Universal Life Church
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The Universal Life Church (or ULC) is a religious organization that offers anyone immediate ordination as a ULC minister free of charge. The organization states that anyone can become a minister immediately, without having to go through the pre-ordination process required by other religious faiths. This organization, its ordinations, and its honorary doctorates (many of which do not require fulfilling any academic course or standard of achievement), are not generally recognized by larger traditional churches.
History
The ULC was founded in 1959 under the name "Life Church" by the Reverend Kirby J. Hensley. Disappointed with the Pentecostal church, Hensley decided to venture on his own to find his religion. After five years of studying various religions, according to his own statements, Hensley concluded that the proper religion may differ for each man, and everyone is entitled to choose his or her own religion. No one should be criticized or condemned for wanting to practice the belief of his or her choice.
In 1959, Hensley, with the help of his new wife, Lida, moved to Modesto, California and founded the first Universal Life Church as "Life Church", later incorporating with the State of California on the 2 May 1962 as "Universal Life Church". Hensley served as the minister of the congregation and President of the Board of Directors until his death in 1999, at which time there were many independent branches of the ULC worldwide. The Modesto congregation grew rapidly over the years. The Church spread throughout the West Coast, and today claims to have congregations located all over the United States and parts of Canada and many other parts of the world. The organization also claims to have a membership of 22 million ULC ministers worldwide.
During the 1960s and 1970s, many people became ministers in the ULC because they believed that being a minister either would help keep them from being drafted into military service during the Vietnam War or would enable them to get income tax relief as members of the clergy. Both of these beliefs have always been false, as merely being ordained does not exempt one from being drafted and ministers as individuals receive no tax benefit, only churches themselves are tax exempt.
However, Ministers do have the choice of choosing not to pay social security taxes. However, once one has opted out of social security, they are never again allowed to receive social security benefits. Also, this law only applies to ministers whose income actually comes from religious services.
Ordination & ULC clergy
Actual ordination in the Universal Life Church is free, and what makes the ordination complete is its registry with the home church. People are drawn to the church for many different reasons. Some, including many who have already been ordained into the ranks of more traditional churches, join the ULC in order to express their support for the church's mission to preserve and protect freedom of religion.
Others become ordained in order to officiate at the wedding of a friend or loved one.
Many others have turned to the Universal Life Church for ordination after being denied by their own church due to their gender or sexual orientation.
Imitators have sprung up that charge a fee for ordination, either selling the free ULC ordination to unsuspecting new converts through sites like eBay, or by creating a knock-off of the ULC model in establishing similar churches.
Unlike most knock-off churches, the ULC holds weekly church services in a historic church building. ULC ministers are authorized by the church to officiate weddings and funerals, perform baptisms, hold services (also called meetings), and other sacraments and rites regularly performed by ordained members of clergy and part of the particular belief system the minister represents.
Beliefs
Dedicated ULC members state that they truly believe in freedom of religion. In other words, they want every member to be able to pursue their own spiritual beliefs without interference from the government, church agencies, or any other outside agency. Their one creed (or doctrine) is
| Do only that which is right. |
Controversy, criticism, lawsuits, and taxes
A major criticism of the ULC is that it accepts all peaceful religious beliefs, holds no views of its own, and is therefore not a "true" church. Various religious groups have spoken out against its practice of immediate ordination without any requirements, suggesting that such an ordination is not even worth the paper it is printed on. Supporters of "open ordination" point out that none of the founders of the world's major religions had advanced religious training. The disciples of Christ were mostly fishermen, for example. They also point to the Bible itself as authority, citing John 15:16 (KJV) as evidence that ordination has already been granted from God, from the beginning, and that the church merely records the ordination in the official records as a means by which worldly governments will acknowledge it.
John 15:16 - Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
In 2002 the Church sued the state of Utah regarding the legality of its Internet-based ordination process. Utah had passed a law banning ministers ordained by mail or over the Internet from officiating legal marriage. The court ruled in favor of the Church, declaring the statute unconstitutional and permanently barring the state from enforcing it, noting among other things that there is essentially no difference between an Internet-based application or mail-order application and one sent by courier, fax machine, phone, or done in person. Had the law been allowed to stand, it may well have had the unintended consequence of "defrocking" many ministers from traditional churches for purposes of officiating marriage, for the ULC is not the only church to conduct such business via U.S. mail.
The United States government was, for a period of time, concerned that perhaps the Church had been founded as a way for Hensley to avoid paying taxes. In 1985, the ULC began a series of court battles against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to prove its legitimacy as a church. The courts ruled that like any tax exempt organization, the ULC would qualify for exempt status year-by-year, based on its financial activities within the tax period. To which the ULC Headquarters was found to be tax exempt for some years and not in others.
Currently the ULC in Modesto does not participate in the IRS 501(c)3 designation program, relying instead on existing statutes to determine tax exempt status. Individual congregations of the ULC are independent legal entities. Exempt status must be independently established for each, without regard to the main church. Currently the two major sites outside of the ULCHQ (ULC Online and ULC Seminary) do not have 501(c)3 tax exemption with the IRS (The ULC Seminary has filed and is under review). Current exemption status for any one claiming to be a 501c3 group can be checked here.
It is important to note that since exemption does not apply to individual ministers, these IRS tax determinations regarding the ULC as an organization are largely moot for individuals. They are relevant only to those who wish to claim a deduction for sizeable donations.
