Q&A for How to Be an Ordained Minister

This depends on the organization through which you're ordained. Some charge a nominal fee (around $25); however some, like the Universal Life Church, are free. Make sure you talk to the marriage licenses department in the courthouse in your area to make sure your ordination is recognized by the state.

No, not necessarily, but this is the most common path for pastors.

In most Christian religions, yes, you do need to be ordained to officiate a wedding. In many states, it is also a legal requirement that you have been ordained in order to perform a legally binding ceremony.

Sounds like you would rather serve as an officiant instead of a pastor. No denominational connection required, as officiants tend to serve "spiritual" and civil purposes, and not necessarily religious, church, or clerical purposes. Check with your specific state laws regarding officiant requirements certifications, and licensing, and register with your local municipality so that your officiant standing and signature is recognized by civil authorities. Meet with currently practicing officiants in your area for recommendations on the best sources for officiant training.

What do you mean by "legal"? A minister has no connection to laws, and the book of Romans clearly explains that laws have no connection to Christians. Christian ministers are sent by whatever denomination they work with, so qualifications might vary. You just have to ask a minister within your chosen denomination for advice.

Follow the instructions listed in the article above.

It is important to consult with your church organization, fellowship, or denomination. Ask them for guidance in choosing online training with a view toward ordination. It would be a waste of resources to invest in training that is not approved by your specific fellowship.

You may be able to use an online ordination within the organization or fellowship from which it was obtained. If you desire to practice within a different organization, you must submit to their guidelines and requirements for ordination.

Yes. If you are looking to be an ordained minister in the Christian faith, you should probably be a Christian. However, if you are trying to be an ordained minister in another faith, you should be a member of that faith.

Yes, a follower of those beliefs can be an ordained minister as there are various organizations, such as the Universal Life Church Ministries, who ordain ministers of all faiths.

No, they could not. Only medical professionals can provide medical exemptions, but they may be able to offer religious exemptions if their church practices those exemptions.

Tennessee and Virginia do not recognize online ordination from any church for the purposes of officiating marriages currently, but if you're not planning to officiate weddings in those states, the Universal Life Church Ministries are recognized in the other 48 states. They operate the websites ULC.org, GetOrdained.org, and TheMonastery.org.

Some churches do limit ordinations to only men, based upon their faith's practices. There are many online churches, such as the Universal Life Church Ministries, that will ordain a person regardless of their gender.