Is American Marriage Ministries Legally Valid in Tennessee?

Yes!

Recently, AMM sought to clarify the rights of couples to have the officiant of their choice in Tennessee. The need for this came about after ULC sued certain counties in Tennessee and executed a settlement that could have only covered ULC ministers and not other ministers, of any faith, ordained online. AMM sought to clarify that its ministers, and any minister ordained online regardless of religion or denomination, should be able to perform marriages in Tennessee.

After receiving a judgment against one clerk and a settlement with another county in Tennessee the case was proceeding to trial. Shortly before trial, the Court chose to grant summary judgment against AMM’s claims as to the remaining defendants. In doing so, the Court largely affirmed AMM’s rights to pursue the claims, that state officials in Tennessee could not claim to be immune from lawsuits such as these, and also affirmed AMM’s grounds for arguing that its ministers, and indeed any ministers ordained online, should be able to ordain marriages in Tennessee. However, the Court found that, in its view, there were no denominational differences between ULC and AMM and so the case should not proceed to trial.

While that ruling may help preserve AMM’s, and its ministers’, rights because it would mean the prior ULC settlement would also apply to AMM (a point that the particular counties agreed upon during the proceeding), AMM is appealing based on errors it believes the Court made in coming to its ultimate conclusion and to continue its efforts to protect the rights of individuals to choose their marriage officiant.

AMM continues to believe that its ministers can perform marriages in Tennessee and remains committed to protecting the rights of its ministers, and the rights of all online ordained ministers. If you hear of any state or county official, anywhere in the country, claiming that AMM ministers cannot ordain marriages or that marriages performed by AMM ministers are not valid, please let us know.