ULC - IN THE NEWS - 2024
Online Clergy Can Perform Baptisms, Funerals
While many get married in their home churches by a priest or pastor they know well, wedding officiants come in all denominations, or no religious affiliation at all. According to Universal Life Church, only two items are required in a marriage ceremony: the declaration of intent, or the “I do” section, and the pronouncement, wherein the officiant declares the couple are married.
Source: Enid News & Eagle
Group Sues Texas to Change Law That Only Allows Religious Leaders to Officiate Weddings
The Center for Inquiry (CFI), a nonprofit that fights religious influence on public policy, has filed a federal lawsuit to overturn a Texas law prohibiting anyone but religious leaders and judges from conducting wedding ceremonies. Some who officiate secular wedding ceremonies in Texas do so by joining the Universal Life Church.
Source: SA Current
Dateline’ Correspondent Josh Mankiewicz Officiated The Wedding Of A True Crime Fan He’d Never Met
Josh Mankiewicz, “Dateline” correspondent, joked with writer Sara Runnels on Twitter. The two became friends over time, and after she became engaged to Adam Zack, she made a proposal of her own, asking Mankiewicz if he would officiate her wedding. He said yes, becoming ordained through the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: MSN
No More ‘Single Girl’ Posts for This Comedic Writer
Sara Runnels was known for her humorous stories and social media shares about the single life, but her dating status quickly changed after meeting Adam Zack. The couple were wed at the Edgewater Hotel in Seattle, with 100 guests in attendance. Josh Mankiewicz, a reporter on NBC’s “Dateline,” ordained for the occasion by Universal Life Church, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
It Was Love After First Flight
Lindsay Bennie heeded Victoria Williams’s call for a Valentine’s date, but they were hundreds of miles apart. Once they finally met, “our connection was instantaneous,” Ms. Bennie said. On their sixth anniversary, the couple was married in front of 100 guests in Miami. A friend of the couple who was ordained by the Universal Life Church, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
Outside the Office, Sparks Fly Between Colleagues
Taylor Burt was working at BarkBox, surrounded by adorable dogs, when she found herself distracted by someone she thought was even cuter: Mayank Shah. The two were married by Ms. Burt's former BarkBox boss, who became a Universal Life Church minister for the occasion, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
For Two Years, a Scent of Love Had Lingered
As colleagues, Ariana Silvestro and Nicholas Kluender developed feelings for each other in 2016, but waited to pursue them. The two took things slow and steady right up to their wedding day. Charles Ribaudo, one of the bride’s uncles who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
He Was Open to Love — but Kept His Job a Secret
After Jonathan Filiberto, a medium known as Jonathan Mark, matched with Jessica Rega on a dating app, it took months before he shared what he did for a living. The couple were wed Sept. 20 at the Vineyards at Aquebogue in Aquebogue, N.Y. Alfred Titone, the bride’s stepfather, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
He Tried to Date Two Men. He Wasn’t Very Good at It
After getting caught in a moment right out of a rom-com, it was clear Kevin Turner had a choice to make. He chose Dr. Nicholas France. The couple were married at Taconic Ridge Farm, a wedding venue in Hillsdale, N.Y. Elizabeth Schwarzbach, a friend of Dr. France who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event, officiated the ceremony.
Source: The NY Times
A Hollywood Actress Finds a Farm, and Her Leading Man, in the Midwest
Torrey DeVitto, whose father was Billy Joel’s drummer and mother is Stevie Nicks’s best friend, is a famous actress in her own right. She found love with Jared LaPine in Kalamazoo, Mich. On Sept. 14, they were married in the garden at the Inisfree Estate in Pullman, Mich., by a friend who became a Universal Life Church minister to officiate.
Source: The NY Times
Former High School Classmates Finally Become Sweethearts
Austin Mills and Taylor Mills both attended Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills, Calif., but didn’t connect until years later at an Los Angeles nightclub. On Sept. 1, the couple wed in Napa, Calif. Keith G. Bremer, a partner with the Orange County law firm Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara and a Universal Life Church minister, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
After Years of Almost-Dates, a Romance Grows Between Friends
Cody Austrie and Stephanie Brooks were locker neighbors in high school and forged a friendship. They didn’t start dating until years later when they reconnected. On Aug. 15, the two were married at Glen Island Harbour Club, an events space in New Rochelle, N.Y., by their friend Wendy Boche, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
On Kobe Bryant Day, a Celebration of Love and Basketball
Malika Andrews first caught the attention of fellow N.B.A. journalist Dave McMenamin as she conducted an interview with LeBron James. Diane Raike, a close friend of the bride’s mother, Caren Andrews, whom Ms. Andrews calls her “fairy godmother,” officiated their wedding. She was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
The Six 'Commitments' That Strengthened Their Connection
Emily Swarts and Tyler Swiggett met online in New York. But she moved to Hawaii before responding to his message. Despite the distance, voice messages and handwritten letters deepened their bond. The two were married in California by a friend of Mr. Swiggett, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
He’s a Man of Few Words. Especially Over Text.
Kate Mullen and Wes Skillicorn complemented each other’s personalities — especially when life threw them a curveball. A miscarriage made them rethink their wedding; but after persevering, the two were wed by the bride’s father, David John Mullen, Jr., who was ordained by Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
3 Rings, 2 College Students and 1 Big Risk
Arya Singh let down her guard with Logan Mundy in a way she rarely did with others. Afterward, things became thrillingly normal. Their officiant was Patricia Ryan, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the occasion.
Source: The NY Times
People are Getting Married at Outside Lands. Meet one SoCal Couple Who Just Tied the Knot
For the first time ever at Outside Lands, couples can get married at City Hall, located among the Eucalyptus trees of McLaren Pass. Southern California residents Alek and Mia Martinez were among the first to be wed there by Brian Fiore-Silfvast, an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church.
Source: The San Francisco Standard
Shared Roots Helped Their Relationship Grow
Kevin Rivera and Selina Schultz knew each other growing up in Brooklyn. But he wasn’t quite on her radar until they were young adults. The two were married July 13 at Inness, a hotel and venue in Accord, N.Y., by a friend who was previously ordained by the Universal Life Church.
Source: The NY Times
Committing to the Bit, and Each Other
Lauren Garroni and Paul Glover met through a “Sex and the City” Instagram account, and just like that, felt a spark. The two were married by a longtime professor of fashion history at the Parsons School of Design and a mentor to both Ms. Garroni and Ms. Fairless, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church for the event.
Source: The NY Times
They Wanted Marriage and Family, Maybe Not in That Order
Traci Green and Christopher Sater set their own relationship timeline after meeting through a dating app seven years ago. And while things didn't go exactly as planned, they happily tied the knot alongside their 11-month-old son. A friend of Mr. Sater's from college, who was ordained for the occasion by Universal Life Church, officiated.
Source: The NY Times
