“Having the care of souls” as an online-ordained minister: How wedding officiant ministers exceed the legal standards of state marriage law requirements.

Understanding 'care of souls': Online ordained ministers deserve recognition & respect in Tennessee 

Before we even get into the matter at hand, here’s a warning – this one’s not going to be nearly as interesting as the previous post about nudist weddings. So, make sure to read that one too.

That said, the topics are all tied together because regardless of whether you’re officiating in your birthday suit, or wearing a cassock and stole, you do so as an ordained minister, and that designation as a minister has a rich legal and spiritual history.
 
To unpack that a little, let’s look at the wording that the State of Tennessee uses to designate persons authorized to conduct ceremonies to solemnize marriages in T.C.A. § 36-3-301(a):
 
“All regular ministers, preachers, pastors, priests, rabbis and other spiritual leaders of every religious belief, more than eighteen (18) years of age, having the care of souls, and all members of the county legislative bodies, county mayors, judges…” and the list goes on.
 
Last year, when a group of Tennessee lawmakers moved to deprive thousands of ministers that were ordained online of their constitutionally-guaranteed religious rights (including that of officiating weddings as ordained ministers), the words “having the care of souls,” popped up.
 
According to their (incorrect) assessment of the situation, online ordained ministers didn’t have the care of souls. Well, that’s nonsense, and here’s why:
 
First off, the phrase comes from “Cure of souls,” suggesting that Tennessee’s lawmakers are drawing on an older iteration of the phrase. Like, did they even read the Wikipedia article? In most denominations of Christianity, especially among the Catholics, the phrase "care of souls" is used to describe the exercise of his/her/their office by a priest. In practice, this means religious or spiritual instruction, delivering sermons, administering sacraments, and other ecclesiastical duties.
 
This description is a pretty apt representation of the duties of your average AMM Minister, right?

Let’s look at these duties and see how they correspond with what an online-ordained minister might do in the process of creating and delivering a wedding ceremony.
 

• Instruction – Working with the couple to help them put into words their love for each other, write their vows, and find meaningful rituals that speak to their values and worldview.
   
• Delivering Sermons – This best correlates to the invocation, where the officiant delivers what is ostensibly a sermon about the couple, their relationship, the importance of marriage, and other spiritual matters that are important to the couple and their guests.
   
• Administering Sacraments – This can be any of the rituals such as wine ceremonies, sand ceremonies, breaking the glass, tying the handfasting cord, and many more sacramental rituals that the wedding officiant leads during the ceremony.
   
• Ecclesiastical duties – This includes all of the aforementioned duties, as well as the officiants role in their community. Our ministers' roles in their communities extend beyond officiating weddings. We are also community leaders, educators, and advocates for social justice.

 
There are plenty of ways to support our efforts, from fighting for our ministers' rights in Tennessee and Virginia, to supporting other organizations that are committed to leaving this world a better place than we found it. The world is changing fast. The lawmakers that insist on treating ministers differently because of how they were ordained will soon pass away, and their protestations will soon be forgotten.

As we examine the role of religion in society, let us not lose sight of our founding father’s intentions – the free practice of one’s faith, on one’s own terms.
 

Become a Wedding Officiant Online with American Marriage Ministries!

Get ordained online free with AMM and learn how to become a wedding officiant for friends and relatives! 

• Start the Online Minister Ordination Application Here

American Marriage Ministries is an inclusive nondenominational internet church that ordains and trains ministers to officiate marriage ceremonies. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit church, and help people from all backgrounds and beliefs become ordained ministers for weddings.

Our online ordination is free, accessible, and never expires. 
 

Does Tennessee accept online ordination?

Yes! Online ordination with AMM is legally recognized in Tennessee. In fact, AMM Ministers can legally officiate weddings in every state* (it's much harder in Virginia, where we're looking into our options). Click the links below to get started! 

• Become an AMM Minister today!
• Weddings by State: Officiant Registration Requirements

Read our recent Tennessee updates below: 

• The Big Picture in Tennessee’s Fight for Marriage Equality Must Include Online Ordination
   
• AMM FAQs: Is American Marriage Ministries Legally Valid in Tennessee?
   
• 2024 American Marriage Ministries Files Lawsuit Against Tennessee Officials to Protect Religious Freedom

American Marriage Ministries (AMM), a Seattle-based church, has sued officials in Tennessee to challenge the constitutionality of a Tennessee law that restricts the rights of AMM ministers to officiate weddings. Click the link above to learn more.