QUESTION 3:

Is Stan ordained as he claims?

ANSWER 3:

Of all the things that have come out about my father in the last five years, the reality that my father is not ordained, as he had claimed for so many years, is one of the most heartbreaking things I have learned.  I have asked and implored upon my father to produce his ordination credentials many times and he has refused.   The issue of his ordination has been researched and investigated many times by more than one party and what has been discovered (or more appropriately, not discovered) has led me to conclude he is not ordained.

There is no doubt but that he claims to have been ordained. In October 2002, he filed a sworn affidavit with the Manatee County Circuit Court and under oath signed as "Rev. Stan Telchin" (click here to see that document). He has also made the claim in public many times as follows:

On January 25, 2004, Stan spoke about his ordination at Living Word Church in New Port Richey, Florida.  During his testimony, he said, "Four years later I was ordained and went off to Bible school." (source: audio recording, Living Word Church)

On February 15, 2004, He spoke at Venice Bible Church and during his testimony said, "About four years later, I went off to Bible school and was ordained." (source: audio recording, Venice Bible Church, Venice, Florida)

In official court documents my father filed in the 12th Judicial District with the Circuit Court for Manatee County, Florida, and dated October 31, 2002, he signs the documents under oath as 'Rev. Stan Telchin' and types his name as 'Rev. Stan Telchin.' (source:  Clerk of Court, Manatee County)

On October 13, 2002, Stan sent an email to a gentleman in Texas who was interested in having Stan speak in his church.  In the email, Stan states, "I was ordained into the ministry by Pastor MacArthur Jollay at the Christ Church of Washington, DC on June 6, 1979.  While I thought I should go to seminary, Pastor Jollay and several other pastors I consulted told me that I had enough degrees (both my BA and MA were in theatre) and that what I needed was on-the-job-training. I was not formally enrolled in a seminary program for an advanced degree.  I became listed by **The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel about the year 1990. I am now listed by them as a retired minister." (source: Stan Telchin email dated October 13, 2003)  The gentleman would eventually decline to host Stan in his church as Stan would not produce the supporting documentation regarding his Ph.D. and ordination. 

The issue of my father's ordination was never an issue - for over 20 years it was never an issue until IRS agents who were conducting a criminal investigation of my father raised it as an issue with the former treasurer and board member of Stan Telchin Ministries, Inc.  The agents did not say he was not ordained but they also did not say that he was ordained.  What they did say really raised some eyebrows and led to an exhaustive investigation to try to uncover the truth.  Here is what I know:

1.  The questions regarding my father's ordination claims were taken directly to him and he was asked to settle the matter by producing his ordination credentials.  He has steadfastly refused to do so.  I can only conclude he will not produce the credentials and put this issue to rest because he has no credentials to produce.

2.  In all the years I knew my father and worked closely in his ministry, I never once saw any ordination credentials of any kind.  None.  I never saw a wallet ordination card, ministerial credentials or an ordination certificate.  In over two decades of knowing my father, being in his home and ministry office, and having served as his secretary, I never saw any documents whatsoever that indicated he had been ordained. 

3.  Christ Church in Washington DC where Stan claims he was ordained, is an Assembly of God Church. Last year, a senior executive in the Assembly of God Church and former executive presbyter investigated Stan's claims and stated that Stan is not and has never been ordained by the Assembly of God or any Assembly of God church.  He further stated there was no written record on the state or national level that showed Stan had ever been ordained. (source: Spring 2005 phone notes)

4.  On November 21, 2002, Christ Church stated, "We can find no record of Stan's ordination. He should have his ordination credentials and I am sure he would provide them to you." (source: November 21, 2002 letter and phone notes)

5.  On November 20, 2003, an elder of Christ Church said, "I am very much aware of the serious questions swirling about Stan Telchin.  I have attended Christ Church since the mid-1970's and can assure you, Stan Telchin was never ordained by this church."  (source: November 20, 2003 phone notes)

I am now of the opinion that my father is not ordained as he has claimed and I once again invite him to produce the ordination credentials that are common to every ordination.

**  On September 20, 2004, the General Supervisor of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel wrote and said, "Presently Stan is not carrying his credentials with us.  I have just had that confirmed by our regional administrative office."

Related:  See 'Question1' and 'Question2' which addresses Stan's Ph.D. claims and the confusion regarding his honorary doctorate.

*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 Q3.