FAQs
Q. Is online ordination a legal ordination?
A. Yes. As an chartered church The World Reiki Ministry has the same legal rights as any other church. This includes the right to legally ordain ministers, to issue independent church charters, and other legally recognized church activities.
Q. That sounds good, but what is the legal basis of this?
A. In 1974, the United States government was sued by the Universal Life Church in response to the government’s challenge to their right to have a tax-exempt status. When the judge ruled on this case, he also addressed the question of mail-order ordination, independent church charters, etc. While the Universal Life Church is not really a Christian ministry, nevertheless they performed a great service to all non-traditional ministries by fighting this case in court and eventually winning.
The following is excerpted from the court’s decision in this case. The Universal Life Church is referred to as Plaintiff:
“…an Honorary Doctor of Divinity is a strictly religious title with no academic standing. Such titles may be issued by bona fide churches and religious denominations, such as plaintiff, as long as their issuance is limited to a course of instruction in the principles of the church or religious denomination… The statute is silent as to recognized honorary titles conferred for some meritorious recognition.”
The court then addressed the issue of whether the ordination of ministers, granting of church charters, and the issuance of Honorary Doctor of Divinity certificates are substantial activities which do not further any religious purpose. The following is excerpted from the court’s decision:
“Certainly the ordination of ministers and the chartering of churches are accepted activities of religious organizations… The fact that the plaintiff distributed ministers’ credentials and Honorary Doctor of Divinity certificates is of no moment. Such activity may be analogized to mass conversions at a typical revival or religious crusade.”
Now here is the real meat of the court’s decision, and the part that guarantees the legality of your ordination:
“Neither this Court, nor any branch of this Government, will consider the merits or fallacies of a religion. Nor will the Court compare the beliefs, dogmas, and practices of a newly organized religion with those of an older, more established religion. Nor will the Court praise or condemn a religion, however excellent or fanatical or preposterous it may seem. WERE THE COURT TO DO SO, IT WOULD IMPINGE UPON THE GUARANTEES OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT.”
So you can see, your ordination is completely legal and every bit as respectable as an ordination from any other church. If you’d like to read the complete case decision, it’s filed in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, Civil No. S-1954.
The Legality of Distance Ordination
World Reiki Ministry distance ordination puts you on the same level, legally, as ordained clergy from all faiths denominations as well as clergy from other religions. Distance ordination is a religious activity protected by the first amendment. A Federal judge recently ruled to support a newly-formed (non-Christian) church. The IRS had claimed that the church did not deserve tax-exempt status because the ordination of members by mail was not (they claimed) legally a legitimate religious activity. This excerpt from the judge’s ruling verifies the legal status of distance ordination-
“The fact that the plaintiff distributed ministers credentials and Honorary Doctor of Divinity certificates is of no moment. Such activity may be analogized to mass conversions at a typical revival or religious crusade. Neither this Court, nor any branch of this Government, will consider the merits or fallacies of a religion. Nor will the Court compare the beliefs, dogmas, and practices of a newly organized religion with those of an older, more established religion. Nor will the Court praise or condemn a religion, however excellent or fanatical or preposterous it may seem. Were the Court to do so, it would impinge upon the guarantees of the First Amendment.” (Universal Life Church vs United States of America, Federal Court for the Eastern District of California, Civil Case No. S-1954, Filed 3/1/1974)
The First Amendment reads -
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Distance ordination is as legal as any ordination within the United States. The First Amendment guarantees that the government will not discriminate between WRM ordinations and the ordinations of any other denominations.
There can be legal penalties for a person who is not ordained by WRM or any other, but lies and claims that he is ordained on a legal document such as a marriage license. If you actually are ordained, there is no penalty for telling the truth. If you have been ordained by WRM, we will have a record of your name, the requirements you met for ordination, and the date you were ordained. WRM will gladly tell government agencies and private organizations (such as schools and churches) the status of your ordination (valid or invalid) and the date you were ordained. WRM ordination remains valid as long as you obey the laws of the land.
