how to become an ordained minister in illinois

How to become an ordained minister

April 17, 2013 at 1:11pm PM EDT

I bet you thought the day would never come where you would be bonding two people together in holy matrimony. Well, that time has come and it's not that simple. You have to become an ordained minister. Take a deep breath and pull yourself together; we've got you covered.

Heather Rae Young, Tarek El Moussa

Woman officiating beach wedding

Step 1: Ask yourself why?

It is important to know why you want to become a minister. Sure, ordained ministers can do weddings but they can also start their own church or ministry service. If you're considering starting your own church, prayer must play a large part in your decision as well. If you have made this decision without praying about it first, then you may want to reconsider your choice, or at least take a little bit more time to consult the Big Man; if you're becoming a minister to facilitate a wedding, then that's a little bit easier. It would also benefit you to talk with an already ordained minister and ask questions about his or her experiences and the process; this could also be a big factor in your decision.

Step 2: Do your research

Becoming a minister is more than just a piece of paper with your name on it, it is a lifestyle choice. There are many sites offering ordination and it is important to spend the time checking out which one best fits you, and make sure they're legitimate. Once you are ordained, you are capable of performing all functions of the church, so don't let this be a spur-of-the-moment decision. Take your time and do your research.

Check out these celebs who are ordained ministers >>

Step 3: Choose your site

If you have decided that you want to be ordained, here are a few sites to get you started. American Marriage Ministries offers a very quick and easy ordination process. All you have to do is create a profile, state your name, input your address and, boom, you are an ordained minister. American Fellowship Church offers a more complex process. With this site, you must give an explanation why you are seeking ordination. They then review your submission and send you your credentials. Another site to try is Universal Life Church Monastery. The cool thing about this site is not only does the process take little to no time, but they also offer online training for your convenience and preparation.

Step 4: Submit your application

Once you have done your research and figured out which service you would like to use, it is now time to sign up. This is a very simple process. All you have to do is submit your application, which typically asks you a few personal questions, pay the application fee and you're ready to go. Each website has its own protocol. Some are very lenient, others are a bit more intensive. In most cases you have the choice to sign up for a one year, five years or a lifetime ordination. This all depends on how much you think you're going to use it. See? Wasn't that easy?

Step 5: Finish up

The last step in the process may be the easiest, but it's the most important. It's time to receive your ordination. You would think that after going through this process that they would mail you a an elegant certificate with your name printed on it, right? Wrong. Nowadays, everything is done online. Once you complete the process, a virtual certificate will appear on the screen. You have a couple options at this point: You can print that certificate, which is super-unprofessional. The other option is paying a fee to have the certificate shipped to you, along with a few different wedding ceremony packages. The second option looks a bit more professional.

More tips on religion

He's Jewish, I'm Christian: How we handle the holidays
Teach your child about other religions
Finding your faith for your kids