{"id":"F2018L01607","name":"Marriage (Recognised Denominations) Proclamation 2018","slug":"marriage-recognised-denominations-proclamation-2018","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":98263,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2018L01607-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Marriage (Recognised Denominations) Proclamation 2018","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\ntitle: Marriage (Recognised Denominations) Proclamation 2018\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\nMarriage (Recognised Denominations) Proclamation 2018\n\nmade under section 26 of the\n\nMarriage Act 1961\n\nCompilation No. 1\n\nCompilation date: 17 August 2024\n\nIncludes amendments: F2024L01003\n\nRegistered: 27 August 2024\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis compilation\n\nThis is a compilation of the Marriage (Recognised Denominations) Proclamation 2018 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 17 August 2024 (the compilation date).\n\nThe notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.\n\nUncommenced amendments\n\nThe effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.\n\nApplication, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments\n\nIf the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.\n\nEditorial changes\n\nFor more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.\n\nModifications\n\nIf the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.\n\nSelf‑repealing provisions\n\nIf a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1 Name\n\n3 Authority\n\n4 Schedule 1\n\nSchedule 1—Recognised denominations\n\nEndnotes\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Marriage (Recognised Denominations) Proclamation 2018.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under the Marriage Act 1961.\n\n4  Schedule 1\n\n  Each religious body and religious organisation that is specified in Schedule 1 to this instrument is declared to be a recognised denomination for the purposes of section 26 of the Marriage Act 1961.\n\nSchedule 1—Recognised denominations\n\nNote: See section 4.\n\n \n\n  \n\nA2A Ltd.\n\nAboriginal Evangelical Fellowship of Australia\n\nAnanda Marga\n\nAnglican Catholic Church in Australia, The\n\nAnglican Church of Australia, The\n\nAntiochian Orthodox Archdiocese Church of Australia and New Zealand\n\nApostolic Church Australia Limited\n\nApostolic Church of Queensland, The\n\nArmenian Apostolic Church in Australia, The\n\nAssembly of God Church of Samoa in Australia Inc\n\nAssociated Christian Ministries\n\nAssociated Christian Spiritual Churches of Australia\n\nAustralian Christadelphian Ecclesia\n\nAustralian Christian Churches\n\nAustralian Church of Antioch, The\n\nAustralian Fellowship of Bible‑believing Churches\n\nAustralian Fellowship of Mission Centres (Youth with a Mission)\n\nAustralian Indigenous Ministries\n\nAustralian Unitarian Druze\n\nAustralian Zoroastrian Association of NSW Incorporated\n\nAutocephalic Greek Orthodox Church of America and Australia\n\nBaha’i Faith\n\nBaptist Union of Australia, The\n\nBethesda Ministries International Incorporated\n\nBrethren\n\nC3 Church Global\n\nCaodai Overseas Missionary (Australia) Incorporated\n\nChinese Methodist Church in Australia\n\nChristian and Missionary Alliance of Australia, The\n\nChristian Church in Australia Incorporated\n\nChristian Church, The\n\nChristian Community Churches of Australia\n\nChristian Israelite Church\n\nChristian Outreach Centre\n\nChristian Reformed Churches of Australia\n\n Christ the Good Shepherd Church Incorporated\n\nChurches of Christ in Australia\n\nChurch of God (Australia) Limited\n\nChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints (Australia), The\n\nChurch of Pentecost Australia, The\n\nChurch of Scientology Incorporated, The\n\nChurch of the Foursquare Gospel (Australia) Limited\n\nChurch of the Foursquare Gospel in Australia\n\nChurch of the Nazarene\n\nChurch of Tonga in Australia, The\n\nChurch of Torres Strait\n\nCommunity of Christ\n\nCongregational Christian Church in Samoa, The\n\nCongregational Federation of Australia and New Zealand\n\nConnexions Ltd\n\nCook Islands Christian Church\n\nCoptic Orthodox Church of Australia\n\nCRC Churches International\n\nCrosslink Christian Network\n\nDiocese of the Southern Cross Limited\n\nDream Centre Christian Church Limited\n\nECKANKAR Australia\n\nEdge Church International Ltd\n\nEthiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Debre Amin Abune Teklehaimanot Church Incorporated\n\nEvangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, The\n\nFederation of Australian Buddhist Councils Incorporated\n\nFellowship of Congregational Churches\n\nFellowship of Evangelical Churches of Australia\n\nFellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches\n\nFree Church of Tonga, The\n\nFree Reformed Churches of Australia\n\nFree Serbian Orthodox Church, Diocese