Post a Comment On: A Nod to Nothing

Well, most of my coworkers know about it already - I just couldn't keep quiet because I was so happy I finally went to the trouble to get ordained. In my defense, I can claim I waited so long because a.) I wanted to do it on Easter and b.) I wanted to do it on Erik's birthday. Waiting until they coincided was the big issue. But, all waiting aside, I am now an ordained reverend in the Universal Life Church, which boasts a monastery in Tucson, AZ. When I go to visit my parents this fall, I'll post a picture of me standing in front of it. Just getting ordained in Minnesota isn't enough to officiate at weddings, however - to do that, you have to file official paperwork with the county (so I actually had to spend $9.90 including shipping and handling of the signed certificate) and, as near as I can tell, your church has to have a physical structure and some way of meeting, even if it's just email or an online forum. Hence, my choice of a church that has both a church and a monastery, even thought it doesn't care what it is I'm advocating. When my official certificate gets here, I will be able to file with Dakota county so that I can perform weddings. Do I ever expect to perform a wedding. Not so much. But it's fun to know I can - I've been giving Erik ideas about how he needs a West Wing-themed wedding. Do I ever expect to tell someone who preaches to me about the Schiavo case(s) or any other morality issue, "In my capacity as a minster/reverend..." - heck yes (I would have said "hell yes" before, but I have a duty to my flock now).

So, give me about two weeks, and if you actually do need someone to officiate at a wedding, perform a baptism, whatever, I'll be good to go. Not that I'll know what I'm doing, but we can make it up as we go. Note that I am allowed to:
Perform funerals.Perform marriages.Start a congregation.Perform exorcisms: Universal Life Church Ministers are authorized to perform sacerdotal ceremonies including the rite of Exorcism, however in this particular practice of a rite or ritual there are additional aspects... Not that I have to believe in demons - but I can if I want to.By the way I have very little to do with people who are serious about being ordained - like this person, although if you do need some guidance regarding the tree of life, I know just enough to be really annoying - blame it on a liberal arts education at Hamline U - I met about 100 people just like this while I was attending writing classes there.[Image]