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Tennessee State Attorney General's 1997 Opinion on ULC ministers
but first a word from the ULC ...
Mail order preacher ruling puts cloud over marriages NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A recent opinion by the state's attorney general has some Tennessee couples wondering if their marriages are legal. The marriages in question were performed by ministers of the Universal Life Church of Modesto, California. The church's mail-order ministry allows anyone, without a background check, to receive a certificate to be a minister. Dogs, dead persons and Death Row inmates have received such certificates. Last week, State Attorney General Knox Walkup concluded the certificate doesn't qualify the ministers under Tennessee law to perform marriages. And that started the phones ringing. "You can't imagine how many people have called and said, 'I don't know if I'm married,'" said spokewoman Sharon Flair. "There have been dozens and dozens of people. I've had Universal Life ministers calling saying, 'hey, I want to protest this.'" Jim Davis - hippie@multipro.com
Are You Really Married? 15 sep 97 A mix-up in Tennessee has some couples wondering whether they're really married. The Universal Life Church of Modesto, California has a mail-order ministry which allows anyone to receive a certificate to be a minister. "Anyone" has included dogs, death-row inmates and dead people in the past. The state attorney general has ruled that marriages performed by these mail-order ministers aren't legal in Tennessee. State Rep. Tim Burchett has asked for another opinion to clarify the legal position of anyone in Tennessee who was married by the Universal Life Church ministers.
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/House/Caucuses/Rep/press/012998.htm Legislation Approved to Clarify and Modernize Marriage Solemnization Laws The Domestic Relations Subcommittee approved legislation this week to clarify and modernize Tennessee marriage solemnization laws. The bill comes in the wake of an opinion issued by State Attorney General John Knox Walkup, that persons ordained by the non-denominational Universal Life Church do "not appear to meet the criteria" of Tennessee law to solemnize marriages. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Beth Halteman Harwell (R-Nashville). "It appears that a minister authorized to solemnize marriage must be ordained in conformity with the customs of a denomination and authorized to perform religious functions of that denomination," General Walkup wrote. "There is no indication that the legislature intended that a person who obtains a certificate of ordination solely by sending in a mail application and paying a fee, without providing any information or undergoing a background search, would be qualified to solemnize marriage." The Universal Life Church organization ordains individuals into their organization by mail order application and without a background check or further information. The Attorney General's opinion brought into question the legality of marriages performed by those ordained by the "mail order" organization. Under the bill adopted by the Subcommittee, those already married would be grandfathered in.
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/House/Caucuses/Rep/press/98preview.htm Mail-order Ministers -- In the wake of an opinion issued by State Attorney General John Knox Walkup, expect legislation to be introduced next session to clarify Tennessee's laws governing persons authorized to solemnize marriages. The Attorney General issued an opinion in September that persons ordained by the Universal Life Church do "not appear to meet the criteria" of Tennessee law to solemnize marriages. An estimated 40,000 weddings are performed each year in the booming tourist towns in the Smoky Mountains, where approximately one-third are predicted to be solemnized by mail-order ministers. The Attorney General's opinion brings into question the legality of marriages performed by those ordained by the "mail order" organization. Another opinion has been requested to help clarify this point. The Universal Life Church organization ordains individuals into their organization by mail order application and without a background check or further information. It has been said that dogs and even deceased persons have been ordained through this means. Tennessee does not recognize common law marriages that originate in the state. However, common law marriages from other states who do have laws recognizing their validity are acknowledged as legal. "It appears that a minister authorized to solemnize marriage must be ordained in conformity with the customs of a denomination and authorized to perform religious functions of that denomination," General Walkup wrote. "There is no indication that the legislature intended that a person who obtains a certificate of ordination solely by sending in a mail application and paying a fee, without providing any information or undergoing a background search, would be qualified to solemnize marriage." House Republican Contact: Rep. Tim Burchett, sponsor of bill to clarify
Contact: Rep. Tim Burchett
http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/House/Members/rep/burchett/090597.htm Burchett Calls for Study into Marriage Laws (NASHVILLE) -- In the wake of an opinion issued by State Attorney General John Knox Walkup, Representative Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville) today called for research into Tennessee's law governing persons authorized to solemnize marriages. The Attorney General issued an opinion on Tuesday that persons ordained by the Universal Life Church do "not appear to meet the criteria" of Tennessee law to solemnize marriages. The Attorney General's opinion brings into question the legality of marriages performed by those ordained by the "mail order" organization. "We certainly need to look at Tennessee law to make sure that the public is protected in such cases," Burchett said. "I am asking our legal staff to research the matter and offer any legislative solutions." Burchett requested an opinion after concern was expressed that the Universal Life Church organization ordains individuals into their organization by mail order application and without a background check or further information. It was brought to Burchett's attention that dogs and deceased persons have been ordained through this means. "It is my understanding that even a death row inmate has been ordained by this organization," Burchett continued. "This is a travesty." Tennessee does not recognize common law marriages that originate in the state. However, common law marriages from other states who do have laws recognizing their validity are acknowledged as legal. "It appears that a minister authorized to solemnize marriage must be ordained in conformity with the customs of a denomination and authorized to perform religious functions of that denomination," General Walkup wrote. "There is no indication that the legislature intended that a person who obtains a certificate of ordination solely by sending in a mail application and paying a fee, without providing any information or undergoing a background search, would be qualified to solemnize marriage." contact: Darlene Schlicher (615) 741-1975
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