Celebrity Ministers - Universal Life Church Monastery Blog

The Gospel According to Dolly: 9 Lessons for a Good Life

August 27th, 2026

Andy Warhol once told Dolly Parton she could be a great preacher. Dolly corrected him: she already was. Here are nine spiritual and moral lessons drawn from her words, music, faith, and life.

Celebrity Ministers 25 Comments

Here Comes Santa Claus: An Exclusive Interview With Our Most Famous Minister

December 16th, 2020

Santa Claus is an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church, and even performs weddings in the classic Santa outfit! We reached out to ask what life is like as Mr. Claus, and how things are different in 2020.

Celebrity Ministers 12 Comments

'Queer Eye' Star Jonathan Van Ness Officiates Wedding for Seattle Couple

June 4th, 2019

According to reports, Jonathan Van Ness got his ordination through the ULC in order to help couples legally tie the knot. One Seattle couple was lucky enough to call JVN their wedding officiant.

LGBTQ & Human Rights 1 Comment

Report: Adele Becomes Latest Celeb to Get Ordained Online

April 10th, 2018

A report from The Guardian indicates Adele joined the Universal Life Church earlier this year to officiate a wedding for close friend Alan Carr and his partner.

Celebrity Ministers 33 Comments

ULC Minister in the White House? Reports Indicate Jared Kushner is Ordained

January 4th, 2018

In an explosive new book titled “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House,” author Michael Wolff reports that Jared Kushner, one of the president’s senior advisors and husband of Ivanka Trump, is a ULC minister. Anyone who feels so-called can become a

Political & Religious Controversy 103 Comments

2016: The Year of Celebrity Deaths

December 29th, 2016

The year 2016 may go down in infamy for many reasons, but one of them has to be the unbelievable string of celebrity deaths. This year has been absolutely ruthless in claiming the lives of so many beloved public figures.

Celebrity Ministers 52 Comments

Should We Forgive Celebrities?

September 23rd, 2016

People make mistakes. It’s a fact of life. When this happens, we seek forgiveness from others. But for those who live in the spotlight, mistakes are greatly magnified. Should celebs be held to a higher standard?

Political & Religious Controversy 23 Comments

Remembering Reverend Joan Rivers

September 5th, 2014

On the afternoon of September 4, 2014, we lost one of our most cherished Universal Life Church ministers, Joan Rivers. Joan passed away, at the age of 81, from complications encountered during vocal cord surgery.

LGBTQ & Human Rights 46 Comments

Paul McCartney Marries Couple Onstage

August 29th, 2014

It was almost certainly the highlight of the young couple’s life. There was Paul McCartney, former member of the Beatles, smirking at them from the stage as they held up a sign asking him to marry them. With most big-name artists, such a request would have b

Celebrity Ministers 6 Comments

Patty Duke Becomes Ordained to Marry Gay Couples

June 18th, 2014

In a move illustrating the growing acceptance of same-sex marriage, TV legend Patty Duke recently became an ordained minister online in the Universal Life Church. The actress, whom many will remember from her roles in The Patty Duke Show and Valley of the Doll

Celebrity Ministers 3 Comments

The Universal Life Church proudly welcomes all who feel called to get ordained, regardless of creed. We enable all faiths; Christian, Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, Pagan, Wiccan, Atheist – and more – to join our growing non-denominational congregation. Underlying everything we do is a simple core belief: that we are all children of the same universe.

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