Ordination story

I became a minister in 1985 while living in Orlando, FL. I was doing astrology readings and the city said I had to be licensed either as a minister or a vendor. So I became a minister.

My employer at the time was the Wyndham Hotel SeaWorld which is now a Stouffers hotel I believe. My boss, John Arnesen, thought doing weddings in the hotel would be a great thing for tourists.

So, the first wedding I ever performed was in the hotel lobby! Mr. Arnesen, made a huge media event out of it and comped the couple's room for an extended stay, meals, tickets to Sea World and Disney - it was GREAT FUN!

I have been performing weddings ever since! In 1989, I moved back to my birth home of Cleveland, OH. and together with my friend who also is a minister, Patricia Wagner-Soteros, we started Creative Wedding Officiants to market our wedding business.

We now perform well over 100 weddings each per year. You can see us and get more info about us and our other associates Wayne and Traci at www.creativeweddingofficiants.com

I am also a Usui Reiki Master and do Spiritual healings, house blessings and baby blessings.

Feel free to use the info for your newsletter.

Blessings.

Rev. Teresa George

For more stories like this, go to Online Ordination

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Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Universal Life Church

The Universal Life Church ordained me on March 27th, 2000. I didn't start actually performing ceremonies/rituals for anyone other than family and friends until 2002, as I felt I needed more time to become proficient at it.

Looking back, I think being a member of the clergy has always been my calling. I remember, as a small child going to Catholic school, wanting to be a priest when I grew up. I could never get a straight answer from any of the adults as to why I couldn't! Just that girls could be nuns, but only boys could be priests. Never any explanation! That was just the way it was. Later, during my "atheist phase", During one of those career placement tests, Clergy kept coming up as the thing I was best suited for. What a laugh I got out of that! (I guess the joke was on me.)

Over the years, I explored many different organized religions, atheism and a couple of cults. What I finally discovered is that there is no one "right" path, but that everyone has a specific path that is right for them. What's more, a person's path can contain spirituality, wisdom and philosophy from any number of different sources, and that it is no less valid as a belief system than a specific religion. Since then, I have encountered numerous people who have spirituality, but do not subscribe to any set religion, many of whom have mentored me in my spiritual path. In searching for actual clergy members who were not affiliated with a particular sect or religion, however, I came up conspicuously empty handed. I found plenty who were more tolerant of different beliefs, but in the end, it seemed that all of them wanted to conduct things according to a set tradition. It had been suggested to me by friends and family members that I become that clergy member that I couldn't find; that I start my own church. I laughed it off, thinking that I couldn't do it, even though that inner voice that we all have had been telling me the same thing for some time by that point. I still didn't listen to that voice even when I started having recurring dreams about being some sort of "spiritual leader". It wasn't until things kept on coming up in my medicine card reading and one of my mentors suggested I may want to do this that I really took a serious look at the option. I am very grateful for being led to this, as this work is fulfilling in a way that no other has ever been. Follow the link for the rest of this story........

For the rest of the story, go to Online Ordination

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free  and lasts for life, so use the button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Chaplaincy Course

