I know a Lutheran Pastor who married a couple in a church and intentionally did not obtain a marriage license. In my state, Louisiana, ministers of any faith are required by law to obtain a license to make the marriage legal. Now I’ll explain why the Pastor intentionally avoided getting a marriage license. First, one of the couples parents in an Elder in the congregation. Second, the couple did not get a license because they were and are receiving Social Security. They are doing so because were they legally married, they would lose their benefits. Since they don’t have a valid marriage, without a license both are “single” for the legal requirements to obtain Social Security. Obviously they are commiting fraud. Because the Pastor knew of this fraud and performed a marriage without obtaining a license, I know that what he has done is illegal and complicent in his knowledge of the Social Security fraud,and that he has broken some church law or policy, what would would be the consequences to him because he willingly performed an illegal marriage? Would that automatically be grounds for him to be defrocked and expelled from the church body? And what would be the conseqences for the Pastor for performing the marriage ceremony with the knowedge of, and being involved in a conspiracy of The Pastor, the Deacon, and the couple breaking the law?
