How to Become a Minister in California
The traditional path to becoming a minister usually involves an extensive theological education coupled with specialization in a specific sect of Christianity. Through a church of your choice, you would volunteer as an assistant minister while fulfilling the church's requirements to become an ordained minister. The traditional path to becoming a minister is much more complex than the non-traditional path to becoming a minister, which involves online churches. Online churches can ordain you as a minister by simply reviewing your application and recording you as ordained in that church's records.
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Instructions
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Traditional Path
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Choose a specific sect of Christianity and begin attending a nearby church within that sect. It is best if you are getting further involved with a religion you grew up worshiping as this will make it easier to advance to ordainment because you already have a lot of knowledge about that religion.
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Inform the minister of your church that you wish to be a minister within that church. This process may require an application be filled out or perhaps a letter of declaration be written and sent to a governing board or committee.
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Attend seminary school for two to four years depending on the requirements of your church. Some churches do not require this kind of education so ask the resident minister at your church about this. Some churches require ongoing education, so you may need to return to the seminary for graduate courses.
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Volunteer as an assistant minister with your church to serve as an apprentice and learn the actual daily responsibilities of a minister.
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Acquire the recommendation of your minister or a pastor. When a minister or pastor in your church recommends you for ordainment, this may also be called sponsorship.
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Pass an interview process before a selection committee. This may involve undergoing a psychological exam, criminal background check and examination before a committee of religious leaders. A declarative statement of faith may also be required during this process.
Non-Traditional Path
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Choose an online church that provides free ordainment. An Internet search can come up with several churches that charge fees, but organizations like the Universal Life Church (ULC) and the Universal Life Church Monastery are free and the ordainment lasts for life.
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Visit the ULC website.
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Read the first two sections of content carefully.
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Fill out the form at the bottom of the page and make sure your email is filled out correctly or you will not receive notification about your ordainment.
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Click the "Ordain me" button and your browser will load a page that shows the information you entered in the form.
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Review your information to be sure it is correct and then click the "All correct" button.
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Check your email address 48 to 72 hours after completing step five5 You are not legally ordained as a minister in the state of California or anywhere else until you have received the email from the Universal Life Church confirming your information has been recorded in the church's official records.
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Tips & Warnings
Wait before performing any religious ceremonies as an official minister until you have received confirmation of your ordainment from your churches governing committee or the Universal Life Church. This will ensure that all ceremonies, especially weddings, are official and legal.
Do not use a false name or address when filling out these forms. This can be considered fraudulent behavior.
References
- General Board of Higher Education and Ministry: Steps into Ordained Ministry
- Diocese of Newark: A Guide to the Ordination Process and its Requirements In the Diocese of Newark
- Penticostal Theological Seminary: Ministerial Licensure
- Universal Life Church: Become Ordained
- Universal Life Church Monastery: Instant Online Ordination
Resources
- Photo Credit calvaire image by Zeno from Fotolia.com
