Mona Stout

I felt called to ordination primarily to officiate marriages for the LGBTQ community after Obergefell became the law of the land.

I was born and raised in Colorado, lived in Arizona for 10 years and consider it my spiritual home, and presently live in southwestern Illinois near St. Louis.

In these unsettling times I seek to make spaces in the world for empathy, kindness, acceptance, and the light of hope by ministering to others' spiritual well-being.

My background is in western Christianity but I claim no particular denominational affiliation. I believe that human beings have tried to put the Creator in boxes, but the Infinite is beyond our mortal comprehension. I accept my smallness in the universe, and also my elemental and energetic connection to it. My creed is love, kindness, and caring for "the least of these" as Jesus taught.

As a writer, I start from scratch with each couple to create a meaningful ceremony that is uniquely theirs. You won't see me reading a fill-in-the-blank service out of a book or using a template. Your story is one of a kind; your wedding ceremony should be, too.

I live in Illinois just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, MO. I am quite willing to travel more than 70 miles for weddings if clients cover transportation costs, also lodging if there will be a rehearsal the day before.

In addition to weddings, memorial services, and other ceremonies that mark our major life events, I can compose and conduct brief meaningful rituals such as blessings to bring spirituality into ordinary life.