There are many benefits to becoming an ordained minister. Regardless of your personal spiritual beliefs, the Universal Life Church offers free online ordination that is easy to access. Whether you are getting ordained to marry your friends or family members or you want to explore everything that being a minister entails, an online ordination can get you started.
Reap Financial Benefits
With many professions, the cost of the training and experience necessary to obtain the credentials to start your career can be pretty high. The ordination process for ULC ministers, however, is free. As long as you are at least 18 years old and complete the ordination request form with your full legal name and accurate information, you can become a minister quickly. There may be some costs involved with providing your credentials if the county where you are performing a ceremony requires it, but you can purchase those through the church supplies store.
You may also be entitled to certain tax breaks as a minister. It's important to know which expenses you can write off before you file, especially if you are self-employed. Start a file to keep receipts and other types of documentation that may help you get a reduction in the taxes you are required to pay. Check with your accountant to make sure you aren't missing any important forms or items.
Officiate Weddings
One of the main reasons for becoming ordained through the ULC is that doing so empowers you to serve as a wedding officiant. Once you receive the email that your request has been approved, your online account can guide you through the process of getting the documentation you need for your county. It is also important to check the specific laws in the state where you will perform the ceremony to ensure that you have everything you need to make the union legal.
Officiating their first wedding is a starting point for many ministers' careers. What began as a nice thing to do for their loved ones blossoms into a true calling. Once you are ordained by the ULC, you don't have to renew your ordination. You are a qualified minister for life.
Gain Access to Resources
As an ordained minister through the ULC, you have access to a wealth of training materials. This is especially helpful if you have never thought about how to write a wedding script or counsel a couple before their big day. There are many ways to hone your skills through continuing education.
For example, if you are officiating a wedding for the first time, you may find the wedding script generator helpful. You start by entering basic information about the specific service you are performing, such as the names of the couple and the location of the ceremony. Then you get a basic script that you can either use as written or tweak to personalize it for the couple you're marrying.
Perform Other Services
Your journey as a ULC minister may begin with officiating your friends' weddings, but then you may find that performing other rites or services brings you joy too. There are many capacities in which an ordained minister can serve:
- Baptisms
- Funerals
- Counseling
- Chaplaincy
- Preaching
- Church Planting
- Alternative rituals
Your ordination through ULC is considered valid for these services in most states. Check with the county where you live or the organization offering the position to see if you qualify for a particular job.
If you are looking for more information on how to become ordained to perform weddings and other services, the list of frequently asked questions or the contact form can help you get started. Once ordained, you are likely to be delighted by the perks of being a minister.