The Reverend Dr. John Amicus Cole, Ph.d Metaphysics (you'll love this one)

[amicus]

Several months ago my son and his fiance' decided to marry, but they did not wish a church wedding or a religious ceremony.

They wanted a very romantic setting alongside a river deep in the Oregon forest. Well, a Justice of the Peace was not to be had at a reasonable price so they were just going to the courthouse and speak the vows. That also had a fee attached and other paraphenalia of which they wanted no part.

They then then sought out a Wiccan Priestess, (what the hell ever that is) who also wanted a hefty fee and insisted upon marriage counselling sessions, (at a price, of course), to which my son said no, huh!

So my 'soon to be' daughter in law went on line, typed in my particulars and by instant email reply, I became an ordained minister. Imagine my surprise!

For an additional $14.95, they provided a certificate of ordainment and one, (count em) marriage certificate. They also will charter a church for another $25.00 but the gasser was a Dr's degree (several choices of title) for an additional $35.00 US.

Thus on Tuesday last, at 2pm on a bright and sunny day on the Oregon coast, in our front yard, I performed a wedding ceremony. Not the most professional demeanor, mind you, (gimme a break), but one young lady in the wedding party said, and I quote: "That was a beautiful ceremony!" I'll take her word for it, I was a little tongue tied here and again as it was all ad-lib.

Thought you might enjoy that.

The Rev, Dr. John Amicus Cole Ph.d

(chuckles)

 

[shereads]

Are donations to your church tax-deductible? More importantly, can you intervene with the Lord on behalf of your financial supporters?

 

[oggbashan]

Well done, and welcome to the Church.

I too am an internet ordained Reverend in my real name and I am also ordained as Jeanne D'Artois - which might cause some confusion. I am not the only one in the AH.

Real life Og would marry anyone but it isn't legal in the UK. 3 miles off the coast is possible and boat hire can be arranged. The groom has to row if it is a really low-cost affair.

Jeanne is also available for lesbian marriages.

What really matters for you is that you provided what the couple wanted. That's what the best fathers are for.

The twice reverend Og, but not as Og. Og as Og, King of Bashan was Head of his own religion, and as Henry VIII was Head of the Church of England. If you didn't like my old-fashioned religion - you lost your head.

Today I'm much more reasonable. Excommunication can be arranged...

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Does this honestly qualify you under that state's law to legally "solemnize" the marriage?

Does this confirm that Objectivism is indeed, a cult?

"By the authority invested in me by the divine Rand, I hereby pronounce you partners in an honest trade."

(Actually, that's a pretty good basis for a solid long term relationship. )


Congrats, by the way. (To the newlyweds, that is. )

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I won't say my real name (damn near had it shared with everyone on the Net anyway recently), but, yes, I too am ordained. Next thing that you know, you can be admitted to the Masonic lodges too. Well, once they can be persuaded that you believe in a Supreme Being after all. Becoming a Reverend shouldn't hurt there. I wouldn't mind becoming a Mason, mainly because they need a few more Pagans in their ranks to further increase Pat Robertson's paranoia about them. I think that Pagans are accepted into lodges, though I could be wrong about that. Anway, welcome to the organized religion racket, er, I mean profession, Ami.

Aside from the atheism thing, you always did remind me of a preacher. All of the talk about moral absolutes and such.

 

[AngeloMichael]

Does this confirm that Objectivism is indeed, a cult?

I thought Terry Goodkind's booksales had all ready done that.

 

[amicus]

Thanks to all and yes, something to do with the freedom of religion, constitutional guarantee and all that, the state of Oregon recognizes the ceremony only requiring the ordaining authority be identified which was done forthwith.

Happy to know of others and pleased that Ogbashan chimed in, Og, now if I can just get Knighted! What would the title be then? grins....


amicus...

 

[oggbashan]

Thanks to all and yes, something to do with the freedom of religion, constitutional guarantee and all that, the state of Oregon recognizes the ceremony only requiring the ordaining authority be identified which was done forthwith.

Happy to know of others and pleased that Ogbashan chimed in, Og, now if I can just get Knighted! What would the title be then? grins....


amicus...

I am an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church of Modesto, California - http://ulc.net

Anyone else can become ordained by that Church. All you have to do is to promise to do the right thing...

As for knighthood? There is a real difficulty for a US citizen. All the UK orders of Knighthood have to swear allegiance to the Crown, the reigning Monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Before a US citizen can be knighted they have to have Presidential AND Royal approval to waive the allegiance except as a matter of form.

However, becoming a Scottish Laird = Lord, is much easier. All you have to do is own some land in Scotland. There are companies that will sell you a square foot of Scottish land. With the deed of ownership in your possession, you are entitled to describe yourself as a Laird.

You can become a Knight through the First Aid organisation St John but it takes many years of service to rise to the level of Knight.

There are the American re-enactment societies that have knights...

Og

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Congratulations, Ami, on the wedding and your ordainment

We had a friend marry us who was also an Internet-ordained minister... but he actually used to preach fire and brimstone until he became a born-again pagan... imagine that... we didn't get him when he was all hellfire and damnation... too bad, could have been fun...

sounds like you did good, ole man...