How to Become Ordained in Oregon

Written and reviewed for accuracy by the ordination research team at the Universal Life Church Ministries on

An outline of Oregon with the ULC logo

Do you want to get ordained in Oregon but aren't sure where to start? Thankfully, we make it easy, and anyone can become a legally ordained minister online right here on our website, granting them the power to perform all manner of religious duties, including officiating weddings.

For a long time, the road to ordination was a lengthy and rocky one. Ordination was limited only to those who could invest thousands of hours and a lot of money, as well as pass all manner of arbitrary barriers just to be considered.

The Universal Life Church believes that the path to ordination should not be an exclusive road only a privileged few may walk. That's why we've made ordination free and as quick and easy as possible online.

Portland is known as Seattle's "hipper, more affordable sibling," and its people, like our ministers, are known for having kindness and creativity in abundance. It's no surprise so many Oregonians have decided to become ordained ministers!

In the following paragraphs, we'll go over how we are able to ordain you online, explain legal questions you might have, and show you just how easy it is to get ordained in Oregon!

1. Become an Ordained Minister in Oregon

Every journey begins with a first step, and yours begins with filling out the ordination form on our website. Once you fill out and submit the form, your application will be processed and you'll be ordained instantly. Congratulations, you're now an ordained minister! To get things started, click the link below:

Start Your Ordination

You might be wondering how something that was previously so complicated can now be so simple. Our philosophy is that anyone who feels the calling should be able to get ordained without barrier, and that's why we've made ordination easier than it's ever been in history. It is our privilege to foster your ordination, and in turn, perhaps assist you in making your own spiritual dreams come true.

2. Put Your Ordination to Use in Oregon

After you've filled out the ordination form and received your confirmation email, you have a variety of options on how to use your newfound ordination, should you so choose. Whether you'll be performing ministerial duties in Portland, Eugene, or somewhere else in Oregon, there are no limits to how you can utilize your ordination.

As a minister of the Universal Life Church, you can:

  • Officiate wedding ceremonies
  • Perform baptisms and christenings
  • Preside over funerals
  • Oversee myriad other spiritual ceremonies

Ministers in Oregon can even open their own ministry or church should they so choose! To take a look at the options you have, we encourage you to take a look at our Minister Training Center for a full rundown.

3. How Ordination Works in Oregon

Ordination has been around for centuries, and is of paramount importance to many religious denominations. The details will of course vary between faiths, but generally, getting ordained is the process by which one is officially recognized as a clergyperson in a particular religious denomination or faith tradition. Ordination establishes one as a leader within the faith, and grants privileges within the faith unavailable to outsiders. One such privilege, for example, is the power to officiate weddings.

In centuries past, ordination was often a long and grueling process, required a significant investment of both money and time. Not to mention the exclusivity; Ordination was often only reserved for men.

We do not subscribe to such an approach. The Universal Life Church believes that those are all simply artificial barriers obscuring those called to ordination from reaching their goals. And it is for that reason that we've made ordination quick, free, and available to all. We believe that anyone in Oregon should be able to get ordained online at no cost, so that they might pursue their ministerial goals unburdened.

Perhaps most exciting, however, is that Universal Life Church ordination grants one the legal rights of clergy of other religious traditions, including fulfilling legal duties like officiating weddings!

4. Ordination Supplies Required in Oregon

As you consider your ordination path, please take stock of the fact that you'll likely need a handful of documents, apparel, and other materials in order to fulfill your role as a minister. What you need might change state to state, but our ministers in Oregon find that the following items are important:

No matter what you use your ordination for, always remember that we have resources online and items available to you to shepard you on your ministerial journey.

5. Use Your Ordination to Perform Weddings in Oregon

There are a lot of reasons one might want to get ordained, but one of the most popular is to officiate legal weddings for friends and family, and ULCM ordination grants everyone the right to legally officiate weddings.

Performing a wedding can take you to some fun places! For instance, you may encounter a couple that wants to elope in Astoria, home of the Goonies! Perhaps others would be more comfortable with a traditional wedding ceremony at a beautiful outdoor venue at Washington Park.

If officiating weddings is one of the reasons you got ordained, you'll want to make sure you check out the weddings laws where the wedding is taking place. Please note that wedding laws can change state to state and even county to county. To find out more about the legal requirements in your area, take a look at our page on officiating weddings in Oregon.

How Oregon Recognizes ULC Ordinations

Fully legally recognized in Oregon, Universal Life Church Ministries has the legal standing to issue valid religious ordinations. Per state law, ministers in good standing with ULCM can carry out all standard duties one might expect of clergy, including, but not limited to, the power to preside over and officiate fully legal wedding ceremonies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn How to Perform a Oregon Wedding

Become an Officiant

Is it Legal For You to Perform a Oregon Wedding?

Review the Marriage Law

Become a Legal Minister Online

Get Ordained Now