Actually in British Columbia Ebbie, that exists, as I suppose it does in most areas of Canada and the US. In BC, you may be married by a Marriage Commissioner or a religious representative of your choice, as long as the religious reprsentative is registered with the British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency under the Marriage Act, which in effect grants he or she the power to represent the government as well, in this instance. I wonder if Brother Twelve was registered?

Whichever you choose, you still have to obtain a license from the state and register the marriage with the state. So in effect, all marriages, whether there has been a religous ceremony involved or not are civil unions. Same sex marriages have been legal in BC since 2003.....Oh dear, I feel threatened. LOL