#Universal life church ministers licence license

The Universal Life Church was incorporated in 1962 in Modesto, California.

The individual who solemnized the marriage of the Ravenals had received ordination from the ULC, which granted him the ability to solemnize marriages. This ruling was enforced in previous court cases such as in the case of O’Neill v. The religious freedom guaranteed to every American citizen by the constitution means that everyone has the right to be married by the minister of their chosen faith. The terms “clergymen” and “minister” were defined as anyone that has been given the authority to direct the spiritual or religious affairs of a church or synagogue. An “unincorporated church” is defined as a group or congregation of people that meet for religious worship or practice, but that has not been incorporated for that purpose. Case ProceedingsĪccording to the Religious Corporations Law, both traditional churches and denominations, as well as unincorporated churches and any groups that are formed for religious practice, are accepted. The location and date must also be included in addition to the fact that the contract must be acknowledged by a judge of a court within the same state. The marriage would also be considered valid if a written contract was signed by both parties along with two witnesses. The Domestic Relations Law states that a marriage is only valid if it has been solemnized by a minister or clergyman of any religion, by a mayor or city clerk, or by a justice or judge. The city clerk would have challenged the validity of the marriage had it occurred in the city, due to the fact that the person who solemnized the marriage had not registered his name or address in the city clerk’s office, which was required by the Domestic Relations Law.

#Universal life church ministers licence license

A marriage license was obtained from the city clerk of New York City. Cathy Linton Ravenal appeared in court but did not defend the marriage.Īccording to Richard Ravenal, the individual who solemnized the marriage was a guitarist and folk singer that was ordained as a minister by the Universal Life Church, a fact which both Cathy Linton Ravenal and Richard Ravenal were aware of. Ravenal asked the Supreme Court of New York County for an annulment of his marriage to Cathy Linton Ravenal on the grounds that the individual who solemnized the marriage was not authorized to do so. The outcome of this court case prevented ULC ministers from performing marriage ceremonies in New York County until it was later overturned.