Universal Life Church ordained process?

calindi

Has anyone had a friend or family member officiate their wedding by registering as a ULC minister online?  I've heard it's totally legal, and even the county where we're getting married has told me that it's allowed.

But has anyone actually done this?  How did you do it?

[Deleted User]

I have never known anyone ordained online, but know that it can be done. I have heard, however, that this varies state to state. Definitely check with the state you plan on getting married in so you don't have any disappointments on your wedding day.

mattsdorothy

Our "minister" got ordained on one of those websites. Look at your state's law about how a minister needs to be licensed. For example, Missouri requires both ordination AND proof of "good standing" with the church. So, our friend had to pay for the certificate of ordination and the letter of good standing. Just check Florida's laws and make sure your minister has all the required documents when he or she takes your marriage license into the recorder of deeds office after the wedding.

calindi

Thanks - I'll check!  We're actually not getting married in Florida, we're getting married in Connecticut.  And the town's office said they just had to be legally able to conduct weddings in their faith, and that they don't need to register with the town or anything.  So I think we're good to go?

LauraT25

As long as you're able to do it, it's very simple.  DH did it himself to check out the process before having his best friend do it.  You go to their website (themonastery.org), click a giant button that says something like, 'click here to get ordained', fill out some basic contact info, read a TOS-type thing, and that's it.  You'll get e-mailed a certificate that can be printed.  There are options to buy 'nice' certificates but it's unnecessary.

It takes less than five minutes - probably less than a minute if you're a fast reader/typer. 

tenofcups4me

I did this the first time I was married. My sister (MOH) and the ex's best friend (best man) both got ordained through ULC to perform our ceremony. There were no special requirements in my state or county at the time (no idea if there is now).

We were VERY happy with the way it turned out -- we actually wrote the whole ceremony, leaving a spot for them to add their own words if they wanted -- and we got many compliments on how great the ceremony was. It was very personal and really customized to us.

mattsdorothy

   Sec. 46b-22. (Formerly Sec. 46-3). Who may join persons in marriage. Penalty for unauthorized performance. (a) Persons authorized to solemnize marriages in this state include (1) all judges and retired judges, either elected or appointed, including federal judges and judges of other states who may legally join persons in marriage in their jurisdictions, (2) family support magistrates, state referees and justices of the peace who are appointed in Connecticut, and (3) all ordained or licensed members of the clergy, belonging to this state or any other state, as long as they continue in the work of the ministry. All marriages solemnized according to the forms and usages of any religious denomination in this state, including marriages witnessed by a duly constituted Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is, are valid. All marriages attempted to be celebrated by any other person are void.

The state law simply requires that:
1) the person be "ordained" or "licensed"
I have no earthly idea what "as long as they continue in the work of the ministry" means.
It sounds to me like all you need is a paper saying your officiant is ordained, and double check to make sure that the church through which your officiant becomes ordained belongs to the state of Connecticut. It will say on the church's website what states they "belong" to.

crlewis803

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_universal-life-church-ordained-process?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:dad61008-7b25-44b9-8732-d051364b69f4Post:27701cb3-fd9c-4599-8919-38048f85ea83">Re: Universal Life Church ordained process?</a>:
[QUOTE]Online ordinations aren't legal in my state.
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

Up until recently they weren't but they are now. I know several people (including cops, lol) who have been ordained online (most through the Universal Life Church). I've been to several weddings where a friend or family member got ordained online and they got their marriage license back with no problems.

<strong><font color="#00004d">"The laws of the State of North Carolina</font></strong> make it unnecessary for persons performing marriages to file credentials with the state, but <strong><em>you must hold a current and valid minister's license</em></strong> to perform such rites. In North Carolina, ordination or investment by the Church gives each clergy member the authority to perform the marriage rite. <em>Please note that some counties in North Carolina may require registration of minister credentials."

</em>In some counties you actually have to register your credentials and its about $32.00.

crlewis803

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_ceremony-ideas_universal-life-church-ordained-process?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:10Discussion:dad61008-7b25-44b9-8732-d051364b69f4Post:e4e134e8-2172-4ac5-9144-a9d40ac12030">Re: Universal Life Church ordained process?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Universal Life Church ordained process? : The devil is in the details of how they define 'clergy'.  Some states define it as a religious leader with a congregation, meaning online ordination isn't enough unless you start and register a church before performing the wedding.  Don't know if that's the case here, just saying it's a possibility. And if you go ahead and use online ordination in a place where it's not legal, it's often not caught until something calls the validity of the marriage into question (divorce, death, custody,etc).
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

It is tricky wording but I know one guy who is a cop double checked with a judge and a friend in the house and he said how they interpreted it was fine. You are right, it wouldn't be caught until something came into question. That being the case I could sign a marriage license today and it would be fine, unless something came up like the person didn't legally divorce and got married again. Then I could be charged but not the couple. Laws are tricky and hard to interpret sometimes. It hasn't been an issue in NC yet, but something my happen in the future. Some smaller counties require you to register but you can pay the fee and get sponsored by a church.

SMCsux

My sister's boyfriend did it (as he is performing our ceremony) and it was easy.  He just filled out the form, and had to pay for it and the letter of good standing.

Then we found out it's not legal in VA.  So he is being ordained through the state to be able to do our ceremony on the specific day.  Check your state and make sure it's legal.  But I do know the process is easy

KelaRenee

I was ordained online and performed my friends' wedding ceremony.  It depends on the state.  In Texas that's all you have to do. Some states have way stricter laws.

In fact, in Texas, the couple is still considered legally married as long as it was in good faith (meaning they believed that the person was a member of the clercy) even if the person who marries them is not clergy.