Universal Life Church
Religious organization which offers ordination to anyone / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Universal Life Church (ULC) is an American non-denominational religious organization founded in 1962 by Kirby J. Hensley,[3][4] under the doctrine: "Do that which is right". The Universal Life Church advocates for religious freedom, offering legal ordination to become a minister free of charge, to anyone who wishes to join. The ULC has ordained ministers from a wide range of backgrounds and beliefs, including atheists, Christians, Jews, Neopagans, Wiccans, and people of many other faiths.[5]
Universal Life Church | |
---|---|
Region | Worldwide |
Headquarters | Modesto, California, U.S.[1] |
Founder | Kirby J. Hensley |
Origin | May 2, 1962 Modesto, California, U.S. |
Members | 18,000,000+ ordained[2] |
The ULC's popularity stems in part from a rising interest in having friends or loved ones officiate weddings, a trend which has attracted a range of celebrities to become ordained including Stevie Nicks, Adele, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ian McKellen,[6] Conan O'Brien, and Steven Tyler, among others.[7] However, courts in Virginia have held that they will not recognize marriages solemnized by ULC ministers,[8] while eight states have specifically held such marriages to be valid, these being Alabama,[9] Illinois,[10] Mississippi,[11] Pennsylvania,[12] South Carolina,[13][14] Texas,[15] Utah,[16] and Washington.[17] The remainder have not addressed the issue.