Chosen and Ordained - 10 February 2023

A bad seminary, a good practice, and some useful resources.

Editorial

Rev. Kirby J. Hensley, founder of the original Universal Life Church headquartered out of Modesto, California, was reportedly illiterate his entire life. To know the contents of the Bible he listened to recordings of the King James Version of the Bible. It’s little surprise, then, that he had a unique interpretation for John 15:16, which in that translation has Jesus saying: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

While it’s true that in context Jesus was speaking to his disciples, who would go on to lead the early church, and it’s also the case that ‘ordained’ there meant ‘appointed,’ there is a certain value in the unusual interpretation that Rev. Hensley gave it. To him, this meant to say that all humans were already ordained, and therefore the Universal Life Church was only acknowledging a reality when it issued ordination paperwork. He therefore held to a radical vision of the ‘priesthood of all believers,’ in that he extended it to every member of our species.

No ULC minister is expected to believe that or any other interpretation put forth by the founder of our faith tradition. Still, the results have been remarkable, empowering people to carry out ministry in myriad forms, and inspiring numerous imitators. From so humble a seed as Rev. Hensley’s midrash of John 15:6 has a noble tree grown, branched out, and born fruit.

ULC in Focus

Unfortunately I have to provide a word of caution here about the ULC Seminary. Although it was set up including an agreement with the Universal Life Church HQ in Modesto, California, it cannot be relied upon any longer to fulfill orders. In November 2022 I placed an order there, and although I paid for it, as of the time of this newsletter nothing has been received. Contacting headquarters I was informed that others have been calling them with the same complaint. The ULC Seminary is independent from the ULCHQ, and promised to pass along all ordination requests to our headquarters. Since the orders are no longer being fulfilled, we can only assume that ordination requests made there are also not being passed along. At least, not reliably so.

For ordination or any orders, please do go through the Universal Life Church HQ website. It is outdated and appears a bit broken, but the staff behind it will respond to you, and orders will be completed assuming the materials are in stock. If you have any doubts or questions, reach out to generalcontact@ulchq.com.

News in Review

First female Palestinian pastor ordained in the Holy Land

Rev. Sally Azar was ordained in a Lutheran ceremony and will head the English-speaking congregation at the Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem. It is unknown whether any women in Palestine have been ordained by the Universal Life Church, but it’s always possible.

Resources

Seminaries Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools

This is a list of graduate schools currently accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, which is recognized by all major denominations and within the academic world. All schools meet certain standards for accreditation and are reviewed periodically to maintain their standing. Many denominations require people seeking ordination to obtain a Master of Divinity from an ATS accredited seminary, and this degree is also required by some professional organizations for formal recognition and certification. 

Yale Bible Study: 1 Corinthians

“This study offers an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of being in community where members are as likely to disagree on some questions as they are likely to agree. It also helps learners think about living in the world beyond the Christian community.”

From the Blog

Open Ordination

Among Christian churches there is "open communion" and "open membership." With the Universal Life Church, we have "open ordination."

Closing Thought

For some, like me, it began in college, on a lark. Somehow I had found my way to the website of the Universal Life Church, and I submitted my application for ordination. It felt something like a joke at the time, and yet there was a serious element. Having been adrift, changing churches a few times after leaving the denomination in which I was raised, I didn’t have roots anywhere that were deep enough to even begin the ordination process. That didn’t matter with the Universal Life Church. So, as I looked at the congratulations page that appeared before me, there was a sense of validation. What was by all measures a seemingly impersonal act made me feel seen and accepted. Ever since, even as my specific beliefs and general outlook on life changed over time, I remained committed to ministry in one form or another. And I retained my ordination through it all. This is the gift offered by the Universal Life Church. It was easy to obtain, but shouldn’t be taken for granted.