Internet ordinations invalid for weddings....

[noel711]

My husband today received a letter from the county seat (Doylestown) with a request for an affidavit of his ordination credentials; I probably have one waiting for me in my church office also.

Apparently, a judge in Lebanon ordered that marriages performed by non-credentialed ministers are invalid, illegal. "Non-credentialed clergy" is legalese for individuals who purchased their ordination on the internet.

This ruling might inpact hundreds of marriages performed in the state;
insurance benefits, health care benefits, bequests that were paid out to spouses united by an invalid minister might have to be paid back to the company that issued them.

Our culture has a time-honored tradition of 'common-law' spouses, those couples who have lived together for a period of time, even had children, and the state recognises this union as legal. However, it is when a ceremony is conducted publicly without a regulated official that things become fuzzy. Each state designates the officials who can officate at these proceedings: clergy, chaplains, mayors, judges, other public officials. Of course, these officials have guidelines they must adhere to so the ceremony is legal, binding and recogisable.

The basis for this legal ruling is that some so called 'ministers' operate without training, without a flock, without public knowledge of their role as clergy, but simply bought the title for the personal benefit either of themselves, or of a chosen few. Thus, their actions are determined as 'fraud.' This 'fraud' invalidates marriages performed under by the internet ministers.

There is a wide framework for how ministers are recognised by the state.

In some ways, this ruling may be a good thing; there are far too many mental cases out in the public who claim they are ministers, and who behave in deplorable ways, taking advantage of innocent and ignorant people. Many of these folks have absolutely no education or training; they grandstand for attention, make bizarre statements, and make the public view clergy as idiots. For example, the recent case of the suit again the WEstbrook Baptist Church in Kansas- these are the folks protesting the funerals of service people killed in Iraq. This irresponsible pastor who is fueling this firestorm is probably not educated nor credentialed by a mainline church with strict requirements for clergy.

Both my husband and I are ordained clergy in a mainline denomination with a decidely liberal view. Between the two of us we have 5 advanced degrees, and almost 40 years of experience in parishes, hospitals and community work. We are proud of our committment. But the world, and wider community are not always supportive.

[PhishWithLemon99]

1. PA no longer recognizes common-law marriage...nt

[happyslug]

2. Only if formed after January 1, 2005, if formed before that date still valid

n/t