                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ORDER AUTHORIZING MINISTERS TO PERFORM CEREMONY (§ 20-23)

When a minister of any religious denomination produces before the circuit court
of any county or city in the Commonwealth, or before the judge of such court or
before the clerk of such court at any time, proof of his ordination and of his
being in regular communion with the religious society of which he is a reputed
member, or proof that he is commissioned to pastoral ministry or holds a local
minister&#8217;s license and is serving as a regularly appointed pastor in his
denomination, such court, or the judge thereof, or the clerk of such court at
any time, may make an order authorizing such minister to celebrate the rites of
matrimony in the Commonwealth. Any order made under this section may be
rescinded at any time by the court or by the judge thereof. No oath shall be
required of a minister authorized to celebrate the rites of matrimony, nor shall
such minister be considered an officer of the Commonwealth by virtue of such
authorization.

HISTORY: Code 1919, §§ 5079, 5080; 1962, c. 362; 1980, c. 154; 1981, c. 295;
2012, c. 565; 2016, c. 611.