A local minister is hoping to open better lines of communication with the Ontario government.
Reverend David Shearman of Central Westside United in Owen Sound says he’s noticed ongoing problems with a government website.
The website lists all ministers of every religion that are authorized to perform weddings within our province.
Shearman says the website has outdated information – including listings for clergy who are retired or have given up their licence.
He says he was listed as serving a community that he hasn’t lived in for eight years, and it took two months to get that information corrected.
The government has told Shearman that it’s the responsibility of the churches to keep the information up to date.
However, Shearman says they have to do it by writing a letter, which can take some time.
He says even when they send in the proper information, some of it still gets overlooked.
Shearman says this can cause all kinds of problems for citizens, because when you get married, you’re creating a new set of legal identification.
The reverend feels the only way to address the issue is to go through the most senior person in each religious denomination, and have them sit down with cabinet ministers.
He’s advocating their general secretary of the United Church of Canada get the ball rolling.
