Universal Life Church

An interesting case in Arizona has determined that in a divorce, one parent can make the decision to send children to a religious school. Plaintiff Gerald Romine argued that it was unfair for his children to be subjected to the religious education of their mother’s choice; an education he opposed.

A family court judge ruled that the plan the couple agreed to when they got divorced allows each parent to raise the children in the church or faith of their choice.

But the trial judge said that school time belongs to neither parent and should be “theologically neutral time.” And he agreed with Romine that putting the children in a religious school chosen by the mother interferes with his rights.

[Appellate Judge Daniel Barker] said that conclusion was wrong.

“What the father’s argument does not accommodate is that each parent has a constitutional right to the upbringing of his or her own child,” Barker said. When there are disagreements, the judge continued, the court can step in.

(EVT)

Judge Barker’s ruling has sent the case back to the trial judge, and has asked that the case be evaluated solely on the best interest of the children. This eliminates any notion of preserving “theologically neutral time” for the children.

- East Valley Tribune

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Bill Moeller of Lewis County, Washington has officiated hundreds of weddings in his 30+ years as a minister of the Universal Life Church. In a recent article Moeller tells all about his experiences.

One highlight:

the bride’s mother and three other women showed up dressed in frog costumes (like Kermit) and sang a quartet arrangement of “The Rainbow Connection.” It was actually very tender, and the last I heard that marriage was still intact.

(LCC)

And on an opposite note:

There was an instance in the Lewis and Clark State Park where the bride was an hour and 45 minutes late. She blithely tossed off a “sorry” and went on as if nothing had happened. I didn’t give that marriage much of a chance of surviving.

(LCC)

- The Lewis County Chronicle

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

A medicinal marijuana farmer in Lake County, California was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Monday, May 18th. Charles “Eddy” Lepp, who is 56 years old, was arrested in 2004 with 32,000 marijuana plants growing on his property.

Lepp was operating within the parameters of California State Law (not Federal Law), and is a practicing member of the Rastafarian Church, using marijuana in accordance with his religious beliefs. The U.S. District Judge presiding over the trial, Justice Marilyn Hall Patel, rejected Lepp’s argument for religious freedom.

[Justice Patel] didn’t think the defendant had been candid with the court because he didn’t display a depth of knowledge about Rastafarianism.

“I was in the Rastafarian church since 1998,” Lepp said.

“I’m talking now,” Patel answered.

(Law.com)

We take strong objection to the dismissal of Lepp’s religious defense. There is no clause in the First Amendment that gives the government the authority revoke Lepp’s religious freedom simply because of doubt in authenticity of his religious beliefs. It is not possible for the government to read the mind of a defendant in order ascertain their religious sincerity. So long as an individual’s religious practices are inflicting no harm, where is the crime?

Patel gave Lepp until July 6 to report to prison and said she would reconsider the sentence if Congress changed the law, which requires a 10-year term for growing at least 1,000 marijuana plants.

(SFC)

Admitting that the punishment for Lepp’s crime is “excessive,” Justice Patel explained that she is bound by Federal sentencing guidelines.

-Law.com
-San Francisco Chronicle

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Well known author Laura Lippman recently (Thursday, May 14th) made an appearance on The Late Show With Craig Ferguson, where she was coaxed into discussing, among other things, her recent ULC wedding.

“Yeah, well, I’ll tell the story because it was outed in the newspaper,” she said. “We tried to keep it secret. John Waters was my minister. He married us.”

(BS)

Lippman and her husband David Simon were married by John Waters; you might recognize Waters from our list of Famous ULC Ministers. Affectionately known as the “Pope of Trash,” Waters has been performing marriages for about 20 years, though he is best known for his controversial films.

Both Lippman and Simon and are prominent authors, and former Baltimore Sun reporters.

Congratulations Laura and David!

-Baltimore Sun

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

By: Br. Daniel Chapin, ULC Monastery Vice-President

Since 1977, the Universal Life Church Monastery has sought to empower both visitors and current colleagues alike with opportunities to legally engage in and oversee the ministries of their choosing. We have done so successfully to date. And, we are Proud & Honored to learn of the numerous Ministries currently being run all over the World by you the ULC Minister.

Perhaps the most Daunting & Powerful call in Ministry is when one is requested to Officiate over a couple’s Wedding Day Ceremony. To a large degree, most of those who seek out our Ordination services do so with the intent to do just that. Indeed, for all of our duties as Ministers, regardless of our Denomination, the opportunity to play such an integral and intimate role in a couple’s love story truly can stand out as the most daunting and yet rewarding of services.

