I just want to let everyone know that several minutes ago I received my official certification as a Reverend from the Universal Life Church on-line. I am now legally certified to conduct weddings, etc.
So… I expect you all to address me as the Reverend Christopher S. Laughlin from now on.
Thank you,
Chris
P.S. - If anyone needs to be married, I’ll do it cheaply and throw in some flute playing for free!
Been there…done that…many years ago.
You should have posted a link to the Universal Life Church so everyone can be so endowed.
Cheers,
Rev. David de la Barre
lol that is so sad…
Reverend Laughlin, make sure you have followed all the local ordinances about registering yourself and so forth before committing to performing any weddings. Your ordination alone is not sufficient in most jurisdictions.
Congratulations and Best Wishes,
Reverend McCabe
Mazel Tov! Do they offer an online Rabbinate too?
Hey Chris, did you know Skip Healy is also a reverend?
Congratulations all.
Now, for a wee lesson in forms of address, according to my holy book of some years ago, the Associated Press Stylebook.
Your correct title is “THE Rev. So-and-so.” Should you also hold a Ph.D., you are “the Rev. Dr. Thus-and-such.” AP considers “reverend” to be a description as much as a title.
Thus endeth the first lesson.
M 
Hey Rev,
I haven’t been keeping up with our Ruuummmmbble thread. Does this mean our side can now be blessed and ours become a holy calling. We can adopt Dylan’s song “With God on Our Side” as our anthem.
jim
On 2003-01-26 20:20, brewerpaul wrote:
Mazel Tov! Do they offer an online Rabbinate too?
Hey Paul! I can beat my sister to ordination!
mee too! Although I haven’t sent away for all the official stuff (certificate, etc…).
Before everyone gets carried away, if you have children think hard before you get ordained. I’m a Pastor’s son, and believe me, everything they say about Pastors’ sons is true!
I second that fatveg! I am a PK (Priest’s Kid/Pastor’s Kid) as well and it’s not fun. I was actually a fairly well-behaved PK, maybe because my dad also was the Chief of Police (yes, an Episcopal priest and a cop at the same time). So I really had high expectations to live up to! Fortunately I am also the youngest of six, so my siblings had pretty much done it all before.
Beth
I checked the website. Anybody
can become an ordained minister
in 3 minutes, regardless of what
they believe, etc. I know they’ve
been around for a long while,
since the 60s. I’m curious,
why are they doing this? Best
As I understand, It was started during the depression (or after?) so that people could easily form churches for some type of exemption. It has been a long time since I was told about it so I don’t really remember the exact details.
-Paul
jeez rev., I sure hope you did not give them your real name and address. I hope if the FBI shows up at your door, they do not affiliate you with the C&F board, I’d hate to see it shut down!
I just finished a search about these guys on the internet, it was really scary!! Run away, run far away!!
Cheryl
That’s interesting. Checked the
website further. They say there are
discounts to ministers, lower insurance
rates. They will help you find wealth,
happiness, sex, and love. And they
have a pop up when you try to exit
offering a special discount on
a course they’re teaching for
ministers.
‘No requirements or
commitments ever.’ Just
what a minister needs!
On 2003-01-26 19:42, ChrisLaughlin wrote:
I just want to let everyone know that several minutes ago I received my official certification as a Reverend from the Universal Life Church on-line.
As have many a poodle dog and parakeet. 
I am now legally certified to conduct weddings, etc.
As the law stands in Oklahoma, and probably many other places, it isn’t a matter of having an ordination certificate as much as having a congregation that is the requirement. A signed document (which need not be a certificate of ordination) from your church or religious organization that says you are clergy, must be filed at the county courthouse. And when you sign the marriage license you must give the address of the congregation where you are minister.
The ULC credential is relatively worthless, as, if you have your own congregation, they can issue you credentials (a church need not be incorporated to be recognized by the government), and it will be honored much more readily than ULC credentials ever will be.
On 2003-01-26 20:20, brewerpaul wrote:
Mazel Tov! Do they offer an online Rabbinate too?
Indeed they do. For a small fee they will ordain you any title you want: shaman, archdeacon, druid, evangelist, whatever.
On 2003-01-26 20:42, fatveg wrote:
Before everyone gets carried away, if you have children think hard before you get ordained. I’m a Pastor’s son, and believe me, everything they say about Pastors’ sons is true!
I was a pastor’s son, too, till I became a missionary’s son.
On 2003-01-26 21:26, jim stone wrote:
I checked the website. Anybody
can become an ordained minister
in 3 minutes, regardless of what
they believe, etc.
Adventist, Satanist, makes them no difference.
I know they’ve
been around for a long while,
since the 60s. I’m curious,
why are they doing this? Best
Someone said that Hensley was opposed to the institution of the ordained ministry and wished to make it meaningless by bestowing ordination on everybody. Whether this is true or not, it gave him a bit of fame, and a source of income.
Chris…I hope the name “Laughlin” will maintain it’s high and lofty status, and not get inadvertently mispronounced now.
If the Universal Life Church has Christian proclivities at all, I would encourage you to acquaint thyself with the scriptures. May I suggest one to get you started?
TITHING: “And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong liquor, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth..” Deut.14:26
Please be careful with your flock, and with the IRS for non-reporting of all your new and generous income . Ministers are exempt (at least I think they still are).
(The Reverend Brother’s Jig–is one of my favorites)
[ This Message was edited by: Lorenzo on 2003-01-27 03:23 ]
On 2003-01-27 02:31, Lorenzo wrote:
Please be careful with your flock, and with the IRS for non-reporting of all your new and generous income . Ministers are exempt (at least I think they still are).
Churches and other nonprofit organizations are tax exempt, but ministers must pay taxes just like everyone else in the USA.
Yes…you are right!
FAQ on Ministers and Taxes:
http://www.turbotax.com/articles/FAQonMinistersandTaxes.html#How_Is_a
How Is a Minister’s Income Taxed?
If you’re a minister, you pay taxes on the income you receive while performing the duties of the ministry. This income includes salary, offerings, and fees (such as those for performing marriages, funerals, and baptisms)—and the rental value of the parsonage or a housing allowance.
Income that you receive from salary, offerings, and fees is subject to federal income tax and the Social Security tax, which means that it will be reported on the W-2 that you receive from your church
(Chris-please don’t charge for baptisms! where do we get in line? BTW, I posted a thread on swimming, drinking wine, and flute playing…in the Flute Forum)