Rev. Allyson Szabo
My name is Allyson Szabo, and I am a 39 year old woman with much life experience. Even at a young age, my interest in elaborate ceremonies to celebrate life changes was evident. As a youngster, I would marry my toys in long and complex ceremonies. As I got older, I spent many hours reading through religious texts, ranging widely from Bible to Koran to Torah, and eventually to modern pagan texts.
I performed my first marriage in the State of Washington in the early 1990s, for friends who didn't want a traditional ceremony. I had been studying modern pagan religions for some time, and was accustomed to writing unusual services. They asked me to marry them, so I got my license to marry from the Universal Life Church, registered with the county in question, and wrote my first unique wedding ceremony.
Since then, I have performed dozens of weddings, a few funerals, a handful of baby blessings, and a variety of other, personal ceremonies for friends, family, and those who have heard of my services. I pride myself on designing ceremonies that bring out and highlight the personalities involved.
My license to marry is granted through the ULC, and is legal in most US states, and in some other parts of the world, too. At any time, the various states can choose to change their licensing rules, and I make it a habit to keep up to date on marriage laws in our country.
I believe very strongly in the right to marry, either legally or religiously, any adult person (or persons!) you wish. I am proud to have performed joining ceremonies for lesbian and gay couples, even if those ceremonies have no legal ground in many areas. I believe in the universal right to love whomever you choose. I also believe that all love should be celebrated, and I enjoy helping others celebrate their love with family and friends!
I am currently attending Seminary at The New Seminary in New York City, as a correspondence student. My first year is complete, and I have learned a tremendous amount in my time there. At the end of my second year, I will receive ordination through TNS, complementing my license granted by ULC. It comes with two intense years of work and growth, study and homework, all of which lending a depth of experience and love to my ever-growing repetoire.