| Universal Life Church Monastery | |
| Main Classification: | Non-denominational |
| Leader Title: | Brother |
| Leader Name: | George Freeman |
| Area: | Worldwide |
| Headquarters: | Seattle, Washington |
| Founded Date: | 1977 |
| Separated From: | Universal Life Church |
| Ministers: | 20 million (2011) |
The Universal Life Church Monastery (ULCM) is a multi-religious interfaith ministry that has an online ordination program, which allows individuals to preside over weddings, baptisms, and funerals in the United States depending on state and county laws.[1] [2] George Freeman is president of the Seattle, Washington–based ministry.[3] [4] It claims to have ordained 20 million ministers.[2]
The Universal Life Church Monastery was founded in 1977 as an offshoot of the Universal Life Church. The church first established a website that allowed individuals to apply for ordination in 1995.[5] Universal Life Church Monastery formally split from the Modesto-based Universal Life Church in 2006 following financial and legal disputes between the two bodies.[3] Universal Life Church Monastery then began ordaining ministers through its own website.[1]
Universal Life Church Monastery's mantra is "We are all children of the same universe."[6] It also has two core tenets:
The monastery's stated mission is to ordain anyone regardless of their spiritual or religious denomination.[7] [8] the church has stated that it is almost finished renovating a physical building to serve as a house of worship, and conducts ordination through its website.[9] [7] According to the church, ordination allows its ministers to perform marriages, funerals, baptisms, and exorcisms.[2] It provides ordination services free of charge.[2]