Universal Life Church

Started in Modesto, California in May, 1962 by Kirby Hensley traces back a further 3 years when Hensley started operating his Life Church from his garage. He based his church around the premise that each person had to find their own religion.

Ever since its inception, the church has advertised the availability of ordinations for a small fee. Anyone could be a minister, no questions asked. In fact, the church also handed out doctorates on a similar basis. By any definition, this was and is an ordination and degree mill.One of Hensley's favored advertising avenues was through Fate Magazine - direct marketing to the metaphysical crowd.

Hensley ran for Governor of California under the banner of his own People's Peace Prosperity Party and replicated that effort in the '72 Presidential elections. His runs were meant to bring about his own prophesy that the State would unite with the Church under his roof.

Associations: Occult groups; Thomas Beckham, Fred Crisman, Kerry Thornley - all members

Assassinations linked to: to JFK via Beckham and Crisman. Thornley was ordained in the 1990s

Assessment: Started by a huckster with a great scheme, but is now almost considered mainstream - even if only by virtue of sheer numbers - and despite the ordination mill tag. Possibly provided cover for various clandestine activities.

Very Sharp Parks.

Yeah Evica did some really interesting stuff with regards to this.
Jim has a link to a review on him.

http://www.ctka.net/reviews/certain_arrogance.html

Beckham went way out of his way to bring the Universal Life Church into Garrison's sights. He cited Hensley's address from memory during his Grand Jury testimony. It was perhaps the clearest point he made in over a hundred and sixty pages of rambling and unbelievably unresponsive testimony.

LBJ had been know to say "What a man does not say is more important than what he does."

In this situation an argument could be made for both sides of that coin.

Steven,

I owe you a massive apology. I had read these replies and had meant to respond at the time, but got side-tracked and just simply forgot to get back to them.

Thank you for the additional information. Great job! Peter Levenda (who prompted me to look here) has now joined the forum. This is one of those neglected areas and hopefully, Peter will weigh in here with anything further he can add.