Become a Minister & Officiant in Your State
Wondering how to become a minister or wedding officiant in your state? You're in the right place! Becoming an ordained minister opens the door to officiating weddings, performing baptisms, leading funerals, and serving your community in countless other ways.
Whether you've been asked to officiate a friend's wedding, you feel called to ministry, or you want to start your own church, the Universal Life Church is here to help you take that first step and every step after.
The process for getting ordained and performing ceremonies can vary depending on where you live, so to make things straightforward, we've built this state-by-state hub of resources covering everything a ULC minister needs to know, from getting ordained, to navigating wedding laws, to officiating ceremonies, to exploring other ways to put your ordination to use.
No matter where you live, here are the four key steps every ULC minister should be familiar with:
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Get Ordained
The first step in your journey, should you feel so-called, is becoming ordained. The Universal Life Church's online ordination process is fast, free, and good for life. There are no annual fees, no religious tests, and no complicated paperwork, just a simple application on our website.
Our ordination model is open to anyone who feels called to ministry, regardless of faith background or denomination. Once ordained, you'll have access to your online minister account, a preview of your digital ordination credential, and a full library of resources to support you. ULC ordinations are recognized in nearly every state for the purposes of officiating weddings, so this single step unlocks a world of opportunity for you.
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Review Your State's Wedding Laws
Every state has its own laws governing who can solemnize a marriage, how marriage licenses are issued, and what ministers need to do to be in good standing locally. Some states have no registration requirement at all, while others require ministers to register before performing weddings. You may be asked to produce documentation like your ordination credentials or a Letter of Good Standing at this stage.
Knowing the rules in your location is essential before you officiate. Our state wedding law guides break down the relevant statutes, explain how marriage licenses work, and flag any registration steps you'll need to take so there are no surprises on the big day.
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Officiate a Wedding
Once you're ordained and familiar with your state's laws, you're ready to officiate! Performing a legal wedding ceremony involves a few common steps no matter where you are: meeting with the couple to plan the ceremony, preparing the script, performing the wedding, signing the marriage license alongside the couple, and returning the signed license to the issuing office on time.
The specifics like how many days you have to return the license, whether witnesses are required, and what to write under "denomination" vary state by state. Your state guide will walk you through those local details.
For broader guidance on the ceremony itself, our wedding training center offers script templates, sample vows, marriage license tips, and a full step-by-step guide to officiating.
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Perform Other Ceremonies
Those with ULC ordinations certainly preside over a lot of wedding ceremonies, but it's hardly the only function they perform. As an ordained ULC minister, you can also:
- Perform baptisms and christenings
- Lead funerals and memorial services
- Officiate handfastings, house blessings, and other sacred ceremonies
- Write and deliver sermons
- Become a professional officiant
- Serve as a prison or hospital chaplain
- Start your own church or ministry
Each of these calls for its own preparation and in some cases, additional state-level considerations or training. Our minister training center is the place to go for in-depth resources on every aspect of life as a ULC minister.
