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A Different Fight for Marriage Equality
The Humanist:On Monday, March 24, 2014, I received a phone call from a woman seeking a humanist wedding officiant. It was a pleasant surprise and a good way to start the week. She told me about herself and about her fiancée, the story of where and how they met, and the life they wanted to share together as married partners. She let me know that they had obtained a marriage license in Fulton County, Georgia, and asked if I would agree to perform their wedding ceremony in scenic Piedmont Park, which is located in Midtown Atlanta.
I’d been certified as a humanist celebrant (HC) by the Humanist Society since April of last year, but this was to be the first wedding I would perform in this capacity. Needless to say, I was very excited and looked forward to the possibility of officiating their wedding. Humanist celebrants have the same legal weight and privileges as traditional clergy, rabbis, preachers, ministers, priests, and so forth, because we are members of the Humanist Society, an organization with 501(c)(3) status. Founded in 1939, it is now a part of the American Humanist Association.
Since I’m an atheist and a former clergywoman, this is a perfect way to reuse skills and expertise that I developed as a minister in the United Methodist Church, but with a very different focus as the officiant of secular ceremonies for those who, for one reason or another, would rather leave gods and religion out of their special moments or milestones. In terms of legalities, each state has its own rules as to who can actually perform a wedding, but the Georgia Code states that, “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” can perform a wedding.
Before I agreed to perform their marriage ceremony, I called the Fulton County Probate Courthouse to make sure that I had a clear sense of what was required of me. I was informed that since they already had obtained the marriage license, I needed to verify and sign it at the time of the wedding. The signed license was to be returned to the Probate Court thereafter by either one of us; me or the couple, and at that time, the marriage certificate would be issued. As far as I knew, everything was a go, and we proceeded with the wedding later that day in Piedmont Park. After brief introductions the wedding ceremony was performed with the declaration of intent, exchanging of vows and rings, and the pronouncement of marriage, all before a backdrop of the lovely Midtown skyline near the pond located in the center of the park. A few days after the wedding, the bride called to inform me that they were at the Fulton County Probate Courthouse where a clerk had a question about my credentials. After several minutes of troubling conversations with the clerk and her supervisor, I was told that Judge James Brock had refused to sign the certificate. “Who are you?” the clerk asked me in reference to the title “Humanist Celebrant,” which I was required to provide on the license. Obviously, the clerk and the rest of the Fulton County Probate Court had never heard the term, nor had they heard of the Humanist Society. After a few more phone calls, I was informed that it was Judge Brock’s final decision to deny the certificate and, hence, it was clear that the couple would have to be married again.
I’d been certified as a humanist celebrant (HC) by the Humanist Society since April of last year, but this was to be the first wedding I would perform in this capacity. Needless to say, I was very excited and looked forward to the possibility of officiating their wedding. Humanist celebrants have the same legal weight and privileges as traditional clergy, rabbis, preachers, ministers, priests, and so forth, because we are members of the Humanist Society, an organization with 501(c)(3) status. Founded in 1939, it is now a part of the American Humanist Association.
Since I’m an atheist and a former clergywoman, this is a perfect way to reuse skills and expertise that I developed as a minister in the United Methodist Church, but with a very different focus as the officiant of secular ceremonies for those who, for one reason or another, would rather leave gods and religion out of their special moments or milestones. In terms of legalities, each state has its own rules as to who can actually perform a wedding, but the Georgia Code states that, “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” can perform a wedding.
Before I agreed to perform their marriage ceremony, I called the Fulton County Probate Courthouse to make sure that I had a clear sense of what was required of me. I was informed that since they already had obtained the marriage license, I needed to verify and sign it at the time of the wedding. The signed license was to be returned to the Probate Court thereafter by either one of us; me or the couple, and at that time, the marriage certificate would be issued. As far as I knew, everything was a go, and we proceeded with the wedding later that day in Piedmont Park. After brief introductions the wedding ceremony was performed with the declaration of intent, exchanging of vows and rings, and the pronouncement of marriage, all before a backdrop of the lovely Midtown skyline near the pond located in the center of the park. A few days after the wedding, the bride called to inform me that they were at the Fulton County Probate Courthouse where a clerk had a question about my credentials. After several minutes of troubling conversations with the clerk and her supervisor, I was told that Judge James Brock had refused to sign the certificate. “Who are you?” the clerk asked me in reference to the title “Humanist Celebrant,” which I was required to provide on the license. Obviously, the clerk and the rest of the Fulton County Probate Court had never heard the term, nor had they heard of the Humanist Society. After a few more phone calls, I was informed that it was Judge Brock’s final decision to deny the certificate and, hence, it was clear that the couple would have to be married again.
Why does anyone, religious or not, require any special credentials to officiate at a wedding?
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