Do You Have to Be Ordained to Minister in Texas?
To "minister" is to serve, and most religious communities understand ordination as granting authority to a person to perform religious rituals for that community. The state government of Texas, abiding by the U.S. Constitution, does not and cannot regulate these activities.
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Being a Minister
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Ministry in the sense of performing religious services for a group is exercised under the authority of the group, not the government. The First Amendment confirms this: "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion..."
What is Ordination?
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Ordination is the recognition by a religious organization that the minister has been designated a leader with authority to conduct rituals and ceremonies. Though it frequently takes place within some worshiping community, many organizations now offer ordination online or through mail order.
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What About Marriage?
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While teaching, serving, or conducting ceremonies does not involve any civil magistrate, performing a marriage requires some interface with governing officials. In Texas, the minister must submit the completed marriage license to the country clerk within 30 days of the wedding.
The Minister and the State
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The state recognizes the authority of any person duly ordained by a legitimate religious organization. It does not recognize persons who simply declare themselves ordained ministers or who perform rituals such as marriage without the sanction of a religious organization.
Ministers Must Still Obey State Laws
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Even though the state of Texas does not regulate ministry or ordination, ministers are still subject to state laws as citizens. Ministers who evade taxes, harm people, or counsel illegal activities are subject to prosecution.
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