This course has taken me to the top and right back to the bottom. The top being what I thought was a call to be a Chaplain to my past Biker lifestyle. The bottom being I was so wrong and failed my mission to even help my buddy in Prison right now. I was called to be a follower of Christ back when I was a child. The scripture that spoke life into me was found in the book of Acts 20:24. This call came to me because it was my dead sister who lead me to know Christ in the first place, which now these very words would be anchor to my soul to keep me through my walk right up to the very gates of hell in the Out Law Biker lifestyle. I guess my first response to much of this course was the same as my studies with the Grove Of Dana Bardic Course I started back many years ago. It will also be a lifetime process to become a Chaplain. The word Master of Chaplain is a lifetime process of learning and study. Here I thought my seminary days where over. LOL Ya right. Like the Bardic course this also is a process of being in a furnace, or Calderon. The Mark of the Divine has always been very clear all my life. I guess you could say Psalm 18 is my life in words. Over and over again I have saw the Divine power of Gods hands take me through the death of my sister to being raped to heavy drug addiction. Burnt out Brian cells I still could re site scriptures I had learned as a child. God has always drawn me with His words in scripture. I have also saw myself a shepherd of peoples.I have always tried to lead others rather then foll low in the past and wondered why until I grasped it from the course. Sorry to jump to lessen eight, but that where some meat came to my soul. The structure of, or art of listening. It was an eye opener to have a list of the hands on. I never saw people as permanent or temporary. Yet it does clear up and make for a shorter list. Consistency is one of the biggest words I lack so badly in my life, but now see how important it really is. Availability is a loaded word, which is compounded by Consistency. Seeing them both work together to build trust and better relationships. Compassion has always been a strong part of my life. I have always drawn and been blinded by my compassion also. This I will claim is a process I'll be working harder to build into my character. I also learned a lot about the structure to Listening. I lost the art of listening and am glad for this process to follow with the eye, body posture and gestures. Being first to open the door and offer a seat! I have always known about Touch. This is my fourth year fighting for the new Holly Jones Law. She was murdered and raped and chopped up in May 12/ 2003. This last couple of years we have been trying to pass a theory of touch. I  am off base but trying to show how this lessen helped to clarify Touch. People do need the human touch, which is always good to ask before done. The head is the center of the mind and the Spirit. It is there the nervous system is headquarters. A topic I have set out to learn all I can about in this life is Comfort the Grieving. Being a Chaplain I had said to you it would be good to do the comparative religion, because to relate to others in their own spiritual beliefs. My own theological stance has changed over and over again to be honest. Being a ULC Minister and knowing we accept all faiths it's hard t coin one side. Yet I do fully see an after life, but contend also with a re birth into and form, or being. I have always found on this topic that God opens my mind and heart and mouth to what He wants to be said in this time of sorrow. Counsel to the Troubled. I wish when I was a youth worker I had this information. I would have not suffered burn out, or temptation to the flesh. A safe place with a door, or a window is a great way to see safety and policy. I can't recall how many times this would have saved a lot of trouble in the past. Through the process of the lesson I took responsibility for some of my own actions in studies and the call to reach the lost. Through this process I was able to come away from my former lifestyle and lead a life unto God and the call. I still lack accountability, but one day at a time. The theory of THINK/ ACT & FEEL was the best three words in the hole of the course for me. I learned more in this lesson then any other. I recall the day I did this lessen. In fact I keep doing this one over and over again. Knowing my best variation is to think first, or line up my thoughts with out motto. "WHAT IS THE RIGHT ACTION IN THIS SITUATION"  I gotta say it's true the feeling of satisfaction of doing right comes every time I put this process first. I have made it part of my thinking now and daily use it.I guess this is where they got the What would Jesus do theory? Traps boy that' s a process! Self awareness, Knowing my own limitations. I need to read and re-read and process " It is not about you or me. It is about the One who calls us. It is about bringing Divine presence into the lives of others. It is never about how well we've done. It is about the reality that the Spirit using us." Love it all. I have often failed to ask others for help in the past. Tried to do it on my own and not listen to others. I see now how to avoid my own traps and find friends who can give me honest feed back. Self awareness is the key. The Soul Friend is the next piece of meat to eat in this study. I got'a say it's pretty darn hard to make even one friend in this life let alone a soul- friend. I could in some ways understand this, but fail it in so many ways also. I would have no trouble calling Christ my soul- friend who has drawn me with cords of love through my own personal hell in this life. Even in the very pit of the shadows of death in front of me he spoke to me and calmed my heart. I was not afraid to die point blank in Christ love a couple of times in my life. I also stood in the flesh on a death threat and felt empty when told to get ready to die, but Christ came to my aide also at those items as my soul- friend. I have little trust in man to see one as a soul-friend. Yet I will also confess any and all my christian friendships are forever and it is always like yesterday when we see each other, so yes maybe I have several of them. The ten dollar swear work " Accountability " Back a few years ago I worked with a Army Chaplain for about a year. I was accountable to being there and doing the works of a Chaplain. He and I where where able to finish up and print my Drug & Alcohol outreach program. We shared the pulpit and the weekly Bible study to the homeless also. Looking back he had many of the qualities spoken of in this course, but his heart was and is in Iraq to this very day. So in the end of all this my call to be a Chaplain to the family of Black Label Society is where I rest. People come to me via Internet daily for helps of all sorts. I deal with cancer children daily and death also. Many hold radical faiths in what ever, which they all know I don't judge anyone on the basis of their faith. Funny how death draws people together in life, but it does. I have no clue how many words I have printed and am not doing this for words, or a credit in the end. God said be as eager to finish that which you have started, so here it be my essay. Minister of Peace Revern Douglas Tebbutt ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free  and lasts for life, so use the button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Christian History

