Today we’d like to introduce you to Rev. Christopher T. Scuderi
Hi Rev. Christopher T., so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Greetings! I am Rev. Christopher T. Scuderi, non-denominational Minister of Universal Heart Ministry; I welcome you with gratitude in my heart and appreciation for your consideration of my services. You may notice that I go by Rev. Christopher; this is because most people have a rather challenging time pronouncing my last name and I thought I would make it a little bit easier. Also, I am most definitely a “Christopher” not a “Chris”, so please do not shorten my name, only my beloved mom got to do that. 🙂
So the question is what on earth led me to become an ordained non-denominational Minister?
Whether one chooses to see it as a calling or a matter of divine destiny or even quirky coincidence it all essentially comes to the same result. Throughout my life I have been of service to others, standing up for what I believe is right and true, facing the bullies head-on and speaking up for those without a voice, listening to those who needed hearing and teaching those who were willing to expand their horizons.
Life took it’s inevitable twists and turns and eventually I found my way, back to where it all begins, back to Heart. Which is how I derived the name for this ministry, in honor of the universal heart that we each are drawn to and a part of in our own unique and different ways. Non-denominational means not to be specific to one, rather to be open spiritually; which is in perfect alignment with my own personal spiritual journey.
The rest of the equation?
I had, for the longest time, fought this road along my journey. I received my ordination on May 20, 2011 and initially began my ministry by performing wedding ceremonies, though the truth is that I knew even then that I wanted it to grow and be so much more than that, and so it is. Universal Heart Ministry is continuously growing and expanding. I continue working side-by-side with other faith leaders and organizations which serve marginalized or otherwise disenfranchised communities. I have led Sunday services and have been honored to be a guest speaker for other congregations and provide pastoral care when needed.
I have created Universal Heart Ministry as a stand alone entity, not associated nor affiliated with any religion so that I may truly fulfill my calling of providing services to anyone, anywhere, regardless of what they believe or do not believe. As a full-time community minister, I provide services and am able to travel wherever needed. Because I have chosen not to serve a church or congregation of my own, I do not require membership, tithing or pledges thus this Ministry is sustained by the fees received for services rendered (including but not limited to: baby and pet blessings, funeral/life celebration or memorial services, speaking engagements, and weddings in person or virtual). Like me, Universal Heart Ministry is fully inclusive, without exception, and I am happy to provide spiritual or otherwise rite of passage services to all who seek them. Don’t have a regular church or spiritual home, though still desire the professional expertise that clergy can bring to your event? Then I am the perfect Minister for you.
What talents, skills or abilities do I possess in ministry?
I have always been a sensitive man with a good listening ear and broad shoulders to lean upon. As an educator for well over a decade, I have been a guest speaker at hundreds of public engagements. I am a published author of an inspirational book that includes photographs I have taken myself; I am also a published poet and writer of short stories and articles. I have even served as staff for a non-denominational church; not as a minister, but the very nature of the position I held lent itself often to church ministry and pastoral care of the congregation and visitors. For a time I even performed Sunday Services for Universal Heart Ministry; now, having broadened my scope, I speak not just to a singular congregation but to a wide spectrum of communities and congregations. And perhaps, of course, what it is all really about…I have a great and wonderful heart.
I have great passion for what I do and for the people I serve, and it shows in the care and effort I put into everything that I do. I think you will find that I am very personable, easy going and extremely open-minded. I serve ALL, without exception and have been doing so since 2011. At the time of this writing I have achieved more than 20 baby or pet blessings, 120 funeral services and over 2, 475 wedding ceremonies performed. I have received many awards within the wedding industry both nationally and internationally. I have been filmed by TLC performing a wedding ceremony for reality TV celebrities, mentioned in L.A. Ceremony Magazine, highlighted in a travel blog and featured in Torque Magazine (UK), among several other media outlets. Whew! I feel truly blessed and am exceedingly grateful to all of the families I have and continue to serve throughout the years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Any road worth traveling is rarely ever smoothly paved, and the steep curves, deep bends and rough terrain are what allow us to grow exponentially in our own personal understanding of life, our purpose in it, how we may help others along the journey and what ultimately will bring the greatest joy. At least that is my take on it.
There have been many years where things went smoothly, with ease and grace and there have been other times where it has not been as seemingly effortless. Despite the challenges that have arisen, somehow, someway, I found a way through to the other side and have kept on going. It’s a little difficult to be a beacon in the fog when stuck on the rocks yourself.
Many of the obstacles I have faced in my Ministry have been external; meaning that other people have placed their expectations on “what a Minister is” or “what a Minister must do”, generally not accepting my decision not to be a congregational Minister. Because I am not paid by a church or congregation, finances have been challenging at times and it has been quite the exercise in faith that “all is well” and will continue to be so.
Could I have chosen a different route? Possibly, though it would not have nourished my soul, it would not have been what I feel called to do, it would not have been my passion and my peace. I could have stayed safely in the harbor, though as a wise man once said “…but that’s not what ships are for.” I continue to forge my own path on this grand journey, and am grateful for the beauty that rests within both the challenging times and those full of ease and grace.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a full-time, professional non-denominational Minister providing a wide variety of rites of passage and other services – religious, not religious at all or perhaps uniquely spiritual. Long before I became a Minister, I served the LGBTQ+ community in a number of capacities, thus giving me a much more expansive understanding of inclusivity, which then led me to broadening my own rather limited understanding, at the time, of other people, their cultures and the joys and struggles they experience. I have since brought that knowledge with me into every facet of my Ministry. When I perform a wedding ceremony or conduct a funeral service, if the family speaks a language other than English, I will make the effort to learn and at least speak a phrase or two in their native language – even if it is something as simple as “congratulations!” or “blessings be with you.” It is truly wonderful to see their faces light up, to know that they have been “seen” and their humanity recognized by, in my humble opinion. a very simple act of kindness.
