Another hypothetical question

[genxmomma]

So I am seeing that a few of you gals are ordained and are able to perform wedding ceremonies.  My question is-
"If any of you are any where near NY would you perform my wedding for me?"

It's hypothetical because a.) I'm not technically engaged, and b.)even if I was we have no plans or date or anything set so I'm just curious.
I have always wondered who I would get to perform our ceremony because we are both Atheists.  I know that even our local JP uses christian references in his weddings.  Also, just because we're not religious doesn't mean we don't want our wedding to be meaningful.  It would be nice to find someone with similar beliefs to marry us if and when we ever do get married.  (We've been together for 13 years and have 3 kids together, by the way.  So you can see how hypothetical this is right?)
Thanks, just curious!

[BigMommaJesca]

I would, but I'm nowhere NEAR NY anymore.  I might go visit upstate for my 10 yr reunion in 2010, and if I do, I could maybe make a side trip out to see you!  :-P

I'd totally perform it for you...but...I know that Texas recognizes ministers of Universal Life Church as capable of performing wedding ceremonies, but I don't know about other states.

On that note, though, if you could find someone you know that you think would fit the bill, THEY could go to http://www.themonastery.org/ and get ordained.  (Seriously.  You can become an ordained minister on the internet.  I've married 2 couples that way.) 

[genxmomma]

Thanks I knew that you could get ordained this way, I just didn't know where to look!  That's cool, maybe I'll get ordained and start performing ceremonies myself!  There have to be others in my area who have this problem.  I've haven't heard of very many people around who will do any "alternative" type weddings. 
I'll keep you in mind for 2010!  It just might work out!

[J-M]

Have you tried contacting a Unitarian Universalist congregation? No doctrine, no dogma, no preconceived notions about what marriage is, . . . all that good stuff.

 

[BigMommaJesca]

Quoting J-M:

Have you tried contacting a Unitarian Universalist congregation? No doctrine, no dogma, no preconceived notions about what marriage is, . . . all that good stuff.

There is a great congregation in Houston and another in the Ft. Worth area.  I think also Austin.

Trouble is, GenXer here's an atheist.  The one thing the Unitarians are pretty much in agreement on is that there is a God, right?

Hey, Gen...go to Vegas.  The guy who did our ceremony asked how much or how little "God" we wanted in the ceremony, and then tailored it to us.  He's done it SO many times that it didn't even take him a minute to alter it!

[J-M]

Quoting BigMommaJesca:

Quoting J-M:

Have you tried contacting a Unitarian Universalist congregation? No doctrine, no dogma, no preconceived notions about what marriage is, . . . all that good stuff.

There is a great congregation in Houston and another in the Ft. Worth area. I think also Austin.

Trouble is, GenXer here's an atheist. The one thing the Unitarians are pretty much in agreement on is that there is a God, right?

Hey, Gen...go to Vegas. The guy who did our ceremony asked how much or how little "God" we wanted in the ceremony, and then tailored it to us. He's done it SO many times that it didn't even take him a minute to alter it!

Nope.  UU's recognize and respect that many of their congregants are Atheists.  I belong to a UU congregation where more people do NOT believe that there is a diety or even agree that if one exists what that diety is.  God is actually  a dirty word around there.  UU's also recognize that it is possible to have a spiritual life without a diety. 

[BigMommaJesca]

Quoting J-M:

Nope.  UU's recognize and respect that many of their congregants are Atheists.  I belong to a UU congregation where more people do NOT believe that there is a diety or even agree that if one exists what that diety is.  God is actually  a dirty word around there.  UU's also recognize that it is possible to have a spiritual life without a diety. 

Cool!  I know there are some great UU churches around me, but I haven't been.  When I DO get up early enough on Sundays, I like to go to my Science of Mind church (even though what they teach isn't necessarily what I believe, they preach positivity, and they don't CARE if you believe the same as they do, because they know that no one really knows for sure!), but with gas prices the way they are, I might have to convert.  The UU church is a lot closer, I believe.

[J-M]

Quoting BigMommaJesca:

Quoting J-M:

Nope. UU's recognize and respect that many of their congregants are Atheists. I belong to a UU congregation where more people do NOT believe that there is a diety or even agree that if one exists what that diety is. God is actually a dirty word around there. UU's also recognize that it is possible to have a spiritual life without a diety.

Cool! I know there are some great UU churches around me, but I haven't been. When I DO get up early enough on Sundays, I like to go to my Science of Mind church (even though what they teach isn't necessarily what I believe, they preach positivity, and they don't CARE if you believe the same as they do, because they know that no one really knows for sure!), but with gas prices the way they are, I might have to convert. The UU church is a lot closer, I believe.

A word of caution -- each UU congregation is different; there are some that lean toward the Christian; there are some that are more earth-centered, others are more humanist.  That said, UUism is creedless, so there is no requirement that you beleive as they do.  Most people actually wonder when soemone is going to ask "What do you believe" and no one ever does!  For more infor about UU, go to www.uua.org.

[AprilMay1313]

I used Rev. April from the church of ancient ways to perform my wedding ceremony, and I highly recommend her.  She is a witch but performs all types of services.  Mine was an interface wedding my husband is Catholic, I'm spiritual not religious.  I wrote my own wedding ceremony with lots of guidance and suggestions from her, and then she presented it in a nice little book after the service.  She is wonderful, she has good energy.  My sister used her too, my sister is not religious either and her husband is Jewish.  Here is her link:

http://www.churchofancientways.org/index.html