We here at the ULC Monastery provide on our Main Site, and through other venues, as much direction as possible to empower you to perform such a duty. We offer Study Guides & Limited Information on Various State Legal Requirements of a Wedding Officiator, etc…

This message seeks to empower & encourage you on an even higher level. Think of it as not so much a message about Officiating over a Wedding alone; but, more so, a message about growing and grasping the importance of providing personal attention to the couple before you and, hence, increase the quality of your service as a whole. I have included some Wedding Ceremony Semantics of course, some of which may be redundant; but more so, I have hoped to provide you with more intimate, less well known details which truly deserve attention when it comes to providing Wedding Ceremony Officiating services. This is done as a service to you, the ULC Minister – That as you journey down the alter with your couple you & they will find it truly blessed.

One critical aspect of Officiating over a couple’s Marriage is planning the actual ceremony details with them. Many couple’s will come to you, the Officiant, with at least some idea of what they desire to include in their wedding day ceremony. Ask them – Listen to them… One mistake many Officiants make in this process is simply providing a list of Ceremonial options such as Readings, Vows & other Ceremonial Semantics like the Unity Candle Ceremony or the Sand Pouring Ceremony, etc.. They provide the options, ask the couple to select from this list and then that is simply where it ends. This has its place. Options provided to a couple are a good start to allow couples an opportunity to get their “Creativity Flowing.” However, do not Box a couple in. Ask them what they are dreaming and thinking of when it comes to their ceremony. What is the theme? Where is it to be held? You will find that most couples, particularly the Bride to be, have been planning their wedding day in their minds for quite some time.

You are encouraged to tailor the ceremony to each couple’s individual Love Story. Get to know your couple. How did they meet? Where Did They Meet? How did the Groom to Be Propose? How can these truths possibly be incorporated into the ceremony message for example? These are all ways to develop the ceremony that each couple both desires and deserves.

More so, you are encouraged in this because truly you must realize that you have a unique opportunity as a couple’s wedding Officiant to Minister to the two that have come before you. Take interest in them, encourage them, and share with them. If you do these things you will find that they will appreciate your services even more. And, they will surely remember their special day that much more because of the personableness you provided. They have come to you not simply for you to sign a legal document. If that was their primary focus, well they could do that at the County Court.

Take your role seriously and personally.

Some other ways to increase in your Officiation services is to offer when possible a “Back-up” Wedding Officiant. Create alliances and open communications with other Wedding Officiants and Services in your area. Address those often unasked questions which might rest on the mind of the Bride & Groom to Be. For example, what happens if you, the Officiant, face an emergency and are struck by lightning the day of their wedding ceremony. Will they still be Wed?

Additionally, I always encourage Officiants to provide couple’s with a “Script” of their Wedding Day Ceremony prior to the Wedding Day or Rehearsal. This outlines all the ceremonial details that have been selected by the couple and further assures them that you understand their desires for their wedding day ceremony. Also, when a potential couple comes to you to Officiate over their ceremony, do not be afraid to lose their business. This is to say that you want to encourage a couple to find their perfect match when it comes to their ceremony. Yes, you wish to service them. However, you will find that if you present your services and then give them time to decide and even look around at other Officiants, they will more than likely return to you.

A little elaboration. Years ago, the Superstore Macy’s began a campaign which caused their business to Skyrocket! Mr. Macy told all his store associates that should they not carry an item that a customer was looking for, then they should help the customer find it elsewhere. Imagine – Sending a customer to another store!!! Hmmmm…

This created trust and loyalty… Do you see?

So many other details can be imparted to you as you seek to Officiate over a couple’s wedding, but I close for now with perhaps the most important aspect of this message…. As you seek to Officiate, search your heart sense, not simply your business sense. Do you believe in what you are doing? Do you understand its significance? Do you grasp the impact you will potentially have on a couple’s memory, much less on the memory of their family and friends? Love-The greatest of all things…

In a world which far too often falls in and out of love, you have an opportunity to set a couple on the right path to a lifetime of Growing, Not simply Falling in Love…..

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Minister David Niles of Ahwatukee, Arizona has made the decision to move into the growing industry of pet funerals. As a well respected minister in the community, Niles does not take the sacrament of last rites lightly – he aims to properly tailor the ceremony to the family and the pet.

the pet funerals services will be written to fit the pet and the family’s wishes, whether it be a “religious, secular, serious or humorous”.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all,” he said. “Each funeral is structured the way the family wants; each is unique.”

