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2012 SESSION

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12100309D
SENATE BILL NO. 249 Senate Amendments in [ ] -- January 18, 2012 A BILL to amend and reenact § 20-23 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the authorization of commissioned lay pastors to perform marriage ceremonies. ---------- Patron Prior to Engrossment--Senator Obenshain ---------- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 20-23 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 20-23. Order authorizing ministers to perform ceremony.

When a minister of any religious denomination shall produce before the circuit court of any county or city in this 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 [ a commissioned lay pastor commissioned to pastoral ministry ] or holds a local minister'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 this Commonwealth. Any order made under this section may be rescinded at any time by the court or by the judge thereof.