There is bit of an urban legend concerning becoming an ordained minister by filling out a form and sending it in.

Well, I am here to report that it is not an urban legend. As of this morning, February 6, I have become an ordained minister with the power to marry people, baptize kids (or adults) and absolve sins. You heard it: I am not a reverend of the Universal Life Church. And I did it for free.

The Universal Life Church apparently has ordained millions of folks since 1959. It’s theology is relatively simple, something we can all pretty much get down with: “Do only that which is right.”

While they charge money for a lot of bells and whistles, they will ordain you for free. You have to visit their site and agree to “do what is right”, (but they say that you are free to determine this for yourself). It is so post-modern it is silly. But nonetheless, they will then ordain you a minister, and you can get to starting your own church, marry people, do legit baptisms, and absolve every last one of the sins of every person you know. You can conceivably walk down the street absolving sins. There are articles online to let you know how to do all this officiating.

The website is here. Feel free to join, and get to the God’s, god’s, or gods’ work here on Earth.

Serenely,
Reverend William “Doc” Stodden