How to Become a Nondenominational Licensed Minister
If you have always felt a calling toward spirituality, or you're simply interested in being allowed to legally perform marriages and funeral rites, becoming a licensed minister is easy. Thousands of people take advantage of the numerous websites that now provide opportunities to become ordained without having to go through an educational or seminary program. Choosing a nondenominational path allows you to develop your own congregation and practices that a specific denominational path might not allow.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Research online churches and organizations that provide ordination opportunities for interested parties. There are a number of online organizations, such as Open Ministry, American Fellowship Church, Universal Life Church and Rose Ministries, that offer legal ordination.
-
2
Fill out the form required by the church or organization you choose to receive your ordination from. Include all required information, such as full name, date of birth, address and telephone number. Some organizations, such as the Esoteric Theological Seminary, require applicants to write a biographical essay detailing your spiritual history, as well as a short paragraph explaining work you may have done as an unordained minister.
-
-
3
Review the organization's requirements before submitting your application. Some organizations require you to complete an online course or seminar before you can submit your application.
-
4
Review the application before submitting to ensure all information provided is true and correct. You must use your legal name when applying for a minister's license, otherwise it may be considered fraud.
-
5
Submit your application, along with any required processing fee. The Universal Life Church Monastery and Universal Life Church offer free, lifelong ordination, but many others, such as Rose Ministries and World Christianship Ministries require you to pay licensing and processing fees.
-
6
Depending on processing times, it could take between two and six weeks before you receive, in the mail, your license from the ministry to which you applied.
-
7
Research the ordination laws in your state and county. To legally perform marriages, each state has its own requirements and laws, and even after you become ordained, you may have to take further steps within your own state and county. To find out the laws in your area, contact your county clerk's office for more information.
-
1