Master of Christian History final essay Rev. Edward Lindsay Lets take a good look at the history of the Church as to my understanding. It really all started with the resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Many people do not believe that Jesus is the son of God it has been debated since the resurrection even Christ's own Disciples had a hard time believing that Jesus rose from the dead. Since he was gone and there faith in the resurrection was truly lacking. Peter was given the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven even he had a problem with the resurrection when Christ was crucified on the cross. When the Romans took Jesus they questioned Peter as to knowing Jesus he deigned and even went so far as to hide from the Romans for fear of being put to death himself. It wasn't until after he repented that the Holy Ghost ascended upon him and he became the rock of the Church and also the first Pope. But why was the early Church almost doomed before it got started? They didn't have a doctrine to go by and everyone was going around doing there own thing taking bits and pieces of other religions putting them and calling it Christianity. The big thing was accusing other people of hierarchy. Gnostic's and the practice of Gnosis at that time was a big thing they even had there own Gospels or the Good News Gnostic's were active believing that you could find God and gain spiritual awareness and that knowledge was the way to Heaven and that you did not need a priest or minister to show you the way to spiritual awareness they also had a problem with Jesus being the son of God because he was a man and many Gnostic teachings that material things were evil. The easiest way to describe Jesus is God made into man or the word made flesh. After many years of struggle the early Church had nervous problems like what to believe and what to worship while keeping there Jewish roots. There were numerous Gospels floating around but most Church's had only one book or one Gospel and it was usually different from another church one of the problems is that it was expensive to own more than one Gospel as for most Churches were poor. And the Romans made it a point to persecute all Christians in the beginning the name Christian was atype of insult and it later became a badge of honor. Around 330-334 A.D. Constantine got toghter a group of scholars, clergy, and basically wise men and put toghter the Ecumenical Council to try and figure out what Gospels, creeds and anything else that needed to go into what we call the Bible today. Up until that point most Jews were following Judaism unless they had converted to Christianity. Constantine's conversion to Christianity was the boost the Church needed making Christianity the religion of the land and ending the persecution of the Christians. With the mixing of religions still to this day we call it Jew-daio Christian. Over the centuries Christianity went threw many changes some we care about some we don't. The thing that got me was threw the development of the Church someone always figured out a way to make money off of religion selling positions or indulgences and in the early church money and status played a big role. There is just to many things to list in the development of the church and it always seemed that if you didn't think like the Bishops or the Pontiff wanted you to then you were a heretic. As for the development of the church I believe that many Gospels were left out after the ecumenical Council; decided what went into the bible I feel they left out several gospels that should have been in it. These Gospels are known as the forbidden texts most of them are Gnostic teachings but without them there place in history is left unknown. But no matter how you look at the at the history of the early church it still revolves around money how do I figure this? lets take a good look right before the great schism 1054 of the early church the Western Church did not want a married priest why not if they allowed marriage of clergy then clergy would have children and wives and they would need an income housing and so fourth. That would conflict with the vow of poverty and the Church with there land grants they would actually have to support there clergy the catch is this nowhere in the bible does Jesus say that priest cannot be married that is a church law not God's. The Church over the years became more about power and money and all that appose them are heretics. Even though the Western Church practiced the sacrifice of the Mass. They actually split from the true Church of Jesus that Church is the Eastern Orthodox Church Orthodox meaning true and not the one that has developed to this day but the early one before all the changes. The Eastern Church is extremal spiritual in the sacrifice of the Holy Mass there high Mass is usually sung and there teachings for the most part go all the way back to the beginning of the Catholic Church. The effects and traditions of the early church can be seen today we have a set doctrine called the liturgy and the sacraments are the same. The Sacraments are as follows you have the rite of Baptism, Conformation, Eucharist, Penance, anoting of the sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony but it really started and got a good hold with Constantine being converted to Catholic that really set the roots for the early church and it was to be accepted through out the land. The Eastern Church had many problems with the West being heretics and standing by there traditions. The Eastern Church to this day is still the true church of Jesus Christ and that will never change they refuse to change there doctrine do to modernism and as the church goes threw major changes like Vactatin II which most people think it modernized the church in essence it really destroyed the Roman Catholic Church now you have The Roman Catholic Church, The Traditional Catholic Church, And the Orthodox Catholic Church the Traditional Catholic Church is the Roman Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church after Vactatin II became the modern Catholic Church.but they still call it the Roman Catholic Church. The biggest change before Vactatin II was the split between the East and the West the great schism of 1054. That split cost the church dearly the Western Church has thrown out all tradition the changing of the Mass makes that Mass invalid as by Papal decree the rite of Consecration has also been changed making it invalid making the Eucharist just bread and not the body of Christ although the modern Church will argue today that it is valid Papal decree and the the book of Mark say otherwise. The point being this if you are Catholic and you want the Church Jesus started then you would have to find an Orthodox Church the next best thing for a true consecration would be the Traditional Catholic Church but threw the hierarchy and schisms the church most of us know is the modern Catholic Church. I found this an interesting course with more information than I was expecting I spent 3 years studying under a Traditional Catholic Priest Church History was a must the problems of the early church still go on today and yes money talks. Since then I have now moved on to find a new church and I am looking for truth, this is an extremely good course for getting most of the information as to how the church came into being. And the answer is still yes if you want the church Jesus started you are looking for an Orthodox Church. I look forward to more future studies and any debates that one might have. May God bless everyone and may there ministries bring him or her the Joy and salvation they want. Reverend Edward Lindsay ******************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free  and lasts for life, so use the button. As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Biblical Egyptology

