Knowing The History and Purpose Behind American Marriage Ministries is crucial when conducting a legally successful wedding.
American Marriage Ministries is a non-denominational internet church based in Seattle. The church ordains people online so that they can officiate weddings for friends, family, and other members of society.
People often wonder about the history and purpose behind American Marriage Ministries. We will begin with the fact that American Ministries is not all about merely ordaining ministers online, but this is a part of it.
The History And Purpose Behind American Marriage Ministries
Glen Yoshiaka founded American Marriage Ministries in 2009. Glen Yoshioka was born and raised in a small town in Puerto Rico called “Rosario Bajo,” which loosely means “Lower Rosary Beads,” named such because the residents thought the surrounding rolling hills could be compared with rosary beads.
Glen Yoshioka was a former employee of Universal Life Church Monastery. He founded American Marriage Ministries in 2009 and has spent the subsequent years growing the organization’s national footprint.
It is one of his proudest achievements, and he is grateful for the support of ministers throughout the country who have helped make his dream a reality.
American Marriage Ministries is a nonreligious non-denominational organization that does not encourage specific religious doctrines. Instead, they permit their ministers to define their practice and beliefs.
The church is presided over by a board of administrators agreeing that marriage is a right, not a mere privilege.
Since 2009, they have ordained over 1,055,990 ministers who have performed over 250,000 weddings in all 50 States and Territories.
Not everyone has a pastor, rabbi, imam, or any other religious leader, especially one they would want to handle an important event like marriage. American Marriage Ministries trains and ordains people online so that they can officiate weddings for friends, family, and other members of society.
Their free ordination process grants full legal authority to conduct marriage ceremonies in most of the United States.
American Marriage Ministries is a constitutional church, meaning that its mandate is based on the foundational documents of the United States of America and the philosophies that inspired the Founding Fathers during the formative years of this nation.
They draw inspiration from all who have advanced society’s protections of individual liberties and rights, from Judeo-Christian and eastern teachings to the enlightenment philosophers, to name a few.
They take these documents and ideas not as scripture but as insight into how human beings should treat each other respectfully and with dignity.
You can read their Theological Doctrine for more on this subject.
When it comes to marriage, American Marriage Ministries exist to fulfill a spiritual need that other establishments are unwilling to or cannot hand over.
The church sees marriage and the family as a pillar of social integration and maintains that no one should be denied this right.
They believe that preventing any class, gender, or race from reaping the benefits of this institution represents a gross violation of Universal Eternal Law.
Marriage is a right, freedom, and a social guarantee that underpins the society in which we live. American Marriage Ministries provides access to marriage for all, regardless of their belief, sexuality, or other defining traits.
As the function of mainstream churches lessens in the modern period, couples turn to those they know and trust to bless their marriage. American Marriage exists to facilitate this choice.
A few years ago, it was not uncommon for interracial couples to be turned away. L.G.B.T.Q. couples were at the forefront of this trend since most mainstream churches discriminated against them in the past.
Unfortunately, these attitudes are still around, and it is sometimes hard for couples to find ministers accepting them for who they are.
Online ordination eliminates the potential for discrimination by removing the gatekeepers.
They believe people have the right to marry and should be allowed to decide who performs their marriage.
There are no good reasons why a couple should not be able to choose the person to assist them in performing this most sacred rite.
They believe everyone’s inalienable right is to choose the person they want to spend the rest of their life with and, equally so, the person best fit to bless that union.
The beliefs of American Marriage Ministries are intended to be universal and inclusive.
The church is based on seeing past differences, such as tribal boundaries, cultural boundaries, and sexual orientation, and focusing on the commonalities that we all share.
Their tenets represent values and a worldview everyone can share, whether Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, or Pagan.
Marriage is about bringing two individuals together under one roof. Everyone is unique and holds onto different personal values. When people get married, they mustn’t abandon those values because our values speak volumes about who we are.
Instead, we should commit to working with and having compassion for a person whose values are often different from our own but which enriches us because of those differences.
Marriage is one of the few institutions that can unite individuals, families, and communities who would otherwise not associate with each other. The American Marriage Ministries encourages marriage because of these reasons.
Looking past our differences to find commonalities and have empathy for each may be one of the most difficult challenges we face as human beings.
Marriage and wedding celebrations are among the few cultural doors that permit us to be more compassionate.
American Marriage Ministries is an extension of these values. Their ministers come from all walks of life.
The church is not about subscribing to an exclusionary tribal litmus test but celebrating our differences while recognizing that we are all human beings. They believe that we are all children of the same Universe.
A.M.M.’s Legal Requirements library is a database where ministers can determine state or county requirements. The organization also provides city-specific instructions on how to get ordained and perform a marriage.
American Marriage Ministries is active in New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee regarding marriage equality and freedom of religion.
New York City is a stricter location requiring wedding officiants to appear in person at the city clerk’s office to register (the city also charges a $15 fee.)
Virginia is the most troublesome state, denying most ministers who get ordained online, but A.M.M. also has information on combating that on its website.
American Marriage Ministries is active in two significant areas of civic life: supporting charities that share its values and beliefs and defending marriage equality in states where lawmakers attempt to restrict who may or may not perform a marriage.
American Marriage Ministries has donated $500 to over 100 Non-Profit Charities nationwide. American Marriage Ministries is an IRS 501(c)3 Public Charitable Organization.
American Marriage Ministries is active in marriage equality and environmental preservation spaces.
In 2018, American Marriage Ministries and the International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (I.A.P.W.O.) agreed to work together to educate first-time wedding officiants on how to perform wedding ceremonies and to raise public awareness about the critical role that professional wedding officiants play in the special events industry.
American Marriage Ministries also partners with Carbon Fund to offset its carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices, especially in the wedding industry.
American Marriage Ministries is not affiliated with other online churches, such as the Universal Life Church (U.L.C.) or any brick-and-mortar churches elsewhere in the country.
American Marriage Ministries And Their Belief In The Universal Eternal Law. Universal Eternal Law is believed to be an ancient power that runs through human history, rising through men and women of vision and compelling us towards our better nature.
These prophecies transcend the chaos of history, guiding us toward a perfect union, justice, domestic tranquility, and the blessings of liberty.
With the knowledge that millions of people are prohibited from getting married and benefit from this sacred institution, the church commits itself to its cause, demanding that the law reflect the social and economic realities of the world around us rather than clinging to anachronistic bigotry that runs contrary to the Universal Eternal Law.
What A.M.M. Believes
American Marriage Ministries believe that anyone, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, has the right to marry. It does not matter whether you are male or female, black or white, straight, gay or otherwise, and the officiating ministers will join you in marriage if you want.
They also believe that it is the right of every couple to choose who will solemnize their marriage. Marriage is seen as an essential pillar of integration into society, and the couple should not be denied the right to select who partakes in their joy with them.
Some people want someone officiating who understands who they are and has a past and future with the couple.
American Marriage Ministries believe that people have the right to solemnize marriages. Because the wedding officiant is essential in communicating these aspects to the guests, many couples ask friends or family to do the honors.
This is one of the reasons American Marriage Ministries trains and ordains people to officiate at weddings.
Conclusion
Marriage is about bringing two individuals together under one roof. Everyone is unique and holds onto different personal values. When people get married, they mustn’t abandon those values because our values speak volumes about who we are.
American Marriage Ministries offers online training tools and free guidance available for ministers. A.M.M. headquarters is in Seattle, Washington, US, and their official website is www.theamm.org.
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