(AZC)

Niles has officiated thousands of weddings over the last 25 years and views the change in services as a natural transition.

he says, celebrating a pet’s life and acknowledging the bond between pet owner and pet is important, and not viewed as a trivial matter.

(AZC)

Best of luck in the continuation of your ministry Niles.

- AZ Central

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

As the popularity of Apple Computers’ iPhone continues to grow (you might remember the iBreviary app), more and more religious themed apps are getting published. And of course Apple reserves the right to strictly enforce its terms of service; the latest app to get the boot was entitled Me So Holy.

The Me So Holy app allowed users to snap photos of faces – using the camera on their iPhone – then superimpose those faces upon the bodies of holy figures. On Monday, Apple deemed that Me So Holy contained “objectionable material.”

Developer Benjamin Kahle commented on Apple’s reaction:

“We feel that Apple is being too sensitive to its perceived user group and are disappointed that this otherwise creative, freethinking company would reject such a positive and fun application,” Kahle wrote in his blog. “The message to developers is that they should think inside the box, rather than outside it.”

(Wired)

Is Apple stifling the creativity of potential developers? Some think that Apple’s reaction is completely justified:

My thoughts? I agree with Apple on this action. It also suggests a bit of anecdotal evidence for our self-indulgent, narcissistic, “look at me” generation. Transposing one’s face onto that of Christ’s is perhaps the ultimate expression of self-worship.

(HB)

Let us know what you think!

- Wired
- Houston Belief

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The Daily Astorian took the opportunity to recognize a phenomenal member of their community yesterday. Kevin Violette, who has built his life as jack of all trades, currently works as a substitute high school teacher in Astoria. Violette’s travels have lead him all over the world – traveling to Germany to study language and returning to the US to teach English as a Second Language programs.

An ordained minister in the Universal Life Church, Violette performs marriage ceremonies for friends and acquaintances. He’s performed about 20 ceremonies now.

“It’s always a good time,” he said. “Sometimes I play music after.”

(DA)

His quest for adventure and diversity led Violette to the interfaith Universal Life Church. We hope to see you join our congregation – who knows where your ministry could take you!

- The Daily Astorian

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

In Capistrano Valley, California a high school student recently won a law suit filed against history teacher James Corbett. The student at Capistrano Valley High School, Chad Farnan, alleged that Corbett made remarks critical of Christianity, and did not maintain a neutral status toward religion in the classroom.

The lawsuit [contended], among other things, that Corbett told students during class that “when you put on your Jesus glasses, you can’t see the truth”; said that religion is not “connected with morality”; compared Christians to “Muslim fundamentalists” who want women to “stay pregnant, barefoot, and in the kitchen and have babies until your body collapses”; and suggested that churchgoers are more likely to commit rape and murder.

(LAT)

All but one of Corbett’s comments were ruled to be within the parameters of The First Amendment when taken in the appropriate context, however the judge ruled in favor of Farnan.

In his ruling, the judge said he tried to balance the rights of both parties. “The court’s ruling reflects the constitutionally permissible need for expansive discussion, even if a given topic may be offensive to a particular religion,” he said. “The decision also reflects that there are boundaries. The ruling protects Farnan, but also protects teachers like Corbett in carrying out their teaching duties.”

(Guar.)

Corbett still teaches at Capistrano Valley High School. You can read his rebuttal here:
http://open.salon.com/blog/corribean/2009/05/09/dr_james_jesus_glasses_corbett

- Los Angeles Times
- Guardian
- Salon.com

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Rev. Mike Marcinkowski of Pella, Iowa has decided to step down from his volunteer assistant coaching position for the Central College’s track and field team. At 62 years old and working with a recent hip replacement, he felt himself slowing down a bit, though not enough for him to give up his job as Pella’s Chief of Police.

After coaching nine seasons, Marcinkowski has earned himself a sterling reputation among both students and townspeople; his dedication to the community is unrivaled. Last year two of his former student athletes got married and of course their coach was there. In fact, thanks to the Universal Life Church, Marcinkowski was able to perform the ceremony.

“I had one minister come up to me and say, ‘What church are you from?’ ” Chief says. “It was kind of embarrassing. I said, ‘None, but thank you.’ I must have done all right.”

Honestly? He’s done a whole lot better than that.

(DMR)

- Des Moines Register

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•