Mississippi

omrebel · February 19, 2014, 07:40:47 PM

Dudes,

I've been asked to officiate a wedding of some friends. I plan on contacting the Clerk this weekend to get an okay and stuff. I have my certificate and letter, but was wondering, ya know, if anyone had any advice for me prior to calling. Or, if like, anyone has any experience with with talking to any, potentially, unabiding Clerks.

Much thanks dudes....

Brad

jgiffin · February 19, 2014, 09:16:05 PM

Hey, Dude. Though ordained, I have no experience speaking with court clerks regarding approval to officiate ceremonies. There are a few threads on here that provide seemingly excellent advice on that point and link resources on a state by state basis. I'd search out those.

However, I do routinely interact with court clerks in my day job as an attorney. In my experience, your best bet is to show up in person, respectfully attired, and enlist them as a resource to assist you - not an adversary to best or a mere staff member to get by so you can talk to the person who's really in charge. It's simple courtesy, really, but you'd be surprised how many people treat them like dirt. Be honest, upfront, clear, and concise. They can help you in any number of practical ways. Good luck!

Yeti · February 20, 2014, 12:34:48 AM

I'm curious - how tolerant are folks in Mississippi to religions that don't involve Jesus?

omrebel · February 20, 2014, 09:38:24 AM

Thanks jgiffin. That's some excellent advice.

@Yeti - Mississippi gets a really bad rap, especially by the media. The smallest thing that may happens gets really blown up and people tend to paint everyone that lives here with a very broad brush. The folks I know are really tolerant/respectful of other people's religious/non-religous beliefs. Of course, there are some that aren't as tolerant - but you find those types of people everywhere you go. Perhaps it's due to the smaller population and the horrible past that causes people to view Mississippi as they do....I dunno. But, most who are quick to slam this state have never spent any time here.

Yeti · February 20, 2014, 12:31:47 PM

Quote from: omrebel on February 20, 2014, 09:38:24 AM
Thanks jgiffin. That's some excellent advice.

@Yeti - Mississippi gets a really bad rap, especially by the media. The smallest thing that may happens gets really blown up and people tend to paint everyone that lives here with a very broad brush. The folks I know are really tolerant/respectful of other people's religious/non-religous beliefs. Of course, there are some that aren't as tolerant - but you find those types of people everywhere you go. Perhaps it's due to the smaller population and the horrible past that causes people to view Mississippi as they do....I dunno. But, most who are quick to slam this state have never spent any time here.

That's good to know. I understand what you mean about horrible pasts - in Colorado, we had a reputation for being homophobic and even experienced a boycott over anti-gay laws back in the 90s, but that's changed over the past few years. There was one rich asshole funding most of it, but he's quieted down since then, or else he's just less out in the open about his bullshit.

BrotherShamus · February 21, 2014, 02:41:36 PM

Yo omrebel, I'm from Mississippi as well and I'd have to agree with your description. The people are all very nice, very respectful. The reason I think it gets such a bad rap is the history, media over the past century and all of its current problems (fattest state, poorest state most teen pregnancies, most house fires etc.). It's far from perfect, but I've always liked it there.

One of the biggest problems it has is that the super religious inconsiderate people there are typically the ones that get into state politics (funny how that works).

Rev. Gary (revgms) · February 21, 2014, 02:54:36 PM

I love Maine, but we have Le Page, so I get how a state gets a bad wrap from its officials and louder less dudely folk

The_Sleevez · February 21, 2014, 03:35:20 PM

I think Jeff foxworthy said it perfectly. It's not that everyone in the south is a dumb redneck it's just the media likes to find the dumbest and put them on tv. He was discussing rednecks but it applies to bigotry as well.

omrebel · February 24, 2014, 01:37:54 PM

Well dudes, I called the Lee County Clerk's office today during lunch. I'm all good! This is how the conversation went:

Me: "Hello. I received my ordination online last year and a friend of the family asked me to perform their wedding. I have my Certificate of Ordination and a Letter of Good Standing from my church. Do I need to come in and register?"

Clerk: "No sir, you do not have to come in at all. We'll take you at your word for it."

Me: "So, no registration is necessary or anything?"

Clerk: "No sir, that is between you and the lord."

Me: "That is wonderful. Have a great day."

Clerk: "You too."

So, yeah, that was easy man.......

jgiffin · February 24, 2014, 02:29:27 PM

Congrats to you - and to the couple! Now, get working on your ceremony prep!

Yeti · February 24, 2014, 11:00:50 PM

Quote from: omrebel on February 24, 2014, 01:37:54 PM
Well dudes, I called the Lee County Clerk's office today during lunch. I'm all good! This is how the conversation went:

Me: "Hello. I received my ordination online last year and a friend of the family asked me to perform their wedding. I have my Certificate of Ordination and a Letter of Good Standing from my church. Do I need to come in and register?"

Clerk: "No sir, you do not have to come in at all. We'll take you at your word for it."

Me: "So, no registration is necessary or anything?"

Clerk: "No sir, that is between you and the lord."

Me: "That is wonderful. Have a great day."

Clerk: "You too."

So, yeah, that was easy man.......

The First Amendment can be a beautiful thing sometimes.

meekon5 · February 25, 2014, 08:33:21 AM

Quote from: omrebel on February 24, 2014, 01:37:54 PM
Well dudes, I called the Lee County Clerk's office today during lunch. I'm all good! This is how the conversation went:

Me: "Hello. I received my ordination online last year and a friend of the family asked me to perform their wedding. I have my Certificate of Ordination and a Letter of Good Standing from my church. Do I need to come in and register?"

Clerk: "No sir, you do not have to come in at all. We'll take you at your word for it."

Me: "So, no registration is necessary or anything?"

Clerk: "No sir, that is between you and the lord."

Me: "That is wonderful. Have a great day."

Clerk: "You too."

So, yeah, that was easy man.......

Excellent.

Caesar dude · February 26, 2014, 12:52:46 PM

Fantastic!

omrebel · May 02, 2014, 11:16:34 AM

Well dudes, I had meant to post on here early, but was too lazy to do so. I officiated the wedding on April 19th, and everything went great. I was a bit nervous at the start of the ceremony, but I managed to make it through without screwing up, which is righteous man.

The ceremony itself was an adaptation off of a Dudeist wedding ceremony that someone had posted on here, in which I had to change up to be more of a Christian ceremony - although, I did have quite a few "abides" in there.

So, this dude can scratch being an officiant off of the bucket list now.