Draft:Open Ministry
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Open Ministry is an online ordination organization that provides free online ordination and ministerial resources, primarily for individuals seeking to perform weddings and other ceremonies in the United States.[1]
Open Ministry is part of a broader category of internet-based religious and ordination organizations that allow individuals to apply for ministerial status online. Academic writing on online ordination has identified Open Ministry among organizations offering online ordination services.[2]
History
A 2015 article in Secularism and Nonreligion described Open Ministry as one of several organizations that emerged in the wider online ordination movement following changes within the Universal Life Church Monastery after its split from the original Universal Life Church in 2006.[3]
Activities
Open Ministry states that it offers online ordination at no cost and that ordination is granted for life.[1] The organization also offers ministerial credentials and ceremony-related resources through its website.[1]
The organization’s materials describe its services as intended for ministers, wedding officiants, and individuals performing ceremonies such as weddings, vow renewals, baptisms, baby namings, and funerals.[4]
Legal and practical considerations
Online ordination is commonly used by people seeking to officiate weddings, but requirements for marriage officiants vary by state and local jurisdiction. WeddingOfficiants.com notes that ministerial credentials may be accepted differently depending on the state, county, or clerk’s office involved.[5]
Open Ministry’s own materials advise ministers to check with local county clerks or government offices to confirm officiant requirements before performing ceremonies.[6]
Reception and criticism
Online ordination organizations have been criticized by some religious groups that argue such ordinations lack traditional theological training or institutional oversight. Christian Leaders Institute has specifically criticized Open Ministry and similar online ordination providers from a traditional religious education perspective.[7]
See also
- Online ordination
- Universal Life Church
- Wedding officiant
References
- ^ a b c "Open Ministry". Open Ministry. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ^ Clasquin-Johnson, Michel (2016). "Minister for a Day: Online Ordination and the Place of Religion in the 21st Century". Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies. 15 (45): 179–206. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ^ "'Need a Minister? How About Your Brother?': The Universal Life Church between Religion and Non-Religion". Secularism and Nonreligion. 2015. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ^ "Minister Guide". Open Ministry. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ^ "How To Get Ordained Online". WeddingOfficiants.com. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ^ "Questions & Answers". Open Ministry. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
- ^ "Online Ordination Scams Selling Questionable Credentials". Christian Leaders Institute. Retrieved 2026-05-30.
External links
References
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