Subd. 1. Exemption.

Any school or any department or branch of a school:

1. (1) which is substantially owned, operated, or supported by a bona fide church or religious organization;
2. (2) whose programs are primarily designed for, aimed at, and attended by persons who sincerely hold or seek to learn the particular religious faith or beliefs of that church or religious organization; and
3. (3) whose programs are primarily intended to prepare its students to become ministers of, to enter into some other vocation closely related to, or to conduct their lives in consonance with the particular faith of that church or religious organization, is exempt from the provisions of sections 141.21 to 141.32.

Subd. 2. Limitations.

1. (a) An exemption shall not extend to any school, department or branch of a school, or program of a school which through advertisements or solicitations represents to any students or prospective students that the school, its aims, goals, missions, purposes, or programs are different from those described in subdivision 1.

2. (b) An exemption shall not extend to any school which represents to any student or prospective student that the major purpose of its programs is to:

   1. (1) prepare the student for a vocation not closely related to that particular religious faith; or
   2. (2) provide the student with a general educational program recognized by other schools or the broader educational, business, or social community as being substantially equivalent to the educational programs offered by schools or departments or branches of schools which are not religious in nature and are not exempt from chapter 141 and from rules adopted under this chapter.

Subd. 3. Scope.

Nothing in this chapter or the rules adopted under it shall be interpreted as permitting the office to determine the truth or falsity of any particular set of religious beliefs.

Subd. 4. Descriptive language required.

Any certificate, diploma, degree, or other formal recognition awarded upon completion of any religiously exempt program shall include such descriptive language as to make the religious nature of the award clear.