Ministerial Seminary | Online Ordination Website | Online Ordinations | Non Denominational Ordination

The Ministerial Seminary of America, LLC

Dedicated to the Education and Ordination of

Independent, Interfaith and Nondenominational Ministers

Ordination Family/Friend

Get Ordained Online Today
Family Members or Friends Can Officiate Weddings

Click HERE to Order for Your Certificate
You will be directed to our minister's store "yourseminary.com"

We thank you in advance for the $34.99 handling fee
to cover materials, postage and laminated ID Card

Questions? 301-529-2895

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I Officiate a Wedding for a Family Member or Friend Through an Online Ordination ?

If you are wanting to know if you can officiate a wedding service for a family member or friend through an online ordination, then you have come to the right place! We are here to help walk you through the somewhat confusing process so that you can decide if you want to perform the ceremony in addition to directing you as to the legalities involved.

Initially, you may feel excited about the idea while at the same time fear you will be viewed as some sort of joker, committing some sort of fraud. You may feel embarrassed or funny about being ordained instantly, on-line, especially if you have no desire to become a "minister" in the traditional sense of the word.

All of these feelings are normal considering our culture and societal expectations regarding what it means to be a "minister." Yet, you can be certain that you have ministered to many in your life time. Perhaps you simply helped a friend during a time of need. Perhaps you have taken care of sick children, parents or checked in on a sick neighbor. Perhaps you have given someone a ride when they needed one. Given enough thought, I'm sure you will agree that you have ministered to the needs of many.

To "minister" is defined by Webster as:

"to function as a minister of religion 2 : to give aid or service <minister to the sick"

The Ministerial Seminary of America, LLC contends that the ability to minister is not restricted to one particular religion or organization, nor to a particular position within a religion or organization. We believe that the desire to minister, which comes from within, is divine direction which we honor through our ordination program.

The following paragraphs will attempt to answer some of your questions and provide a valid, legal way for you to minister to the wedding needs of the couple you have in mind.

Is It Legal?

The answer is yes. The First Amendment allows for the freedom of ordination by any religious or spiritual organization. This does not mean, however, that each state will accept your ordination as valid. You must check with the county clerk of the county and state where the ceremony is going to be performed to find out their requirements. Each state has their own definition of "valid."

Each state's laws vary. Some are extremely flexible, such as:

Massachusetts

Any ordained ministers or clergymen, and justices of the peace may perform weddings. Out-of-state clergy need to obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth before the wedding ceremony. A non-minister or non-justice of the peace (such as a relative of family friend) may receive from the Governor, for a $25 fee, special one-time permission to perform a marriage.

Other states laws are very complex:

Rhode Island

Rhode Island has a complicated law regarding officiants. (updated 6/26/2006)

Please visit our "Officiant Laws by State" for more information and be sure to verify requirements with the court of the county in which you are performing your service.

Do You Need Training?

Only you can answer that question, but we strongly recommend it. Training will give you confidence on the day of the wedding as well as validation of your professionalism. If training is not possible for you, we offer a very helpful workbook "Create Your Own Wedding Ceremony in 12 Easy Steps." Click HERE to purchase this simple and direct workbook for $11.99 (Downloadable)

How Do I Obtain My Ordination Certificate?

The Ministerial Seminary of America, LLC is happy to provide your ordination certificate. We make it very easy for you.

Simply click HERE and we will mail your certificate directly to you. We thank you in advance for the $34.99 handling fee which helps us cover our costs of materials, postage and a laminated ID card.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us. We are eager to be of service to you.

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