While I am an actual full-time, full-service Minister, it is rather apparent that I am highly sought after and most widely recognized for my creation and performance of wedding ceremonies – from quick, scripted template elopement type ceremonies to the genuinely bespoke, fully customized ceremonies, and everything in between. I travel wherever I am called to serve and travel all throughout Utah, its surrounding states and have even gone out of the country for destination weddings.
An area I both specialize in and am known for is not only the way I create custom written ceremonies or services, but also the way with which I deliver them. I often get “downloads”, tapping into and allowing myself to be guided through whatever messages are most appropriate for the circumstance. With funerals, I have been asked how long I had known the deceased, or they stated that I must have been a close family member or friend to have captured their essence so completely; to which they were simultaneously equally amazed and flabbergasted to learn that I had never even met their friend or loved one. Similarly with weddings, I seem to know the right things to say, at the right time, that truly speak to the hearts of the couple as well as their families and friends. I listen to their desires and tap into the unspoken wishes for the vision they hold for their special day, bringing it forward into the light in a way that they might never have imagined were possible. It’s a gift, one of my many “superpowers” and one that I am rather happy I possess.
I am also known for being a “Wedding Whisperer”, I have a way about me that is quite calming, and I can generally put people at ease in a matter of minutes. The moniker arose from the innumerable couples, or their parents, that were in a state of full-blown anxiety attack or absolute meltdown. I’ll give you a prime example: the bride of one of my couples was in full meltdown for nearly an hour. In that time, no one would let me in to see her. Finally, after everyone that had tried to help out threw up their hands and gave up, I was allowed in to see her and had her calm and ready to walk down the aisle in a little over a minute. She was extremely grateful, so was her groom. And those that would not let me in before that, were saying “that was amazing, guess we should have let you in earlier.” Again, it’s a gift and one that I am thrilled to possess. It works quite well with babies too!
I do my level best to remain a humble man, recognizing that I am “a cut above” in many ways, while always allowing room for further expansion and flourishing growth in my journey. I am proud of everything that I have achieved thus far, and in a relatively short period of time, though I suppose what I am most proud of is the vast and ever-expanding circle of families I have served, that continue to refer my services to their friends, family, co-workers and other connections. Families that, even years later, still send me a Christmas card, or a random text shows up saying they saw me on the freeway and wanted to say “Hi!”, or they are welcoming a new addition, or just bought a home, or that a loved one has passed from this mortal coil. I am proud to have touched so many wonderful people’s lives in such a profound and truly meaningful way. Now that is a gift I am both grateful for and honored to receive.
What really sets me apart is just how thoroughly detail oriented I am, and how it’s never about me, it is always about those I am providing service to, and I make every effort possible to ensure they receive a stellar experience in whatever service I provide. I do have a fun and quirky sense of humor, if you hadn’t noticed. I am very down to earth and only ever want the very best for everyone. I am a firm believer that We Are All One.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Through the years I have been told numerous times just how easy I make everything look. I won’t kid you, being a full-service Minister can sometimes be a daunting task, simply because there is so much that needs to be done on a daily basis. The need for services is ever present and you are “on” all the time. Remember to pace yourself, allow time for rest and relaxation when, where and if you can. Recognize that you are not Atlas, the world and all its myriad challenges are not yours alone to bear – I have to constantly remind myself of this. Set healthy boundaries and be consistent in sticking to them. Get good systems in place and stay current on record keeping, and yes, everything is a record. Have integrity and be fair, what you do for one, you must do for all. Be “in it” for the right reasons, and if you are “in it” then be “all in” – there is no halfway mark, this is not a mere mile, instead it’s the full marathon. Know who you are and where you are headed, and if you don’t then be willing to lean into being vulnerable and allow yourself the grace of growing into that knowing, even if what you “knew” ends up taking a different course. Be willing to recognize whether this really is the path meant for you to undertake or if it is not (this is not for the faint hearted) – either way it is okay, if it is meant to be then it will be. And that if it is in fact meant to be then it will absolutely be worthwhile. Lead by example and always with love and kindness toward all.
I did not have a mentor or teacher of any kind, what I had was life experience and either figured out or learned (sometimes the hard way) what was needed or how to do it. “You don’t know what you don’t know”, that being said, if you can find someone willing to share their knowledge and experience, best practices, systems to get in place, etc. your learning curve won’t be nearly as difficult.
What I wish I knew when I was starting out? What an utterly amazing and phenomenal gift this epic journey of my Ministry would bring to my life. I am indeed grateful and truly blessed.
Pricing:
- $150.00 Funeral services
- $600.00-800.00 Bespoke Wedding
- $50.00-200.00 Elopement Specials
- $300.00-800.00 Vow Renewals
- $300-1,100.00 Speaking Engagement
Contact Info:
- Website: https://universalheartministry.com/
- Instagram: @universalheartministry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/universalheartministry
- Youtube: @TheRevChristopher
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/universal-heart-ministry-salt-lake-city-2
- Other: @revchristopher.bsky.social