By: John Francis Cavener

For: Rev. Amy Long

Doctor of Biblical Egyptology Course

About the Exodus Out of Egypt

I have greatly enjoyed the challenges presented in this course. There are many questions and fascinating discoveries surrounding the events depicted in the Bible. I am most intrigued by the "Exodus" of the Israelites out of Egypt. Among Egyptologists there is much controversy over the alleged great Biblical Exodus of Israelites out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses. Some Egyptologists point to the critical lack of evidence that the event ever occurred and speculate that what may have happened, was that there possibly could have been a relatively small migration of Israelites who fled Egypt during a period of depression. The difficult times of drought or famine quite possibly may have been a result of a series of unfortunate natural disasters, such as the Santorini volcanic eruption; thus leading to assigning of blame for the events to the Israelites. The events, some believe, were then greatly embellished in later generations to add far more drama and luster to the story.

One of the more curious details about the whole Exodus story is one rarely mentioned or discussed, but may in fact be the one detail that hints at what may have actually ignited the rapid rush out of Egypt and the subsequent pursuit of the Pharaoh after the Israelites.

The book of Exodus chapter 12 verses 35 and 36 states:

"And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and raiment (Holy Bible, Exodus 12:35):"

"And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians (Exodus 12:36)."

This tells us that this was done in obedience to earlier instructions from Moses as supposedly predicted by God:

"And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go (Exodus 3:20)."

"And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty (Exodus 3:21):"

"But every woman shall borrow of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians (Exodus 3:22)."

This allegedly fulfills an earlier prophecy found in the book of Genesis chapter 15:13-14 that reads:

"And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years (Genesis 15:13);"

"And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance (Genesis 15:14)."

The great marauding and plundering that supposedly takes place on the last night, the eve of the Exodus, was also the night all of Egypt's first born children are killed by God during the first Passover. The story goes on to tell us that Pharaoh was so upset and distraught, he commanded the Israelites to leave Egypt because it appeared as if their presence seemed to have brought a terrible curse upon Egypt.

What happens next is somewhat peculiar; consider the following events.

Exodus 14:5 indicates that word reached Pharaoh that the Israelites had fled the land which, if we recall, was ordered by the same Pharaoh. Here he seems stunned that they actually left and it is even more surprising when you consider the large number of Israelites that left Egypt according to the Bible. If Exodus 14 is to be believed, it's as if the Pharaoh was completely oblivious to this.

As a result, we are told that Pharaoh has "a change of heart" and amasses an army to go after the Israelites to bring them back into slavery. That Pharaoh having a change of heart is puzzling considering he gave the order for them to leave Egypt in the first place. Considering that in a superstitious world, it would be very easy to believe that as long as the Israelites remained in the land, Egypt would continue to suffer from one disaster after another while the Israelite groups in the Goshen area of Egypt were unaffected by the plagues. Why would Pharaoh want to bring them back knowing the disaster their presence brought?

What some scholars have suggested is, the 'mixed multitude' of Israelites actually marauded and plundered as opposed to borrowing Egyptian items on their migration out of Egypt as indicated in Exodus 12: 35-36. The theory is that Pharaoh was actually pursuing the Israelites to take back and return what was stolen from and rightfully belonged to the Egyptian people. The rest of the Exodus story, they posit, is highly propagandized and/or embellished to sanitize it in favor of the Israelites while simultaneously demonizing the Egyptians and Pharaoh. It leaves me asking the question as to why would the Egyptians and Pharaoh have been so sympathetic toward the Israelites and in such a giving and generous mood when it was quite evident the Israelites were responsible for all the ills and despair Egypt had suffered compounded by the deaths of all their firstborn.

The much, so much more to explore and learn about humanity's past. How we evolved and developed through the ages. How we humans learned and explored our environment and our inner being guided by a spark of curiosity, awe, faith, and mystery. How we learned to socialize, grow and develop fantastic civilizations and beliefs as we continue to occupy this planet. We all still have much to learn as we continue our quest to learn who we are. Thank you for a great course.

Work(s) Cited

The Holy Bible. Authorized King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers,

1987.

Best Wishes,

John Francis Cavener

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free  and lasts for life, so use the button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar