Universal Life Church

Universal Life Church
File:Ulc-seal.png
Leader	Andre Hensley
Region	Worldwide
Founder	Kirby J. Hensley
Origin	May 2, 1962 Modesto, California
Separations	Progressive Universal Life Church (defunct); Universal Life Monastery Storehouse, Inc. [1]; Universal Life Church World Headquarters, Inc. Others
Ministers	18,000,000+
Official website	www.ulchq.com

The Universal Life Church (or ULC) is a religious organization that offers anyone semi-immediate ordination as a ULC minister. The organization states that anyone can become a Minister without having to go through the pre-ordination process required by other religious faiths. The ordination application, however, must be checked by a human in order to be official; therefore, true ordination usually takes a few days later at the church's headquarters in Modesto, California. The ULC's ordinations are issued in the belief that all people are already ordained by God, however personally defined, and that the ULC is merely recognizing this fact.

Overview

The ULC has no traditional doctrine, believing as an organization merely in doing "that which is right." Each individual has the privilege and responsibility to determine what is right for him or her as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others. The Church does not stand between the member and his or her belief system.

The ULC's stated beliefs are as follows:

• Objective: Eternal Progression.
• Goal: A Fuller Life for Everyone.
• Slogan: To Live and Help Live.
• Maxim: "We Are One."

History

The ULC was founded in 1959 under the name "Life Church" by the Reverend Kirby J. Hensley. He operated the church out of his garage. Disappointed with the Pentecostal church, Hensley decided to venture on his own to find his religion. After five years of studying various religions, according to his own statements, Hensley concluded that the proper religion may differ for each man, and everyone is entitled to choose his or her own religion. No one should be criticized or condemned for wanting to practice the belief of his or her choice.

In 1958, Hensley and his second wife, Lida, moved to Modesto, California. There, he founded the Universal Life Church in 1959 as Life Church, later incorporating in California on the May 2, 1962 as Universal Life Church with Co-Founder and (then) Vice President Lewis Ashmore. Hensley served as the minister of the congregation and President of the Board of Directors until his death in 1999. The Church spread throughout the West Coast, and today claims to have congregations located all over the United States and parts of Canada and many other parts of the world. The organization also states it has a membership of 22 million ULC ministers worldwide.

1960s and 1970s

During the 1960s and 1970s, many people in the USA became ministers in the ULC because they believed that being a minister either would help keep them from being drafted into military service during the Vietnam War or would enable them to get income tax relief as members of the clergy. Both of these beliefs have always been false, as merely being ordained does not exempt a person from compulsory military service, and ministers as individuals receive no tax benefit; only churches themselves are tax exempt. Ministers do have the option of applying for exemption from Social Security taxes; however, this may limit eligibility for Social Security benefits. Also, this exemption applies only to ministers whose income comes from religious services and applies only to such income.

The Universal Life Church was referenced by Abbie Hoffman in his 1970 book Steal This Book, which encouraged readers to request an ordination from the ULC, receive notification of the ordination, and then cut out and laminate a card indicating the new minister's ordination. He regarded the ULC as "unquestionably one of the best deals going", but also made the mistake of assuming that a ULC ordination would entitle ordained persons to discounts and tax exemptions.

On the Sept 26, 1976, the Universal Life Church was featured on the CBS News magazine 60 Minutes with Morley Safer interviewing Rev. Hensley, his attorney, various ministers of the ULC, and an official of the IRS. The interview is available for viewing online. Safer begins his report by stating that the ULC is the "fastest growing church in America." Rev. Hensley discusses his belief in tax law and cites the fact that larger, established churches are tax exempt. It is also revealed that other, more traditional religious leaders, such as the Rev. Dr. Billy Graham also have honorary church doctorates, that were not earned through academic study. Rev. Hensley airs his belief that large established churches are not serving "the little man" and that he hopes to make ministers so common that they loose any special status. Safer frames his report as Rev. Hensley as a confidence man, or "con man." Safer does not explore the theme of individual religious liberty. Later on Dec. 5, 2007, in a CBS online article "Con Men and Crooks" by Rebecca Leung, Safer remembers Rev. Hensley as a tax rebel.

The CBS News 60 Minutes interview from 1976 by Morley Safer was posted on CBS.com a second time, on April 10, 2011, under the headline, "Jesus Saves: Become a Minister, save on taxes." The accompanying text again focused on the ULC's tax status, stating, "...Hensley's battle with the IRS didn't go his way. The government accused [Rev. Kirby] Hensley of operating a business, not a church, and charged him for failing to file the proper tax returns from 1978 to 1980. In 1984, the IRS yanked Universal Life Church's tax-exempt status. In 2000, the church finally settled with the government and paid a million dollar-plus fine. What did Kirby Hensley have to say about that? Nothing - he passed away in 1999 and never had to acknowledge any wrong-doing. By the way, Universal Life Church is still going strong and, in keeping with the times, now offers online ordination!"

1980s–present

Upon Rev. Kirby Hensley's death, his wife, Rev. Lida G. Hensley, was elected President of the Church. She served until her death in 2006. On January 14, 2007, the ULC's Board of Directors elected the Hensley's son Andre Hensley as President. He had previously been the office manager of the Headquarters, running the day-to-day business of the Church.

After the death of Rev. Kirby Hensley, the ULC took out their first advertisement in FATE magazine to reach the metaphysical community. The Modesto congregation grew rapidly. The Church spread throughout the West Coast, and today claims to have congregations located all over the United States and parts of Canada and many other parts of the world. The organization also states it has a membership of 22 million ULC ministers worldwide.

The Church was profiled by The Modesto Bee in 2001 in an article, Universal Life Church Still Churning Out Ministers, by Lisa Millegan. This article, which profiles the Church during its transition following the death of its founder, was later republished by Belief Net, a website owned by News Corp.

In 2003 the New York Times featured the ULC in "Need to be a Minister? How about your Brother?."

The Modesto Bee profiled the ULC again on March 7, 2009 in "Universal Life Goes On" by Sue Nowicki, who interviewed Rev. Andre Hensley. Rev. Andre Hensley reported his income to be about $36,000 per year, that the church was tax exempt, and that he had about eight adult and eight children attend Sunday services. Services combined scripture reading, song, inspirational words, and poetry. Nowicki also reported that the late Rev. Kirby Hensley had been interviewed, in addition to 60 Minutes, on Larry King Live, Donahue and was featured in Time and Newsweek magazines. The report concludes with some of Rev. Kirby Hensley's most memorable quotes, such as "Jesus was a good actor."

CNN interviewed Rev. Andre Hensley in a report on April 10, 2010. Again, like 60 Minutes, the focus was on tax issues. Rev. Andre Hensley stated that people should pay the taxes that they owe.

Ordination and ULC clergy

As of early 2009, ULC was sending out between 8,500 and 10,000 ordination certificates each month. Between 1962 and 2008, it sent out almost 18 million, worldwide.

Ordination in the ULC is easy to ascertain, and what makes the ordination complete is its registry with the ULC home church. People are drawn to the church for many different reasons. Some, including many who have already been ordained into the ranks of more traditional churches, join the ULC in order to express their support for the church's mission to preserve and protect freedom of religion.

Some people have turned to the ULC for ordination after being denied by their own church due to their gender or sexual orientation. Others become ordained in order to officiate at the wedding of a friend or loved one.

The Universal Life Church of Modesto holds weekly church services in a historic church building in Modesto. ULC ministers are authorized by the church to officiate weddings, funerals and perform baptisms, to officiate funerals or baptisms ordination is not required. Ordination through the ULC allows an individual to only officiate weddings over and above what the 1st Amendment already allows, to suggest otherwise would be an infringement of an individuals rights afforded to them by law. All ministers in the ULC are also authorized and encouraged to ordain others as ministers in the church. The ordaining minister informs the home church of the ordination, and the new minister's information is added to the official church records.

Beliefs

Dedicated ULC members state that they truly believe in freedom of religion. In other words, they want every member to be able to pursue their own beliefs without interference from the government, church or other religious agencies, or any other outside agency. Their one creed (or doctrine) is

Do only that which is right.

Any person may associate themselves with the Church and, if they feel it is appropriate, request ordination as a minister. Any person may be ordained as a minister as discussed above.

Ministers are allowed to follow their own belief system path; ministers of the Church may follow a traditional Christian belief system, they may follow other world religions, they may blend various faith traditions, or they may be agnostic or atheist. The latter may serve as humanist ministers or non-religious celebrants. Humanist ministers or celebrants may also, simultaneously, be registered by the Humanist Society, a non-related group.[6]

The Universal Life Church is similar in some respects to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), although the two were never affiliated. The ULC is sometimes said to be a liberal church with many conservative members. This aspect attracts some individuals to the ULC who are uncomfortable with the liberal activism and social views held by the UUA. Church meetings typically allow all present to speak, a practice similar to services conducted by the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers. The difference is that there are no clergy within the Quaker congregations and all are welcome to the ministry of the ULC.

Honorary degrees and titles

The Universal Life Church offers Honorary degrees and/or titles

Legal status

Main article: Legal status of the Universal Life Church

Since its inception, the Universal Life Church has come into legal conflicts over such issues as the validity of ordinations and the tax-exempt status of the organization. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has ruled that the Church was tax-exempt some years, and not tax-exempt other years, based on the annual filing statement required of non-profit organizations.

Authority to solemnize marriage and other rites of the church

A large number of people seeking ULC Ordination do so in order to be able to legally officiate at weddings or perform other spiritual rites. This aspect of the ULC has provided relief to interfaith couples or same-sex couples experiencing difficulty in getting their union performed in a religious atmosphere. Some people living in remote areas also use their status as ordained ULC ministers to meet the marriage officiant needs of their communities.

Within the United States, all fifty states theoretically authorize ministers who are ordained and authorized by their church to officiate marriages. In most states, ordination as a minister is the only requirement for a minister to be able to officiate lawful weddings. Some states require additional documentation, such as a "letter of good standing" or that the minister present his or her credential of ordination and register. One state, Missouri, also requires that the minister must be a United States citizen, and some states specify that the minister must be at least 18 years of age (although this is probably a presumed requirement in all states, since the minister will attest to a legal document).

Some states do not even require actual ordination, but permit those who declare themselves to be ministers to officiate marriage. ULC ministers wishing to perform legal weddings should refer to the local authority in the jurisdiction where the marriage is to occur for specific information about jurisdictional issues and requirements.

Outside the U.S., some countries are very liberal in this regard. Japan, for example, will recognize anyone who claims him- or herself to be a minister, regardless of church affiliation. Many developing countries are also quite liberal in their restrictions and definitions.

On the other hand, several major countries are quite restrictive. In Canada, ULC ministers have been authorized to solemnize marriage only in a few local jurisdictions. In many other countries, ULC ministers have no authority to solemnize lawful marriage. Some ministers avoid this complication by meeting requirements to solemnize a civil ceremony, which might include being registered as a notary public or a justice of the peace. In some places, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, religion and government are one, and anyone caught promoting a religious practice outside of the government complex can be subjected to severe punishment.

In many countries, including much of continental Europe, Turkey, Japan and the countries of the former Soviet Union, only marriages performed by the state in a civil ceremony are recognised legally. It is customary for couples who wish a religious—or any other—ceremony to hold one separately from the civil wedding.

The Universal Life Church authorizes its ordained ministers to perform weddings, baptisms/naming ceremonies, and funerals. They may hold meetings and services. The church also allows its ministers to perform other rites and sacraments to fulfill the needs of the congregation. The church has a course which qualifies its ministers to provide religious counseling.

Academic Study

The Universal Life Church as been the subject of serious study. The following scholarly articles, published in academic journals, feature the Universal Life Church:

1. "Guests of Space" Anselm Hollo Chicago Review, Vol. 45, No. 3/4 (1999), pp. 56-60

2. "Tax Problems Posed by Pseudo-Religious Movements" Robert L. Beebe Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 446, The Uneasy Boundary: Church and State (Nov., 1979), pp. 91-105

3. "Religious Nonprofits and the Commercial Manner Test" Trevor A. Brown The Yale Law Journal, Vol. 99, No. 7 (May, 1990), pp. 1631-1650

4. "Review: The Last Supper by Ed Schmidt" Review by: Lars Parker-Myers Theatre Journal, Vol. 55, No. 3, Dance (Oct., 2003), pp. 541-542

5. "Hogshead Chronicles" Peter Kostakis Chicago Review, Vol. 25, No. 3 (1973), pp. 125-134

6. "Governmental Attempts to Define Church and Religion" Charles M. Whelan Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 446, The Uneasy Boundary: Church and State (Nov., 1979), pp. 32-51

7. "Review: Religion, State and the Burger Court by Leo Pfeffer" Review by: Robert J. Sickels Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 486, Regulating Campaign Finance (Jul., 1986), pp. 183-184

8. "Review: A Member of the Family: Strategies for Black Family Continuity by Ann Creighton Zollar" Review by: Marie Richmond-Abbott Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 486, Regulating Campaign Finance (Jul., 1986), pp. 184-185

9. "Review: The Finance of Religion: Praise the Lord and Pass the Contribution by Alan Bestic" Review by: Nigel Melville Fortnight, No. 16 (Apr. 30, 1971), pp. 17-18

10. "New Periodicals" Stephen M. Fry Notes, Second Series, Vol. 44, No. 2 (Dec., 1987), pp. 293-296

11. "Crisis in the Northeast" David D. Palmer, Cynthia H. Adams Academe, Vol. 78, No. 1 (Jan. - Feb., 1992), pp. 20-23

12. "Church Wealth and Tax Exemptions" C. Stanley Lowell The Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 50, No. 9 (May, 1969), pp. 534-537

13. "M.A. Required, Ph.D. Preferred: An Odyssey inside the Bogus Diploma Circuit" Edward St. Patrick F. X. McQuaid The Phi Delta Kappan, Vol. 69, No. 9 (May, 1988), pp. K1-K12

14. "Religion: The Psychedelic Perspective: The Freedom of Religion Defense" Mark R. Brown American Indian Law Review, Vol. 11, No. 2 (1983), pp. 125-156

15. "Mah-Jongg: A Radio Play Based on the Novel "Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book"" Maxine Hong Kingston, Earll Kingston California History, Vol. 68, No. 4, Envisioning California (Winter, 1989/1990), pp. 248-259

16. "Stratification and Conflict among Prison Inmates" James B. Jacobs The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1973-), Vol. 66, No. 4 (Dec., 1975), pp. 476-482

17. "Diversion of Church Funds to Personal Use: State, Federal and Private Sanctions" Barry W. Taylor The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (1973-), Vol. 73, No. 3 (Autumn, 1982), pp. 1204-1237

18. "Freedom of Religion versus Civil Authority in Matters of Health" Ronald B. Flowers Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 446, The Uneasy Boundary: Church and State (Nov., 1979), pp. 149-161

19. "Parody and Pacifist Transformations in Maxine Hong Kingston's Tripmaster Monkey: His Fake Book" A. Noelle Williams MELUS, Vol. 20, No. 1, Chinese-American Literature (Spring, 1995), pp. 83-100

20. "A Brief for the Free Exercise Clause" Stephen Pepper Journal of Law and Religion, Vol. 7, No. 2 (1989), pp. 323-362

21. "The Protection of Individual Choice: A Consistent Understanding of Religion under the First Amendment" Gail Merel The University of Chicago Law Review, Vol. 45, No. 4 (Summer, 1978), pp. 805-843

22. "Religious Marginality and the Free Exercise Clause" Frank Way, Barbara J. Burt The American Political Science Review, Vol. 77, No. 3 (Sep., 1983), pp. 652-665

23. "Authentic Watermelon: Maxine Hong Kingston's American Novel" Elliott H. Shapiro MELUS, Vol. 26, No. 1, Varieties of the Ethnic Experience (Spring, 2001), pp. 5-28

24. "Jealous Guardians in the Psychedelic Kingdom: Federal Regulation of Electricity Contracts in Bankruptcy" Indraneel Sur University of Pennsylvania Law Review, Vol. 152, No. 5 (May, 2004), pp. 1697-1744

25. "Financing Health Care and the Effect of the Tax Law" Robert S. Bromberg Law and Contemporary Problems, Vol. 39, No. 4, Federal Taxation and Charitable Organizations (Autumn, 1975), pp. 156-182

26. "Driven from the Tribunal: Judicial Resolution of Internal Church Disputes" Ira Mark Ellman California Law Review, Vol. 69, No. 5 (Sep., 1981), pp. 1378-1444

27. "Toward a Constitutional Definition of Religion" Harvard Law Review, Vol. 91, No. 5 (Mar., 1978), pp. 1056-1089

28. "The Expanding Constitutional Protection for the News Media from Liability for Defamation: Predictability and the New Synthesis" Michigan Law Review, Vol. 70, No. 8 (Aug., 1972), pp. 1547-1580

29. "Smith and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act: An Iconoclastic Assessment" James E. Ryan Virginia Law Review, Vol. 78, No. 6 (Sep., 1992), pp. 1407-1462

30. "Religion or Ideology: A Needed Clarification of the Religion Clauses" Stanley Ingber Stanford Law Review, Vol. 41, No. 2 (Jan., 1989), pp. 233-333

31. "Contributors' Notes" Ploughshares, Vol. 26, No. 4 (Winter, 2000/2001), pp. 215-222

Popular Culture

Big Love In Season 5 of the HBO drama Big Love, which features a polygamous Mormon sect, the Universal Life Church was discussed in a scene when the character Barb Hendrickson, portrayed by Jeanne Tripplehorn, is ordained by the ULC to conduct a legal marriage ceremony. The character states that the ULC is "nondemoninational." She later acts as a celebrant for a legal marriage for her legal ex-husband and sister-wife.

Radar Online The popular entertainment website Radar Online has published a feature article with photographs highlighting a number of celebrities who are ordained ULC ministers.

Celebrity Ministers

• List of ministers of the Universal Life Church

Notable ULC Charter Churches, Ministries, and Affiliates

Universal Life Bookstore

The Universal Life Bookstore, or ulc.net, is based in Folsom, California and is the only third-party website "authorized" by the ULC Headquarters. It sells a variety of ULC publications, and also features online prayer requests, an online confession, and hosts a forum for ULC ministers.

Universal Life Seminary

Quest Ministries operates the Universal Life Seminary, based in Elk Grove, California. (The Universal Life Seminary is affiliated to the ULC because the minister that operates it is a minister in good standing with the ULC.) The seminary is operated by Rev. Amy Eileen Long, who attended seminary at the Church of Divine Man and established the Seminary in the wake of the schism between the Universal Life Church and the Universial Life Church Monastary Storehouse. The Universal Life Seminary does have some theological beliefs that differ from the ULC Headquarters and the seminary's website states that Rev. "Amy's personal beliefs lean heavily towards spirituality and the focus of the site is geared towards finding personal truth." Further the Seminary criticises the ULC founder, stating on its homepage, "Over the years, the ULC has gotten a bad reputation with members of some religious organizations because of the appearance of being totally non-religious (and in the case of Rev. Hensley's teachings, anti-religious)."

In addition to wedding celebrant services and books, the seminary offers, as of March 2012, twenty-eight on-line courses from a spiritual perspective, as well as some from various world religioun perspectives,

The Universal Life Seminary grants a "degree" for completion of each of their online courses. Students are named either a "master" or "doctor" of their course topic. The Seminary also grants honorary doctorate, masters and bachelors degrees. There is no known statement on the website to qualify that these degrees are not equivalent to academic degrees.

Despite its "spiritual" worldview, the Universal Life Seminary specifically welcomes and promotes people of all beliefs.[7] The seminary does not claim, however, to speak for the Universal Life Church as a whole, but offers one of many paths to interested individuals. (See jy3502.hubpages.com/hub/Views-on-the-Universal-Life-Church, URL currently blacklisted by Wikipedia)

Universal Life Church in the UK

The Universal Life Church in the UK is an online forum for British ministers. It states that, "the ULC is a Multi-Faith Church and as such does not hold any faith superior to another. All who seek to do what is right are welcome." This suggest a belief in religious relativism and excludes people without belief in the supernatural.

Kathy Griffin

Comedian, actress, and Rev. Kathy Griffin is a minister of the Universal Life Church and may be the church's most high profile marriage celebrant. She occasionally conducts mariage ceremonies that are reported in the popular and entertainment press. She credits her assistant for helping her find the church online so she could solemnize marriages.

Rev. Dr. Michael Newdow, Esq.

Attorney, physician, and prominent Atheist Michael Newdow became a ULC minister in 1977. He sued his child's school district over the current Pledge of Allegiance because after 1959 the words "under God" were inserted. Beliefnet says, 'But it was only when he brought the pledge suit did he begin signing his full name "Rev. Dr. Michael Newdow.' 'Back then,' he says, 'I just thought it was cool.'"

Poor Richard's Universal Life Church (defunct)

Poor Richard's Universal Life Church was founded by atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair, who was ordained by the Universal Life Church in 1970. O'Hair's ULC Church was granted tax-exempt status and she was able to continue her print press that produced atheist materials under the protection of a church after local Austin, Texas authorities claimed her activities constituted a business in contravention of local zoning ordinances. Churches faced no such zoning impediment. O'Hair was a bishop of the ULC. O'Hair was founder of American Atheists in 1963, and that organization still exists today.

The Jedi Sancutary (defunct)

The Jedi Sanctuary was ULC congregation number 61842. They operated a website and messageboard, JediSancutary.org. Their focus was on the underly philophy that inspired George Lucas to create the Jedi in the Star Wars movies. Part of their philosophy was based upon the writings of Joseph Campbell. Part of the website is preserved at the Internet Archive at http://web.archive.org/web/20090129182500/http://jedisanctuary.org/.

Intertribal Forum

The ULC Intertribal Forum is a web-based community for ULC ministers with an interest in pagan spirituality. That state that they "are oriented on all things religious and spiritual. We do have a decidedly Pagan atmosphere, but all paths and beliefs are welcome. Ordainment by the Universal Life Church is not required to join and participate at ULC Tribal."

Schisms and Separations

Many individuals and groups have chosen to strike out in a new direction from the Universal Life Church. Some of them have chosen to continue to use the "Universal Life" name and some have also claimed to be the original church established in 1959, which has caused confusion. Additionally some break-away individuals or groups have also aquired websites with similar URLs to the Universal Life Church website and have not created separate online identities on publicly accessible forms and databases. Other groups have separated from the Universal Life Church on friendly terms and have adopted their own identities.

Progressive Universal Life Church

The Progressive Universal Life Church (PULC) appeared in media reports and was listed online as late as 2010 as "a worldwide ministry allowing individuals to become ordained ministers to share their faith, and offering certificates, degrees, diplomas to help you in your spiritual journey. A spin-off of the ULC, the PULC offers very similar services.". The Progressive Universal Life Church website now redirects to the Church of Spiritual Humanism, Inc., based in Jenkinstown, Pennsylvania.

ULC Monastery Storehouse, Inc.

The Universal Life Church Monastery Storehouse, Inc. filed for non-profit incorporation status with the State of Washington in 2006 and was granted such in 2009.

The Monastery states that the "early history of The Monastery had never been publicly understood...The Monastery was originally a homeless shelter, inspected and condoned by Rev. Hensley and Rev. Zimmerman as a place of worship and celebration through dance and understanding. The original Monastery existed from 1977 – 1985, at which time, due to the acceptance of gay, straight, black, white, young and old, it was the target of many fundamentalists, who objected and could not conceive that all of god’s children could celebrate with each other under the same roof."

The Monastery uses the slogan “We are all Children of the Same Universe”. The Monastery's symbol is a row of thirteen religious symbols representing various faiths.

Like the ULC Headquarters and the ULC Seminary, the Monastery also confers a number of honorary degrees and individuals may take whatever title they desire. A letter of good standing for ministers costs $18.00.

The Monastery lists the following as beneficiaries of its charity: Children's Hospital Center, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, New Beginnings (a shelter for battered women), Seattle Education Access, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and Lambert House (a shelter for youth with gender identity or sexual orientation issues).

The Monastery operates a number of websites, including themonastery.org and ulc.org.

The Monastery enumerates its grievances with the ULC Headquarters, and the breakaway ULCWH at http://www.universal-life-church.com.

ULCWH

An organization calling itself the "Universal Life Church World Headquarters" and the "ULCNETWORK" opened a website at www.ulcnetwork.com. It claims to be "the only Universal Life Church to offer to you Legal Christian Faith Based Ordination" and further claims to be non-profit and is a "Member of The Committee of NGO's to The United Nations. The ULCWH is a separation from the ULC Monastery Storehouse, Inc. after the Monastery separated from the Universal Life Church. On a posting on BeliefNet.com Brother Michael states, "In addition we are HQ for the Order of St Michaels (OSM) a Christian religious Order of brothers or sisters located throughout the world."

The Universal Life Church World Headquarters, Inc. is a separate entity from the Universal Life Church, Inc. of Modesto, CA. (Founded as Life Church in 1959). The Universal Life Church World Headquarters, Inc. has never been a part thereof and unlike the ULC in Modesto, the Universal Life Church World Headquarters, Inc., has a Traditional Doctrine, whereas ordinations are performed within the Christian Doctrine of Faith.

External links

• Universal Life Church Headquarters, Inc.
• List of Universal Life Ministers
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