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Ordination mill


An ordination mill is a religious organisation or denomination in which membership is obtainable by trivial means and all members are qualified for self-ordination as a minister of religion, bishop, priest or deacon without any prerequisite training, work, experience, seminary study or other qualification. In some cases, ordination may be obtained on-line or by mail merely by submitting an application and a nominal fee.

In recent times, online ordination has become increasingly popular as a fast way for a person to become registered to perform a wedding for their friends or co-workers.

The term "ordination mill", intended to be analogous to diploma mill or accreditation mill in higher education, is pejorative.

The term is not new; US Library of Congress copyright archives list a Camden, New Jersey newspaper report of "Clergymen made by mail-order ordination mill for $2 in 2 weeks" from 1927. The Universal Life Church, founded as the "Life Church" in 1959 by the Reverend Kirby J. Hensley in Modesto, California, has long offered ordination by mail and has been at the centre of multiple court cases in which it has sought equal recognition with other denominations on freedom of religion grounds. In 1970, the US Army's Office of the Chief of Chaplains described ULC Modesto as "like a number of similar 'ordination mill' denominations, it has 'no traditional doctrine' and 'will ordain anyone, for life, for a freewill offering'." It should be noted, however, that the Universal Life Church's "freewill offerings" include the amount of $0.00, and the church offers supplemental materials for a fee.

An ordination obtained on-line or by mail does not necessarily guarantee access to reserved clergy parking, preferential treatment during a military draft or tax advantages for individuals, despite an upsurge in demand for US ordinations during the Vietnam War. The church as an organisation may qualify for registration as a non-profit organisation for activities specifically related to religious ministry, a status the ULC Modesto home church has obtained from the US Internal Revenue Service in some years but not others. Clergy Parking Permits vary by municipality. In New York City annual permits are issued by the city, not the church, and are subject to narrow criteria: clergy qualify only if they work an average of at least twenty hours per week officiating at or presiding over services, with a limit of three registered vehicles per house of worship. This allows parking for up to five hours adjacent to the house of worship, three hours when visiting hospitals and four hours at a funeral establishment when performing official duties.


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