Authority to Solemnize Marriage and Other Rites of the Church
A large number of people seeking ULC Ordination do so in order to be able to legally officiate at weddings or perform other spiritual rites. This aspect of the ULC has provided relief to interfaith couples experiencing difficulty in getting their union performed in a religious atmosphere. Some people living in remote areas also use their status as ordained ULC ministers to meet the marriage officiant needs of their communities.
Within the USA, all 50 states theoretically authorize ministers who are ordained and authorized by their church to officiate marriages. In most states, ordination as a minister is the only requirement for a minister to be able to officiate lawful weddings. Some states require additional documentation, such as a "letter of good standing" or that the minister present his or her credential of ordination and register. One state also requires that the minister must be a US citizen, and some states specify that the minister must be at least 18 years of age (although this is probably a presumed requirement in all states, since the minister will attest to a legal document). In Pennsylvania, individuals may solemnize their own marriages by obtaining a Quaker marriage license.
Some states do not even require actual ordination, but permit those who declare themselves to be ministers to officiate marriage. ULC Ministers wishing to perform legal weddings should refer to the local authority in the jurisdiction where the marriage is to occur for specific information about jurisdictional issues and requirements.
Outside of the USA, some countries are very liberal in this regard. Japan, for example, recognizes a person as a minister if they declare themself to be a minister, regardless of church affiliation. Many developing countries are also quite liberal in their restrictions and definitions.
On the other hand, several major countries are quite restrictive. In Canada, ULC ministers have been authorized to solemnize marriage only in a few local jurisdictions. In many other major countries, ULC ministers have no authority to solemnize lawful marriage. Some ministers avoid this complication by meeting requirements to solemnize a civil ceremony, which might include being registered as a notary public or a justice of the peace. In some places, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan, religion and government are one, and anyone caught promoting a religious practice outside of the government complex can be subjected to severe punishment.
No minister of any church may perform a legal marriage in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Couples often hold the religious ceremony in a church, at which a ULC minister can preside with equal authority to any other priest. The marriage becomes legally binding only when it is solemnized at a civil ceremony through the appointed government office.
The Universal Life Church authorizes its ordained ministers to perform weddings, baptisms, and funerals. They may hold meetings and/or services. The church allows its ministers to perform other rites and sacraments to fulfill the needs of the congregation as well. The church also has a course which qualifies its ministers to provide religious counseling upon completion.
Famous ULC ministers
- The Beatles (all four musicians)
- Art Bell (radio talk show host)
- Arthur Brown (British rock musician)
- Johnny Carson (TV personality)
- Ken Casey (Bassist for Dropkick Murphys)
- David Campos (entertainment personality)
- Bryan Cranston (actor best known for role as Hal on Malcolm in the Middle)
- Tony Danza (TV host/actor)
- Gerina Dunwich (author)
- Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top musician)
- Rich Greene (author)
- The Honky Tonk Man (professional wrestler)
- Jesse G. James (motorcyle builder/TV Host)
- Carson Kressley (Actor, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy)
- King Lizzard (musician)
- Courtney Love (musician)
- Russ Martin (Dallas/Fort Worth talk show host)
- Michael Newdow (atheist advocate)
- Jeff Probst (TV host)
- Jerry Reinsdorf (sports owner, has performed a marriage on the field at a Chicago White Sox game)
- Adam Savage (TV host)
- Sharon Stone (actress)
- Mike Tetrault (musician)
- Hunter S. Thompson (gonzo journalist)
- Richard Thomas (T.R.) Youngblood (Survival of the Richest)
- Danny Wallace (British comedian, ministry mentioned in his book "Yes Man")
- Wolfman Jack (radio DJ)
- J.R. Weitzman (Musician, personality)
Court cases involving the ULC's legal status
US Cases
- Universal Life Church v The United States of AmericaPDF The famous Judge Battin ruling for the ULC
- Universal Life v USA Another ULC vs IRS Case
Utah
- Universal Life Church vs. the State of Utah, 2002PDF -- Internet-based minister ordination declared valid
Virginia
- Cramer v Commonwealth of VirginiaPDF ULC not authorized to solemnize marriage
New York
- Ranieri v Ranieri (New York State)PDF ULC not authorized to solemnize marriage
- Ravenal v Ravenal (New York State)PDF ULC not authorized to solemnize marriage
- Rubino v City of New YorkPDF ULC not authorized to solemnize marriage
North Carolina
- Lynch v. Universal Life Church (North Carolina)PDF ULC not authorized to solemnize marriage
- Fulton v. Vickery (North Carolina)PDF ULC not authorized to solemnize marriage
- State of North Carolina v. LynchPDF ULC not authorized to solemnize marriage
- ULC marriages prior to July 3, 1981 are validated. (NC § 51-1.1.) Marriages solemized after July 3, 1981 are questionable in legality due to the above case law
Mississippi
- Blackwell v Magee (Mississippi)PDF ULC authorized to solemnize marriage
Opinions of Attorneys General Regarding the ULC's Legal Status
- Virginia Attorney General OpinionPDF
- Tenn. Attorney General Opinion 97-138PDF
- Tenn. Attorney General Opinion 97-041PDF
- Texas Attorney General Opinion on ULC ministers and exemptions from the Psychologists Licensing ActPDF
- South Carolina Office of the Attorney General Opinion 11 Jan 1971PDF
- South Carolina Office of the Attorney General Opinion 29 Mar 1973PDF
- Kentucky Office of the Attorney General Opinion 78-303PDF
- Washington State Office of the Attorney General Opinion 1971 No. 117PDF
