Dudism Wedding In Georgia?

reblev · August 20, 2014, 03:54:31 PM

My friends asked me to officiate their wedding. Does anyone know if Dudeism is a "recognized" religion is Georgia?

Masked Dude · August 20, 2014, 05:57:32 PM

The closest I can find is in Georgia Statutes, Title 19, Chapter 3, Article 2.

O.C.G.A. 19-3-30(c) is very vague, just mentioning "Governor or any former Governor of this state, any judge, including judges of state and federal courts of record in this state, city recorder, magistrate, minister, or other person of any religious society or sect authorized by the rules of such society to perform the marriage ceremony... "

Generally speaking, any legally ordained minister is viewed by the state to be allowed to perform marriages. I can't find anything that specifically requires a letter of good standing. Nothing states anything about specific churches. (For instance, in my state of NC, the ULC is specifically not allowed to perform marriages.)

I'll try to find out more.

reblev · August 20, 2014, 08:40:32 PM

Yeah, I read the code. I'm a lawyer, and none of my coworkers or I could even figure out the straight answer. I'm calling the court clerk tomorrow to find out, but I'm sure they will have no clue what Dudeism is. I am Jewish and was asked to preform the ceremony, but I don't feel comfortable becoming ordained by the online seminaries that are based in Christianity. Even ULC was founded on Christianity. It seems worse than converting to be ordained in another faith. Dudeism however seems like less of an issue to me.

Masked Dude · August 20, 2014, 09:04:26 PM

Oh, OK. Sorry for stepping on toes. I just can't stay away from Westlaw and research for long. My professor would be happy.

reblev · August 21, 2014, 08:50:51 AM

Oh no you're not stepping on toes! I appreciate you looking it up. And good for you for mastering Westlaw. It was the bane of my existence in law school. This is just another example where a state makes the law too generalized for us to know the parameters so I will be calling the clerks office today and hope they have an answer. I'll let everyone know what I find out!

reblev · August 21, 2014, 09:06:40 AM

As usual, the clerk was useless. She said "Oh we wouldn't know which religions are recognized in Georgia." How would they not know that? They are the entity that issues the marriage licenses, and should know what religions qualify to legally perform a marriage. She did mention having IRS exemption as a religion, and was snarky that most ministers wouldn't have to call and ask this question. When I explained it was on online ordination she said "most of those sound like businesses. Anyone can sign the marriage license and we assume it is legitimate, but the marriage may really not be legal." So it looks like Georgia requires more traditional, established religions.

The Daryl · August 21, 2014, 10:09:21 AM

Hope you win in the end Reb... Sorting it out. Personally, I just look at it like this: If captains of a fucking boat (even if it's practically a bathtub) have rights to do it, why can't anyone else?

(Also sorta bummed there's a state that refutes ULC? wtf....)

rhinoDude420 · August 21, 2014, 02:46:14 PM

its not for the state to decide what is or is not a 'valid' religion, right? dudeism is just as legit as anything else would be I would think. but we are in the backwards ass bible belt and my opinion doesn't count for anything I reckon. I live in GA and am getting married here sometime next year... fianc? is catholic, certainly not getting married in the church but not sure who will perform the ceremony. if you find out any more details please let us know, i'd like to know my options here.

take 'er easy

Ynot Dude · August 21, 2014, 07:32:31 PM

Just FYI, a ships captain isn't allowed to perform marriages unless he/she is a judge, justice of the peace, minister or officially recognized official, notary or what not. That's in the US, other countries have different laws. I asked about performing weddings last year here in Florida and received the same non committal answer. What to do?
Always abiding,

jgiffin · August 21, 2014, 07:53:08 PM

As is usually the case, the law is whatever the bureaucrat de jour says the law is. If you get past that vichy asshole, then it's good unless challenged. No one would have cause, let alone standing, to challenge the marriage besides the participants. So, the real question is whether you've advised them to get a good pre-nup.

Figster · July 23, 2015, 04:51:59 PM

So, we do not know what religions are recognized by the State of Georgia. They don't know what religions they recognize.. So only way to tell is to perform a ceremony and see what happens. Only if they are challenged will we ever know. Unfortunately that is playing with peoples lives, and I'm not into that man. We need to find a way to get some kind of way to get a straight answer. I think it what boils down to is.. Does the Church of Latter-Day Dude have an IRS exemption filed for religion?

Figster · July 23, 2015, 05:54:57 PM

Ok, after checking some more, I stumbled into this:

http://testtube.com/testtubenews/when-does-the-us-legally-recognize-a-religion/

This means that technically they can not say what religion is "recognized". If you say you are a religion, they kind of have to accept that. Does not work the same way for the IRS. They have criteria. So now the question to answer is, Since they can not say who or what religion is recognized, should any ordained minister should be able to perform a marriage? The "Recognized religion" part may actually be unconstitutional, and may be why I can not find a record of a marriage being challenged as legal or not under a minister.