George Freeman

George Freeman (born 1938/39) is an American religious leader who is the founder and chaplain of the Universal Life Church Monastery, which is a religious organization known for freely offering ordination to anyone who requests it through the Internet. From 1978 to 1988, Freeman was the minister who ran the Seattle gay church, The Monastery. The Monastery was simultaneously a church, a gay nightclub, an LGBTQ community center, and a homeless shelter for queer youth. He grew up in Spokane, Washington. That same year he was arrested and remained in prison 4½ years until he was released on parole. His first job out of prison was making bumpers for cars. and Freeman also described it as a shelter for homeless youth. It was a membership organization which required social club registration to enter.

Through the church, Freeman encouraged joyful celebration and taught that homosexuality and bisexuality were equally valid to heterosexuality. The closure of the Monastery led to Seattle establishing the Teen Dance Ordinance to regulate city nightlife. That probe also considered complaints against the Freeman and judged them to be without merit. In 1985 the Universal Life Church made the offer to hear, recognize, and arbitrate anyone's complaints about Freeman or the Monastery.

Universal Life Church Monastery

The Universal Life Church Monastery first established a website that allowed individuals to apply for ordination in 1995. It split from the Modesto-based Universal Life Church in 2006 following financial and legal disputes between the two bodies. Universal Life Church Monastery then began ordaining ministers through its own website.

Legal issues Freeman recognizes that he has been called to court on numerous occasions but dismisses the validity of accusations against him. The penalty for that conviction was a fine of $150, which he accepted while insisting his innocence but declining to appeal. In 1981 he was charged with distributing alcohol in both Seattle and Spokane. On appeal, one of Freeman's 1981 convictions was upheld, and he was sentenced to 60 days in jail and a $900 fine. He spent one week in jail for the 1981 conviction. His sentence was for 10 months.

When the Monastery was operational as a disco, Freeman also used part of the building as his home. Freeman characterized conviction as an intrusion on his home life with the remark, "I can't even have a beer with friends at home". and 2021 elections for Seattle City Council, Freeman stood as candidate for election. tax on guns, and work release programs for convicted persons.