QUESTION 1:

Does Stan have a Ph.D. as he claims?

ANSWER 1:

I assume you are referring to his August 27, 2000 appearance at Valley Life Center Church in Santa Clara, California.  If that is the church you are referencing, you did hear him correctly. Specifically, he said "I got my BA, my MA, and part of my Ph.D." (source: audio recording from Valley Life Center Church, Santa Clara, California, August 27, 2000).  His remarks regarding his Ph.D. are consistent with other remarks he has made as follows:

1.  "Remember, I have a BA, an MA, and part of my Ph.D.  I had a BA, an MA, and part of my Ph.D. I was a very educated man.  You've got to remember, I have a BA, an MA, and part of my Ph.D. - and now I do have it." (source: audio recording from Terrace Palms Community Church, Tampa, Florida, July 1, 2002)

2.  "I got my BA, my MA, and part of my Ph.D." (source: Focus On The Family audio recording) After Stan's Ph.D. remarks were brought to the attention of Focus on the Family, they cancelled a second airing and no longer sell his books.

3.  "I got part of my Ph.D." (source: Coral Ridge Ministries audio recording)

4.  "I got part of my Ph.D." (source: Stan Telchin's personal testimony purchased from Stan Telchin Ministries, Inc. tape offer 202)

5.  "I got my BA, my MA and part of my Ph.D." (source:  www.lifestory.org - Stan's written testimony)

My father does not have a Ph.D. and has never been enrolled in any Ph.D. program that I know of.

The issue of Stan repeatedly claiming to have a Ph.D. or "part of a Ph.D." has been directly raised to him many times.  He has refused to substantiate, explain or clarify his comments and he has refused to produce any transcripts, diplomas or name of any institution where he allegedly undertook a Ph.D. level program.  In all the years I knew my father and worked closely with him and in his ministry, I never once saw any Ph.D. documents of any kind.  Further, in my presence he never once said anything about a Ph.D.

In a May 3, 2004 letter written by David Brickner of Jews for Jesus (with whom my father now serves as a staff missionary), Mr. Brickner responded to a Jews for Jesus donor who questioned my father's Ph.D. claims. The donor was unable to get Stan to clarify his comments and Stan refused to produce documentation in support of his claim.  The donor wrote Mr. Brickner and raised the issue and Mr. Brickner responded in writing, "As far as your question regarding Stan Telchin's education, Stan does not have a Ph.D. and does not claim to have a Ph.D. If Stan did misspeak I have no doubt that he would be quick to acknowledge what I am saying here.  I hope that clears the matter up for you." (source: David Brickner's May 3, 2004 letter)  For the donor in question, it did not clear the matter up as Stan still refused to explain his comments. Read David Brickner's letter here.

Another individual raised the issue of Stan's Ph.D. claim to Focus On The Family after purchasing Stan's audio testimony from them.  On April 13, 2004, the vice president of Focus On The Family wrote and said, "We appreciate your willingness to pass along information concerning Mr. Stan Telchin.  It's very important to us that we gather all of the facts about potential guests in order to provide our listeners helpful and accurate information. I forwarded your material to the appropriate parties and they decided not to air Mr. Telchin's broadcast on April 9."  (source: Focus On The Family April 13, 2004 letter) My understanding now is that Focus On The Family has since pulled Stan's books and tapes from the their catalogue.

My father has two earned degrees: a BA in speech earned in 1949 from George Washington University, DC; a MA in drama earned in 1950 from Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. (See Stan's bio for more information.)

My father does not have a Ph.D. nor do I believe that he has ever studied in a Ph.D. program.  I am of the opinion that his repeated public comments regarding his Ph.D. is a lie that he tells the audience only to impress them.  In recent years, there has been many stories in the press regarding those in positions of responsibility who have been found to have lied about their educational credentials.  One recent case involved the chief executive officer of Radio Shack who was forced to resign after it was discovered he had listed two college degrees on his resume when in fact he had none.  Though disgraced, he did demonstrate enough character for his actions by issuing the following statement,

"I clearly misstated my academic record, and the responsibility for those misstatements is mine alone."  (source: Time Magazine)

If the CEO of a secular company is dismissed because of fraudulently representing his educational credentials, how much higher a standard should a public figure who claims to be a man of God and a public spiritual figure allegedly representing Jesus Christ  be held too?  My father does not seem to understand that so many people in recent years from all over the country have expressed real disbelief at what he has said in public.  It is apparent my father must publicly demonstrate that what he has represented is in fact the truth.  If he cannot make such a demonstration or for whatever reason chooses not to, then it would be appropriate for him to resign from ministry.

Regarding the criminal investigation surrounding Stan's public claims to a Ph.D.; yes, on December 7, 2002 a criminal complaint was filed with Detective Bud Johnson of the Manatee County Sheriff's office in Manatee County , Florida. I was not a party to that complaint. The complaint alleged that Stan's Ph.D. comments at Terrace Palms Community Church in Tampa, Florida and his Ph.D. comments at Valley Life Center Church in Santa Clara, California constituted a violation of Florida State Statute 817.567 which states, "No person in the state may claim, either orally or in writing, to possess an academic degree, unless the person has, in fact, been awarded said degree from an institution." 

On December 27, 2002, Detective Bud Johnson wrote and in part said, "After receiving your affidavit and complaint of 7 Dec. 2002, I carefully reviewed all submitted documents.  After my review, I had an in-depth conversation with a senior assistant state attorney and discussed this case in its entirety.  The assistant state attorney stated they would not file charges in this case for the following reasons: Case and annotated law requires that the state prove that a false claim of an educational degree be of signifcance in the furtherance of a criminal act - such as a recent prosecution of a person claiming to have a specific educational degreee and license in order to obtain business (clients) as a psychologist.  With regards to Terrace Palms Church and Valley Life Center Church, these churches are not in our jurisdiction and cannot be part of an investigation by this office.  It is my recommendation that the Federal investigation be allowed to run its course.  Please understand that upon receipt of your orignal fraud complaint, the information and jurisdiction was given to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  That transfer ended the official (fraud) investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff's office." (source: Detective Bud Johnson letter dated December 27, 2002)

I again publicly invite my father to produce his Ph.D. transcripts and other supporting documentation to substantiate his claim.

Related: See 'Question 2' and 'Question 3' which address Stan's honorary doctorate and his ordination claims.

*copies of all referenced sources available upon request at no charge.  Please request these sources by sending an email to atoxicfaith@aol.com and ask for Packet Q1.