for Australia and New Zealand\n\nFull Gospel Churches of Australia\n\n Fusion City Church Incorporated\n\nGoshen Ministry International Outreach\n\nGrace Communion International Ltd\n\nGreek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia\n\nHillsong Church Australia\n\nHindu Council of Australia, The\n\nHoly Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East\n\nHope Ministries Australia\n\nHungarian Reformed Church of Australia, The\n\nIglesia ni Cristo\n\nIndependent Baptist Fellowship\n\nIndependent Baptists of Australia\n\nIndian Orthodox Church Incorporated\n\nInternational Buddhist Association of Australia Co‑operative Limited\n\nInternational Council of Spiritualists\n\nInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness\n\nIslam\n\nJehovah’s Witnesses\n\nJewry\n\nKorean Presbyterian Reformed Church Incorporated\n\nLatvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Victoria, The\n\nLiberal Catholic Church, The\n\nLife Church International Limited\n\nLutheran Church of Australia Incorporated, The\n\nMacedonian‑Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church\n\nMacedonian Orthodox Church\n\nMalankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church\n\nMar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar\n\nMethodist Church of Samoa in Australia\n\nMetropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church\n\nMinisters Fellowship International\n\nNational Sikh Council of Australia Inc\n\nNew Apostolic Church in Australia, The\n\nNew Church in Australia, The\n\n Newness in Christ Ministries Inc\n\nOld Apostolic Church (Australia), The\n\nOne Light Federation\n\nPacific LMS Church Australasia Inc.\n\nPeace Christian Ministries Limited\n\nPioneer Network Australia Incorporated\n\nPotters House Christian Fellowship of Australia, The\n\nPower of the Spirit Ltd\n\nPresbyterian Church of Australia, The\n\nPresbyterian Church of Eastern Australia\n\nPresbyterian Reformed Church\n\nReach Out International Limited\n\nReformed Presbyterian Church of Australia, The\n\nReligious Society of Friends, The\n\nRestoration Fellowships International\n\nRevival Centres International\n\nRevival Fellowship, The\n\nRhema Family Churches Australia\n\nRiverview Church Incorporated\n\nRoman Catholic Church\n\nRomanian Orthodox Church\n\nRosa Veritas Incorporated\n\nRussian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia\n\nSabian Mandaean Religious Community\n\nSalvation Army, The\n\nSeventh‑day Adventist Church\n\nShia Islamic Assembly\n\nShree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Australia Inc\n\nSiasi Uesiliana Tau’ataina‘o Tonga i Aositelelia Limited\n\nSociety of Saint Pius X Limited\n\nSouthern Cross Association of Churches, The\n\nSpirit of the Earth Medicine Society\n\nStrict and Particular Baptist Churches of Australia, The\n\nSyrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand (Patriarchal Vicarate) Limited\n\nUkrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church in Diaspora,   Diocese of Australia and New Zealand\n\nUkrainian Catholic Church in Australia\n\nUnitarians\n\nUnited Church of God—Australia\n\nUnited Pentecostal Church of Australia\n\nUnited Spiritualism of Australia\n\nUniting Church in Australia, The\n\nVictorian Spiritualists’ Union\n\nVictory Life Centre Incorporated\n\nVineyard Churches Australia\n\nWelsh Calvinistic Methodist Connexion in Victoria, The\n\nWesleyan Methodist Church, The\n\nWestminster Presbyterian Church, The\n\nWorship Centre Christian Churches Worldwide (Australia) Ltd\n\nEndnotes\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nThe following endnotes are included in every compilation:\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nAbbreviation key—Endnote 2\n\nThe abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nLegislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4\n\nAmending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.\n\nThe legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nThe amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nEditorial changes\n\nThe Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.\n\nIf the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.\n\nMisdescribed amendments\n\nA misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\nIf a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.