I was ordained as a ULC minister in December of 2009 but never found the opportunity to do much with it. I live in the middle of one of the most conservative areas of one of the most conservative states in the country and liberalized religions are about as welcomed here as pot smoking hippies. I'm ashamed to say it but I often watched quietly as opportunities to help my community in a religious context slipped by without me even raising my voice.
Then, an interesting thing happened that made it impossible for me to stay out of the fight: the Supreme Court ruled on same-sex marriage and, suddenly, marrying a partner of the same sex was legal in Oklahoma. Suddenly, and seemingly out of nowhere, a religious battle like no other began brewing in my state and friends who knew I was ordained turned to me for help.
What role could I play. I asked. I'm just a dude with an ordination over the Internet! As I found out, that Internet ordination could help change peoples lives.
See, even though same-sex marriage is legal in Oklahoma, most couples still can't get married in their home churches, if they belong to one. That's because religious organizations still have the right (rightfully so) to decide which marriages they will perform and which they will not. That often means that a religious couple has to hold a decidedly non-religious wedding ceremoney standing in the courthouse before a Justice of the Peace.
As a ordained minister, I knew I could offer couples more. As a non-credal minister, I could offer them a religious ceremony of their choice and save them from the cold, impersonal, clutches of a state wedding. And that's exactly what I'm doing.
Thus far. I've performed 5 weddings since the ruling and I'm slated to perform another 3 this weekend. These ceremonies will range from completely non-religious to a decidedly Catholic themed ceremony that will see two men in their 60's joined together as husbands. I feel good about that. I feel good that I could offer these couples, who've suffered long and hard to get their rights, the comfort of getting married in a ceremony that is fitting for them and their unique views on life, love, and religion.
I'd like to encourage all ULC ministers to get into this fight as well. You have the ordination, USE IT FOR GOOD! Together, we can make a difference and, through that difference, we can change the world.
