"Can you ordain me quickly, legitimately? I am not interested in those online 'diploma mills' that claim they'll ordian you if you send them money...."

Yes, if you have "real life" ministerial experience or theological studies background, we can help you obtain your ordination, and award you a Bachelor’s of Divinity almost as fast as those “diploma mills” which fax you a diploma as soon as you pay their fee. We do this by giving you credit for your actual ministerial experiences, service, and education you’ve accomplished until now.

--

"Well, what is the difference between you and those "diploma mills" you speak of?

We are a totally-legitimate church, fully chartered in the United States. And, our ministerial education programs are owned by The Love Church Worldwide communion. Just as the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, Baptists, The Lutheran Church and so forth own and seminaries, we are the same. Within The Love Church we operate as a department our Center for Ministerial Studies. And, in addition, the denomination owns the small, relatively new Saint James College, which provides legitimate on-line, non-traditional, open university educational degrees. (We are too new to be regionally accredited. Although our degrees are legitimate, credits earned here may not transfer easily to regionally accredited schools.)

---

"Is your distance learning seminary program 'official' as far as the government is concerned?"

Yes. The Love Church Worldwide is fully registered and government chartered in the United States. The not-for-profit corporation also sponsors The Center for Ministerial Education seminary program and, as we mentioned above, our non traditional distance learning open university, Saint James College. The Love Church Worldwide is a duly-chartered small, positive-thinking, New Thought Christian denomination.

---

"Is any online seminary study really legitimate?"

Yes, all sorts of college and vocational training education is being offered online these days, including psychology study, nursing degrees, teaching degrees, etc. And, while we're not the biggest, we are one of the pioneers in online seminary education. In this age of the fast food drive-thru, fast marriage / fast divorce, and almost instantaneous online purchases, there is increasing call for online seminary training, and education leading to degrees and certificates.  The Center for Ministerial Education seminary program fills this need. While we are not the leader in online university education, we are among the premier institutions offering legitimate online ordination studies. The Center for Ministerial Education and our St. James College collaborate to operate “T-DEN,” the Theological Distance Education Network. Unlike the traditional campus education, our students are able to learn, right where they live, and when their personal schedules allow.

---

"What is your typical online seminarian or ordination student like?"

While we do work with young people just starting their ministerial careers, we find that a great many of our seminary and degree candidates are older.  Many have successfully raised their children, and a large number are retiring or else are at the point in life where they are ready to begin a second career.  Most have served in myriad forms of ministry for years, and have longed for the “validation” of ordination.

---

"So, this is the need you're filling...so that we can study at home -- or maybe in the office?"

Our online ministerial degrees and online Saint James College courses can be completed from your home while, at the same time, receiving the groundwork needed to begin a new ministry, or continue your current one as an ordained minister. While young people just emerging from high school may well be able to commit to several years of on-campus study, the older, more-established ministerial student often finds this impossible. Being able to work online, and talk "live" with a teacher / mentor by telephone serves the needs of this large, and growing, segment of the community.

---

"How expensive is this online ordination study program?"

Our ordination program is offered very inexpensively. The tuition cost is $250.00, which covers covering registration and a small stipend for the instructors who will work with you, all of whom participate in this training ministry on their own time. We will maintain your records in our offices so that if, in the future, anyone in your local community questions your qualifications and ministerial standing we can, at no charge to you, provide transcript information attesting to the validity of your ordination.

---

"How long will it take me to be ordained?"

Weeks, if you have a good background in ministry, theology, chaplaincy, or working in your home church. Or, one year, if you are brand new to ministry/theological study and need to go through our entire undergraduate program. You can move at your own pace, however. We will work with you and assist you according to your needs and your schedule. As we just mentioned, our program is designed to last one year. However, since so many of our students have real-life ministerial experience for which we give credit, that it is it is typical that three or four months of additional study are required. Some have gone through the program in is little as two weeks, although they were already quite well prepared in terms of their backgrounds.

---

"How will I communicate with you?"

You’ll communicate with us online, and through telephone conversations. Our approach to ordination is innovative, contemporary, and flexibly matches your lifestyle and work schedule.

---

"Are you limited to certain denominations, or is anyone welcome?"

Our students range from members of the “liturgical” churches such as Roman Catholic seminarians, Episcopalian / Anglican, and Lutheran, to “mainline” churches such as United Methodist, Congregationalist, Presbyterian, etc., to New Thought Churches such as Unity and Science of The Mind, to fundamentalist churches such as Nazarene, Assemblies of God, and Baptist. We welcome individuals who feel called to ministerial service from all walks of life.

---

"Do you ordain women to the ministry / priesthood?"

Absolutely. We do not discriminate because of gender. Christ didn’t and, even though St. Paul wrote epistles relegating women to positions of “obedience” to men, we do not. Christ said that to love is greater than anything else, and it is his word that we honor on this point.

---

"Must I subscribe to a certain creed or dogma, or may I maintain my own beliefs?"

We believe that each candidate for the ministry has her or his own reason for pursuing this career path. For some, it is a culmination of a lifetime of service in their local church, for others it is seeking fulfillment in ordination after serving in overseas missions. We also honor the needs of specific groups to be ordained, say ex-nuns or, perhaps disenfranchised Southern Baptist women who are no longer permitted to serve as pastors in their own denominations. Our approach to Christianity is based largely on Biblical teachings, we nonetheless honor the traditions and beliefs of other religions. Our primary mission is to assist individuals realize their connection to God and to enhance communication with God, as well as a personal experience of God. If God wants you to adhere to a particular dogma in your ministry, that is to be according to your personal calling…not something we mortals impose upon you as a pre-condition to being ordained. If you can be comfortable with the love and forgiveness and service teachings of Christ, you can be eligible for ordination in The Love Church Worldwide communion.

---

"Once I am ordained, can I be employed in another denomination, or work in yours? Or, can I start my own church?"

Any of the above, actually. Firstly, other denominations do hire ministers ordained in non-denominational or New Thought ministerial study programs. This is especially true of the non-liturgical churches, that is, churches other than Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, and Lutheran. Secondly, you can register as an affiliate of The Love Church Worldwide denomination for a very small annual license fee. And, finally, you can start your own church, certainly, if you feel called to do so. We will happily assist you.

---

"Please tell me a bit more about your Degree Program"

As with many seminary programs, ours is not accredited in the same way a college or university would be. We grant Bachelors of Theology, master, and doctorate degrees and they are totally legitimate in that we are chartered by our Secretary of State to conduct educational seminary programs and to grant degrees. But, you could not use any unaccredited degree from any institution to, say, enter a graduate program at UCLA, or to claim to be qualified to teach in the public education system. Our degrees honor your life experience and new theological education, and affirm your ministerial /priestly status to your religious community.

---

"How can I obtain a masters or a doctorate degree from The Center for Ministerial Education?"

We offer advanced degrees through our newly-formed Saint James College, including Masters of Theology, Masters of Divinity, Masters of Spiritual Counseling, Doctorate of Theology, and Doctorate of Divinity. These prorgams are in addition to our ordination program. Please inquire for details regarding these advanced studies.

---

"Is your ordination program available only in the U.S.?"

Our distance learning seminary program and ordination classes are available in every nation on earth. All you need is an internet connection (although telephone service to the United States is helpful). While virtually every country accepts Christian ordinations, you should check with your particular government to see if any particular requirements must be met in home country. We will be glad to assist you, where possible, with documentation that may required in your home nation, or the nation in which you wish to practice your ministry.