Region Worldwide Official website themonastery.org | Brother George Freeman Ministers 20 million (2011) | |
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Origin 1959Modesto, California Headquarters | ||
The Universal Life Church Monastery is a non-denominational interfaith ministry that is primarily known for its online ordination program, which allows individuals to preside over weddings, baptisms, and funerals across the United States depending on state and county laws. George Freeman is president of the Seattle, Washington-based ministry. It claims to have ordained 20 million ministers.
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History
The Universal Life Church Monastery was founded in 1977 as an offshoot of the Universal Life Church. The church first established a website that allowed individuals to apply for ordination in 1995. Universal Life Church Monastery formally split from the Modesto-based Universal Life Church in 2006 following financial and legal disputes between the two bodies. Universal Life Church Monastery then began ordaining ministers through its own website.
Beliefs
Universal Life Church Monastery's mantra is "We are all children of the same universe." It also has two core tenets:
The monastery's stated mission is to ordain anyone regardless of their spiritual or religious denomination. It does not have a physical building that serves as a house of worship, and conducts ordination through its website. According to the church, ordination allows its ministers to perform marriages, funerals, baptisms, and exorcisms. It provides ordination services free of charge.
Notable ministers of the Universal Life Church
Notable ministers of ULCM have included Glenn Beck, Richard Branson, Doris Day, Kathy Griffin, Hugh Hefner, John Lennon, Conan O’Brien, Debbie Reynolds,Joan Rivers, Jason Segel, Kevin Smith and Stephen Colbert.