Ethics in Educational Credentials: DISCUSSION ON CHURCH OF GOD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Preamble: In most countries surveyed, renewalists have at least as much schooling as the general population; in fact, in Nigeria, pentecostals are much more likely than the public as a whole to have obtained at least some post-secondary education. In the U.S., however, renewalists, especially pentecostals, tend to be less educated than the population as a whole; though there is virtually no education gap when it comes to charismatics.

This item closely resembles Resolution 9 adopted by Assemblies of God in 2007 as it seeks to:

• Encourage continuing education
• Use adequately accredited institutions
• Refraining from attributing any non-accredited degrees

Historical Presuppositions for making this item prominent are found in the rise of online Christian education and unsubstantial theological degrees. There are currently several ongoing investigations on Christian programs in the United Kingdom alone, which offered advanced theological degrees on graduate and post-graduate level without meeting the necessary accreditation and legal requirements (see BBC vs Edinburgh University, University of Wales and the Education Funding Council for England). Furthermore, there have been:

• Growing proliferation of unaccredited independent organizations and fraudulent diploma mills
• Independent Pentecostal/charismatic movements are increasingly permeated by dubious educational entities and deficient degrees
• The highest standards in training and educational accreditation for ministers must provide a solid evangelical, Pentecostal education firmly embedded in orthodox Christianity
• Graduate programs are acquiring accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in order to ensure a smooth transition towards licensure or certification
• Alteranative ministry training courses are now being offered near Chattanooga and Cleveland

1992 CHURCH of GOD RESOLUTION on MINISTERIAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

WHEREAS a new light of freedom and opportunity for evangeliza- tion shines across the world today; and

WHEREAS a new cry for trained, spiritual leadership is being heard throughout the world because of church growth and evangelism in new fields of labor; and

WHEREAS God is raising up a mighty army of new warriors and champions who are entering ministry in record numbers;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Church of God support, promote, and encourage the accessibility of ministerial training and development throughout the world (64th A., 1992, p.78).