Universal Life Church Monastery
| Universal Life Church Monastery | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Non-denominational |
| Brother | George Freeman |
| Region | Worldwide |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington |
| Origin | 1959 Modesto, California |
| Separated from | Universal Life Church |
| Ministers | 20 million (2011)[1][not in citation given] |
| Official website | themonastery |
The Universal Life Church Monastery is a non-denominational interfaith ministry that is primarily known for its online ordination program, which allows individuals to preside over weddings, baptisms, and funerals across the United States depending on state and county laws.[1][2] George Freeman is president of the Seattle, Washington-based ministry.[3][4] It claims to have ordained 20 million ministers.[2]
Contents
History
The Universal Life Church Monastery was founded in 1977 as an offshoot of the Universal Life Church. The church first established a website that allowed individuals to apply for ordination in 1995.[5] Universal Life Church Monastery formally split from the Modesto-based Universal Life Church in 2006 following financial and legal disputes between the two bodies.[3] Universal Life Church Monastery then began ordaining ministers through its own website.[1]
Beliefs
Universal Life Church Monastery's mantra is "We are all children of the same universe."[6] It also has two core tenets:
- Do only that which is right.[6]
- Every individual is free to practice their religion in the manner of their choosing, as mandated by the First Amendment, so long as that expression does not impinge upon the rights or freedoms of others and is in accordance with the government's laws.[6]
The monastery's stated mission is to ordain anyone regardless of their spiritual or religious denomination.[7][8] It does not have a physical building that serves as a house of worship, and conducts ordination through its website.[7] According to the church, ordination allows its ministers to perform marriages, funerals, baptisms, and exorcisms.[2] It provides ordination services free of charge.[2]
Notable ministers of the Universal Life Church
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Notable ministers of ULCM have included Glenn Beck,[9] Richard Branson,[10] Doris Day,[9] Kathy Griffin,[11] Hugh Heffner,[12] John Lennon,[12] Conan O’Brien,[13] Debbie Reynolds,[12]Joan Rivers, Jason Segel,[9] and Kevin Smith.[9]
Legal Status of ULCM ordinations
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Throughout its history Universal Life Church Monastery has been a party to multiple court cases in the United States on both the federal and state level over the validity of its ordinations.
In 1988, the Mississippi Supreme Court upheld the marriage of a couple in that state by a Universal Life Church minister.[14] A United States District Court ruled in 2002 that a Utah statute declaring Universal Life Church ordinations invalid was unconstitutional.[15] A judge in Bucks County, Pennsylvania affirmed the validity of a marriage performed by a minister of the church in 2008.[16]
Some state courts have invalidated marriages performed by Universal Life Church ministers. A 1974 decision by the Supreme Court of Virginia invalidated marriages performed by Universal Life Church members.[17] Multiple cases in New York have invalidated marriages performed by church ministers in that state,[18][19] but New York Supreme Court's Appellate Division ruled in Oswald v. Oswald (2013) that "genuine issues of fact" remain as to whether Universal Life Church ministers have authority to solemnize marriages under New York law and remanded the case to the state Supreme Court for further adjudication.[20]
See also
References
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External links
