Doctor of Divinity

I may have mentioned in the past that I'm an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church, which is a non-denominational organization that grants free ordinations on-line to anyone interested. Although I have no formal training in theology or Christian studies, I decided years ago that I wanted to take my Christian faith to the next step. So now I can legally perform weddings and other ceremonies in the state of California. So far, I haven't performed any weddings or religious rites (yet), but I would prefer to be addressed as Reverend.

It has occurred to me that anyone can have an "honorary" faith-based degree, and I mentioned in another thread that I would like to get a Doctor of Divinity certificate. There are several web-based ministries or churches that offer ordinations and honorary degrees and licenses: Universal Ministries, St. Luke Evangelical, and American Fellowship. Some organizations are way too conservative for my taste; some services are too expensive.

So what do you think of an honorary Doctor of Divinity? In this case, it's D.D. honoris causa (h.c., for the sake of honor). Is an academic doctorate degree necessarily better than the one that's honorary, which is usually awarded to people based on experience rather than academic achievement? What say you?

 

Since divinity doctorates are basically doctorates about nothing, I have no opinion about them.

Honorary degrees, even less so.

 

What say I? I say this thread reminds me of...

​

 

I tried not to be judgmental (and I'm not sure how serious you are), but I have to admit I totally failed. So...

IMO, purchasing an "honorary" degree online is dishonorable. And somewhat deceptive. And, therefore, questionably Christian. It doesn't even serve a practical purpose, since you're already authorized to do weddings and other religious services.

If you want credentials so badly, and you want to minister in a formal way, why not go take some theology classes and get a real certificate or degree?

Tora Ziyal, M.Div.
(Yup, four years of hard academic work.)

 

I've never really understood what makes some "legally" able to perform wedding ceremonies. A marriage certificate is what marries you, not a person.

 

If you can buy a "honorary degree" what exactly have you bought beyond a piece of paper that looks good in a picture frame? If you believe in your message, then instead of spending that money to basically glorify yourself, why not spend it towards a good cause to help others? Living your life by example to spread your message is far more appealing to me than just false credential. At least academic degrees show the person put in the work for them.

 

^Well said.

Being legally authorized to perform wedding ceremonies basically means that one is legally authorized to sign those marriage certificates.

 

Sounds like too much work. Surely there's a phone app for that can do that for you now.

I mean, really, if anybody can just go online and ordain themselves, what's the point in even having such a person?

 

This will be followed soon by the divorce app.

 

If you wish to be married, please enter your and your spouse's username and password.

 

Good question. But not all states recognize that kind of "ordination."

 

Correct, and marriage laws vary form state to state. In California, I believe the minimum requirement for a wedding officiant is that he/she be 18 years of age.

So you're saying honorary D.D.s are totally useless and not legally valid. Interesting. I should point out that there are real-life ministers, pastors, preachers who have been granted honorary Doctors of Divinity for their years or decades of religious work and experience (without having completed any of the academic requirements). Here's an example of an institution that grants such honor.

While I agree that an academic degree has to be earned, some would argue that Jesus Christ himself didn't need a Ph.D. to preach. Besides, if it's only an honorary title, I say what's the harm?

 

You should totally give up your house and job and start wandering the land doing good deeds, only to be known as "Preacher".

 

Aside from a slight financial loss, there's not a lot of harm in it for yourself, but remember, that piece of paper is only for your edification. You can look at it and say, "I have proudly paid $39.95 to have a Doctor of Divinity degree."

That's about all it's good for, is to catch a friend's attention on the wall, and even then, as soon as they see "Universal Life Church" they'll know it's worthless. That's not to say the ULC is worthless, but it takes little to no effort to get ordained by them. I'm ordained as well, and I'm also registered with the State of Ohio so that I can legally officiate weddings and have those unions as binding.

Those fools, they gave me this authority! <evil cackle><lightning><thunder>

*ahem*

I didn't go to any theological seminary, and am not a graduate of any Bible college, though I can generally out-Bible most of them, but that's because I spent my formative years poring over the Bible and many other religious texts. Now, I did have an ordination by an actual church, but I left that church once my theology changed and was no longer acceptable under the by-laws, so I went to the ULC.

I have officiated weddings (I have two coming up in a couple of months), and that is where I am pleased to serve. I could buy one of those "Doctor of Divinity" papers, but it would only be to stroke my ego, and would serve no other purpose. After all, the people who receive honorary Doctorates have contributed to society in some way that gets them recognized. What did you do to get your Doctorate of Divinity? You shelled out some cash. Not quite the same.

If that's what you want to do, that's cool, but why waste your money?

 

My understanding as a ministry student was the "of Divinity" degrees tend to be more "practical" degrees than the "theory-heavy" ones of the MA. In the "hands on/praxis" sense of the word, I mean. (ETA: the word I meant there might be "proffessional" actually.) My institution granted both, but us MDivs were expected to spend more time with stuff like pastoral care or designing worship services (and spend a year in the field before graduation) than the MAs who were expected to spend more time in research and produce a thesis. Though obviously it wasn't a separation so much as a matter of focus.

[DavidTennant] Welllll.... [/DavidTennant] the difference I'd say is that those people have already performed years/decades of religious work and thus are being honored for their accomplishment after the fact.

I mean, do as thou wilt but since you don't seem to have some sort of anti-clerical stance I don't see why you're doing this?

Kestrel, also M.Div.
(Though perhaps not as much hard work as Tora Ziyal in retrospect)

 

But if I'm doing it for fun, wouldn't that be worth my $35??? My official title would thus be: The Reverend Dr. [Gryff], Chaplain, Accounting Division. It has a nice ring, doesn't it?

I agree with the stuff you said, and I do believe there are people who deserve the honorary title of D.D. based on their ministerial work and contributions to the community. I have neither.

 

What's the question, then? If you want a pretty piece of paper on the wall and the ability to make a joke about your 'title' (which no one will honor), just drop the $40 and call it good. If you want it to mean anything, or be worth anything, you'll have to do it the hard way and earn it. The 'real' honorary degrees are awarded to you from others, recognizing your worth. If you're the one honoring yourself, well, kinda tells you something about the value.

Hell, even I'M a ULC minister. Signed up freshman year of college because it was funny and it came with an official card. Shows you about what it's worth, no? Enjoy spending $40 for a more expensive version of that same gag certificate.

 

Ooh, I love the EMBC site. They don't really tell you what their standards are, just that "if for some reason you do not qualify" for their honorary degree, they will return your $300. At $300 a certificate, paid in advance, how many people do you think they turn down? Sorry, but that kind of honorary degree isn't worth crap, even if some good people have paid for them.

Since it's only an honorary title, why do you want it so much?

 

i'm an Octo-Countess of the Grand Order of the Mother Squirrel and have the certificate to prove it. This allows me to officiate at zero gravity wicker man burnings.