Evangelist-Led Weddings: Legality And Performance

Whether an evangelist can perform a wedding ceremony depends on the laws of the state and county where the marriage takes place. In many states, ordained ministers may conduct legally binding marriage ceremonies without registering with the county. However, marriage laws vary across the United States, and it is the responsibility of the minister to understand the legal expectations of the state in which they are officiating. In North Carolina, for example, online ordination is not considered legal, and marriages performed by individuals with no credentials beyond a certificate from the Universal Life Church are likely to be deemed invalid.

Ministers are spiritually authorised to solemnise weddings

Ministers are "spiritually" authorised to solemnise weddings, but the legal recognition of such ceremonies varies according to local laws. In the United States, for example, the laws regarding who can officiate weddings differ from state to state. In some states, ordained ministers may conduct legally binding marriage ceremonies without needing to register with the county. However, in other states, such as North Carolina, online ordination is not considered legal, and marriages performed by persons with no credentials beyond a certificate from the Universal Life Church are considered invalid.

The National Association of Christian Ministers (NACM) grants the privilege to officiate weddings to all ministers recognised by the organisation. However, it is the responsibility of the individual minister to understand and comply with the laws in the state and county in which they plan to officiate. This is because, in the United States, marriage is considered a civil matter governed by the state rather than a religious matter.

While there is no explicit Biblical example of a minister performing a wedding ceremony, it has become an American custom for ordained ministers to officiate weddings. This custom reflects the belief that marriage is a sacred institution established by God and that the presence of a Christian minister adds spiritual significance to the ceremony.

Ministers must understand the laws of the state/county they're officiating in

Ministers must understand the laws of the state/county they are officiating in. While ordination as a minister is valid in all US states and territories except Virginia, each state has its own requirements for ministers to perform wedding ceremonies. For example, in Alabama, only licensed ministers of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church may perform marriages, whereas in Maryland, any adult can sign as clergy as long as the couple agrees that they are a clergy member.

In most states, ministers must register with the county clerk or a similar government official, and in some cases, there are additional requirements such as providing a certificate of ordination or a letter of good standing. It is important to note that online ordination may not be considered legal in some states, such as North Carolina, and ministers may need to be ordained by a "brick-and-mortar" church.

Ministers should also be aware of the specific procedures for completing and returning marriage licenses, as these can vary by state. For instance, in Arizona, ministers must record the marriage on the marriage license and return it to the clerk of the Superior Court within 20 days, while in California, the same process must be completed within 4 days.

Furthermore, ministers should be aware of any additional requirements or restrictions specific to the state or county in which they are officiating. For example, in Washoe County, Nevada, a minister may obtain permission to perform a specific wedding ceremony as long as they are in good standing with their church or religious organization, and there is no residency requirement for this single-ceremony permission.

Therefore, it is crucial for ministers to familiarize themselves with the laws and regulations of the state and county in which they intend to officiate wedding ceremonies to ensure compliance and avoid any legal issues.

Weddings are not a religious duty of the clergy, according to the Bible

The Bible does not mention ministers performing wedding ceremonies, and so it does not support weddings as a religious practice. In fact, weddings are nowhere found in the Gospel to be laid on ministers as a part of their office.

The early American forefathers who settled in Plymouth Colony in the 1600s (now Plymouth, Massachusetts) also came to a similar conclusion. They searched the scriptures for an answer to whether marriage was to be administered by the government or an ordained minister. Their conclusion was that:

> "The first marriage in this place which, according to the laudable custom of the Low Countries, in which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their cognizance and most consonant to the Scriptures (Ruth iv) and nowhere found in the Gospel to be laid on the ministers as a part of their office."

Therefore, it is American culture that has made the officiating of weddings a religious duty of the clergy.

Marriage was governed in Biblical times, as it is today, by the established government of the land. In Biblical times, the Law of Moses was the governmental law of the land of Israel. God gave Moses the law for the Jews to obey in the land of Israel. This included instructions for living in the land, such as the process for divorce, which means that it held the authority to recognize marriages as valid and legal.

The source of confusion about weddings, ministers, and the law is likely due to the differences between American government and how Israel was governed under Moses' law. Nevertheless, it has become an American custom for ordained ministers to officiate weddings, but it is not a religious duty or burden that the responsibility be laid upon the office of Christian clergy.

The early settlers in America concluded ministers need not solemnise weddings

The early settlers in America, specifically those who settled in the Plymouth Colony (now Plymouth, Massachusetts) in the 1600s, were faced with the issue of solemnising the first marriage on what is now US soil. They did not know whether marriage should be administered by the government or an ordained minister, so they turned to the scriptures for guidance.

Their conclusion was surprising. They found that:

> "The first marriage in this place which, according to the laudable custom of the Low Countries, in which they had lived, was thought most requisite to be performed by the magistrate, as being a civil thing, upon which many questions about inheritances do depend, with other things most proper to their cognizance and most consonant to the Scriptures (Ruth iv) and nowhere found in the Gospel to be laid on the ministers as a part of their office."

William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, ed. Samuel Eliot Morison (New York: Knopf, 1991), p. 86.)

In other words, the early settlers in America concluded that weddings were not mentioned in the Gospel as being part of a minister's duties. This does not mean that it is wrong for ministers to solemnise marriages today, but simply that the Bible does not seem to support it as a religious practice. Instead, it has become an American cultural tradition for ordained ministers to officiate weddings.

This conclusion was also influenced by the colonists' interpretation of "the rules of God" through their religious beliefs, which led them to depart from all precedent and create a unique form of marriage celebration in modern times. The key feature was that, for a marriage to be valid, it had to be celebrated before a civil magistrate. This custom was later codified into law in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1646, and similar laws were enacted in other colonies, such as Rhode Island and Connecticut.

However, towards the end of the 17th century, there was a shift back towards including religious associations in the nuptial ceremony. For example, in 1694, the General Court of Connecticut granted ordained ministers the liberty to join marriages. Similarly, a provincial statute of 1692-3 in Massachusetts authorised justices of the peace and settled ministers to solemnise marriages. This innovation gradually replaced the former custom of solely civil ceremonies.

The NACM grants the privilege to officiate weddings to recognised ministers

The National Association of Christian Ministers (NACM) grants the privilege to officiate weddings to recognised ministers. However, it is important to note that the NACM does not claim responsibility for its ministers/members, as they are considered "independent" ministers of Jesus Christ. The NACM offers ordination recognition for the spreading of the gospel, but it is not responsible for helping members meet the requirements to register or qualify as wedding officiants.

For example, in Alabama, any licensed minister of the gospel in regular communion with the Christian church or society to which they belong may perform marriages. They must provide a marriage certificate to the judge of probate within one month. On the other hand, in Alaska, ministers, priests, or rabbis of any church or congregation in the state may officiate weddings and must report the marriage to the Marriage Commissioner.

Therefore, it is essential for recognised ministers granted the privilege of officiating weddings by the NACM to be well-informed about the specific laws and expectations of the state and county in which they intend to perform wedding ceremonies.

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