, I have noticed a couple of comments of people being ordained 'for a laugh' and no spiritual basis whatsoever.

There has also been a comment about 'cerial box' ordainings - in other words, handing them out like sweets to anyone at all.

Whilst it is great that any non tradional religion is accepted, maybe it SHOULD just be for those that have a spiritual intent, for example, send a brief synopsis of their chosen path when applying as I did?

Blessings

Rowan

There will always be issues of credibility. The larger established churches also have suspicions upon them, whether through scandals or structure of their rules and organizations.

Remember Christ wasn't choosy with whom he selected to spread His word, and never intended to start a church.

Who judges spiritual intent? What criteria would be for the synopsis?

"All are called before God, but few are chosen." I think God makes it hard enough. Everyone deserves a shot to develop in faith, even if started as a practical joke.

[kokigami]

Blessings and thank you for the responses everyone, I had my own views and these obviously shared with some initially by the sounds of it

Oh, Jonathan, in answer to your question, I wasn't saying an actual 'spiritual' path would be excluded, it would only be those with no spiritual leanings at all (or getting ordained for mockery purposes, if you will}

However it was answered, so onward down the corridor.

Rowan

It is possible their God likes a joke as much as the next deity..