Tennessee Issue of Interest

Tennessee Attorney General Opinion 15-14 states that an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church is not considered a valid marriage under Tennessee law.  The ministers are essentially ordained online with no requirements.  The opinion is located here. The opinion points to Tennessee Code Annotated  § 36-3-301 which provides in the pertinent part, as follows: "In order to solemnize the rite of matrimony, any such minister, preacher, pastor, priest, rabbi or other spiritual leader must be ordained or otherwise designated in conformity with the customs of a church, temple or other religious group or organization; and such customs must provide for such ordination or designation by a considered, deliberate, and responsible act. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-301(a)(2) (emphasis added).  I think that last part of the statute may be an area of litigation in Tennessee and Mississippi.  Some churches truly have ministers but there is no formal ordination process.