Yes, it's true, and no, it's not a joke. I am, in fact, an ordained minister, legally empowered to perform weddings, baptisms and funerals. Pretty much anyone can get themselves ordained.The Universal Life Church grants the honor for free to anyone who asks, and they take your word that you really wish to accept the responsibilities of the title.
I thought about this for quite a while before deciding to get ordained, and I don't take this position lightly. While I would prefer to keep my duties casual, I would certainly be willing to perform commitment ceremonies, reaffirmation of vows, memorial services, dedications or other informal services. Feel free to ask, I'd be happy to discuss it with you.
So, you may ask, why would an avowed atheist want to be a minister? That does seem to be a bit of a contridiction, doesn't it?
The answer is that many of the duties and responsibilities that come with being a minister don't necessarily have anything to do with any specific church, or even a belief in a deity. Many of these functions can also be performed by judges and other legal administrators designated by law. These are the duties and responsibilities that have evolved within our social structures. And while many of the traditions may have been based in religion, the vast diversity of human faith has created a need for a way to carry out the social services in a traditional way, without conforming to any specific religious doctrine. In other words, atheists and agnostics get married too.
In the near future I will be adding content to this page that will further outline my philosophy, my feelings about life and society, and links to other sites with related content and material. If you have some interest in using my services as a minister, or would like to discuss any of this with me, I invite you to send an e-mail using the link below.