\n\n \n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\n| ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |\n| --- | --- |\n| am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |\n| amdt = amendment | orig = original |\n| c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |\n| C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |\n| Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |\n| def = definition(s) | prev = previous |\n| Dict = Dictionary | (prev…) = previously |\n| disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |\n| Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |\n| ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |\n| exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |\n| effect | rep = repealed |\n| F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |\n| gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |\n| LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 | Sdiv = Subdivision(s) |\n| (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |\n| effect | SR = Statutory Rules |\n| (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |\n| cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |\n| mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |\n| No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |\n\n\n \n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\n \n\n| Name | Registration | Commencement | Application, saving and transitional provisions |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Marriage (Recognised Denominations) Proclamation 2018 | 26 Nov 2018 (F2018L01607) | 27 Nov 2018 (s 2(1) item 1) |  |\n| Marriage (Recognised Denominations) Amendment Proclamation 2024 | 16 Aug 2024 (F2024L01003) | 17 Aug 2024 (s 2(1) item 1) | — |\n\n\n \n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\n \n\n| Provision affected | How affected |\n| --- | --- |\n| s 2..................... | rep LA s 48D |\n| s 5..................... | rep LA s 48C |\n| Schedule 1................ | am F2024L01003 |\n| Schedule 2................ | rep LA s 48C |\n\n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly scoped to its original purpose: listing recognised denominations under section 26 of the Marriage Act 1961. The 2024 amendment added new denominations to Schedule 1 (as indicated by 'am F2024L01003' in the amendment history), but this is a routine update within the original legislative scheme, not an expansion of scope or purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short substantive content: only 4 operative sections (Name, Authority, Schedule reference, and the Schedule itself)","No defined terms within the instrument itself (relies entirely on definitions in the parent Marriage Act 1961)","No conditional logic, exceptions, or cross-references within the operative provisions","Simple declaratory structure: 'Each religious body... specified in Schedule 1... is declared to be a recognised denomination'","Schedule 1 is a flat list of 100+ organisation names with no hierarchy, conditions, or annotations","All complexity is external: the legal significance depends entirely on section 26 of the Marriage Act 1961, which is not reproduced here"],"plain_english_summary":"This Proclamation lists the religious bodies the Australian Government recognises as “denominations” under the Marriage Act 1961. That status determines who may legally solemnise and register marriages and gives ministers of recognised denominations a streamlined path to authorisation compared with independent religious celebrants. It therefore affects religious organisations, their ministers, and couples seeking religious weddings."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This version does not change the statutory scope of the proclamation. Its sole function remains to declare specific religious organisations to be \"recognised denominations\" for the purposes of section 26 of the Marriage Act 1961. Amendments reflected in the compilation update the entries in Schedule 1 (additions/removals) but do not expand the instrument's purpose or add new powers or procedural mechanisms beyond the original intent of listing recognised denominations."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument: 4 enumerated provisions (Name, Authority, operative clause, Schedule 1)","Single operative legal effect: declaration linking Schedule 1 entries to section 26 of the Marriage Act (section 4)","Large schedule of named entities: Schedule 1 lists over 150 named religious bodies and organisations (name‑by‑name entries)","One external cross‑reference: relies on and operates only for the purpose of section 26 of the Marriage Act 1961","Simple amendment history (Schedule amended once in the compilation history)","No defined terms, nested conditions, or multi‑layered exceptions within the instrument itself"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- This proclamation names a set of religious bodies and declares each one to be a \"recognised denomination\" for the specific purpose of section 26 of the Marriage Act 1961 (see section 4 of the proclamation).  \n- In short: the list in Schedule 1 is the legal list of religious organisations that the Marriage Act treats as \"recognised denominations\" for the limited statutory purpose set out in section 26.\n\nWho is affected\n\n- The religious organisations named in Schedule 1: being listed makes them \"recognised denominations\" under the Marriage Act for the purpose described in section 26.  \n- Ministers/officials of those listed denominations: the practical effect is that they are eligible to be authorised and registered under the Marriage Act as religious marriage celebrants, subject to the registration rules in that Act.  \n- Couples who want a religious wedding: the list determines which religious officiants may lawfully solemnise marriages under the Act as representatives of a recognised denomination.  \n- The responsible government agency (which administers marriage celebrant registration) and local registration processes: they use this list to decide whether a minister is from a recognised denomination when assessing applications.\n\nWhy it matters (official purpose, and the mechanical consequences)\n\n- The proclamation implements the Marriage Act's scheme (see s4 of this instrument linking each named body to section 26 of the Marriage Act). Section 26 creates a special category for ministers of \"recognised denominations\" to be registered as religious marriage celebrants. This proclamation therefore determines which religious organisations plug into that category.  \n- The official rationale for publishing such a list is administrative: it provides a definitive, public list the registration authorities can rely on when deciding whether a minister belongs to a recognised denomination.\n\nHow the instrument changes incentives, costs and behaviour (concrete mechanisms)\n\n- Who pays / benefits: The primary concentrated beneficiaries are the named religious organisations and their ministers (they gain eligibility to authorise marriage celebrants under the Marriage Act). There is no new tax or fee created by this instrument itself.  \n- Who decides: Parliament (by the Marriage Act) delegates to the Executive the power to make a proclamation listing recognised denominations; this instrument is the exercise of that delegated power (see section 3, authority).  \n- Behaviour changes: Religious organisations listed can authorise ministers who then apply for registration as religious celebrants; prospective celebrants who are members of listed bodies face fewer legal hurdles to be accepted as religious marriage celebrants than ministers of bodies that are not listed. That changes the supply of religious celebrants and may alter consumer choice for couples seeking a religious solemnisation.  \n- Compliance and administrative cost: The practical compliance burden rests mainly with the registration authority processing celebrant applications and with religious bodies that must demonstrate their relationship to an applicant. The proclamation centralises the recognition decision (by name) rather than requiring case-by-case statutory decisions at registration time.  \n- Risks and trade-offs: Because benefits flow to named organisations, there is an incentive for groups to seek listing. The proclamation is a blunt, name‑by‑name tool: additions or removals require an amendment to the schedule (illustrated by the amendment history). That means changes are administratively discrete (amend the schedule) rather than done by issuing policy guidance, which concentrates the political/administrative decision in a formal instrument.\n\nLimitations and scope of the instrument\n\n- The proclamation does one thing only: it declares the listed bodies to be \"recognised denominations\" for the purposes of section 26 of the Marriage Act (section 4). It does not itself alter registration rules, wedding procedures, or celebrant obligations under the Marriage Act; those are set out in the Marriage Act and regulations.  \n- The instrument does not set or restate the tests or criteria for recognition (the substantive criteria remain in the Marriage Act). Instead it applies the existing statutory power to a particular list of organisations.  \n\nImplementation note\n\n- The list appears as Schedule 1. If a group wants to be added or removed, that change must be made by amending the schedule (the instrument includes an amendment history showing the schedule has been amended). The practical effect of an amendment is immediate for registration authorities once the amendment commences.\n\nKey provision cited\n\n- Section 4 of the proclamation: \"Each religious body and religious organisation that is specified in Schedule 1 to this instrument is declared to be a recognised denomination for the purposes of section 26 of the Marriage Act 1961.\"\n\n(End of summary.)"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/marriage-recognised-denominations-proclamation-2018","history":"/api/acts/marriage-recognised-denominations-proclamation-2018/history","analysis":"/api/acts/marriage-recognised-denominations-proclamation-2018/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/marriage-recognised-denominations-proclamation-2018/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/marriage-recognised-denominations-proclamation-2018/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/marriage-recognised-denominations-proclamation-2018/documents"}}