Accreditation Defined
Accreditation is the act of certifying that an educational institution maintains suitable standards; it is the granting of approval to an institution of learning by an official review board after the school has met certain requirements. Specifically accreditation is the review of a school’s course offerings and procedures by a group of its peers to certify that the school is meeting its own stated objectives and offering its students the education it promises them.
CLU’s Accreditation Christian Leadership University is accredited by the Worldwide Accreditation Commission of Christian Educational Institutions (WWAC), overseen by Dr. Paul Richardson. The following statement has been approved: “We [Christian Leadership University] are fully accredited by the World-Wide Accreditation Commission of Christian Educational Institutions (WWAC). Anyone wishing to contact them for verification may write to: The WWAC, Dr. Paul Richardson, Executive President, 2800 Blendwell Rd., Richmond, VA 23224.”
Christian Leadership University is also certified by the Apostolic Council for Educational Accountability (ACEA). Dr. C. Peter Wagner, head of the Wagner Institute for Practical Ministry, formed this group as an alternative to traditional accreditation for the new apostolic churches that are emerging (www.acea-schools.org).
Both WWAC and ACEA provide evaluation and accountability without distorting the purpose and vision of Christian Leadership University.
In addition, CLU believes that the Spirit-empowered ministries that develop in your life accredit its discipling experience.
“You are our letter, written in our hearts,
known and read by all men; being manifested
that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us,
written not with ink, but with the
Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone,
but on tablets of human hearts”
(2 Corinthians 3:2,3).
As you become effective in the release of divine power through your life, people will take notice and naturally give place for you and your ministry (Prov. 22:29). This is exactly what happened with Jesus. He had no accredited degrees, but the power that flowed through His hands caused multitudes to come to Him. Your Spirit-anointed ministry is what accredits our program and opens the doors before you for a continually expanding impact on His world.
Government Accreditation
The Worldwide Accreditation Commission of Christian Educational Institutions and the Apostolic Council for Educational Accountability are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Accreditation is a “review by your peers” that ensures that you are offering a quality program. CLU has received that. CLU’s peers are other Spirit-filled Christian educators, such as C. Peter Wagner’s Apostolic Council for Educational Accountability and the Worldwide Accreditation Commission of Christian Educational Institutions. The U.S. Department of Education is not a peer of Christian Leadership University.
Government-recognized accreditation is not necessary for the religious vocations we are training people in, which include: Biblical Studies, Christian Arts, Christian Counseling, Christian Entrepreneurship, Christian Leadership, Divine Healing, Divinity, Intercession, ministry, Missions and Evangelism, Prophetic Ministry, Theology, Worship Ministry, and Youth ministry. People can function and hold jobs in all of these areas without government-recognized accreditation.
Individuals seeking employment in government-licensed positions such as public school teachers, state-licensed psychologists or psychiatrists, and non-church-related counselors definitely need government-recognized accredited degrees.
Generally, people working in ministry positions do not need a government-accredited degree. In fact, a number of churches take a stand against the Church voluntarily placing itself under government regulations.