Bro. Falwell has gone on to reap his reward, but what about the U.S. government giving tax-exempt status to Falwell’s Liberty University, an independent, fundamentalist Baptist school whose mission is to “train young Champions of Christ.”
Or what about any school whose stated purpose is religion-based? Should they be granted tax-exempt status?
Dating Jesus 
There’s a difference between “tax exempt” status and financially supporting am institution like Liberty University.
Most churches and other houses of worship are tax exempt. I’m pretty sure that colleges and universities are also.
So, the tax code would have to be changed — not a likely possibility. It’s not easy to turn an elephant around.
I’m interested in whether we could ever completely separate church and state, given our tax code.
I’m interested in whether we could ever completely separate church and state, given our tax code.
I live next door to the campus of an institute of higher learning which happens to be connected to a mainstream religion. The institute is not always a good neighbor (noise, primarily, but also sifting dirt from various construction projects), and I wish I could get a tax break by being subject to their disruptions!
Start your own faith group!
That’s a stunningly good idea. But don’t I need a bigger piece of property first?
I did not know that there is an acreage requirement. Is there?
“I did not know that there is an acreage requirement. Is there?”
Probably not. But if I’m going to get a tax rebate or an exemption, it might as well be on something BIG, right?
Good point. Take over the college next door. That’s a start, right?
Cynical, the ULC (http://ulc.org/) has all the resources you need to start your own faith, including online ordination.
Bet I get there first!
To get ordained? After you, m’dear, after you. You don’t even have to worry about pushing me out of the way.
No, thank you. You’d have to push me in the way. I am emphatically not in the line for ordination, thanks.
Jay is correct. There are also shades of nuance involved with these institutions in Virginia. Liberty, Regent, Union Theological, Virginia Union, and others are religiously affiliated schools.
However, with the exception of Union which is primarily a presby seminary these days, students in non-ministerial programs are eligible for the state’s Tuition Assistance Grant.
All of this is as legal and clean as yesterday’s dry-cleaning.
Where things get messy is less with tax-exempt status, but with allowing federal and state aid to flow through these institutions. By law, such aid is not available to students in program training for ministry, priesthood, and the like. However, you raise the issue of the mission statement to train young champions of Christ….is that really any different or worse than the thousands of other mission statements out there? From the liberal to the conservative from the clear to the absolutely muddy?
LU is not one of my favorite institutions. However, they do turn out some pretty good graduates.
Name 10. No, I kid. I had forgotten that there is no financial aid for students training for the clergy.
I didn’t know about the exemption. Way to make it even harder to get an education that you’ll never be able to pay for because you are training for a career that doesn’t pay well. It must be very particular because we all received financial aid going to Bible college. My degree is in children’s ministry but I think all the degrees were officially called “Biblical studies” and then there was a focus added if you were doing education, counseling, etc…
There are two Union Theological Seminaries. One in Richmond Va is Presbyterian. The one at Broadway and 120th St. in NYC is non-denominational.
To make it interesting, Auburn Theological Seminary is part of NYC’s UTS and is, in theory, a Presbyterian school.
And I did receive support for my studies at UTS NYC through Vocational Rehabilitation. That had to get approval from the higher ups. But since it was, technically, job training, it was kosher.
I’ve repaid what Conn. and NY Vocational Rehabs paid for me, many times over.
I was speaking about Va higher ed.
I remember thinking I could get some help to go to the Hartford Seminary, but no.