There are a number of reasons to consider taking on the role of minister in a wedding. While plenty of people do this because they want to help couples tie the knot and make a little extra cash on the side, most become officiated in order to help a couple they know. No matter what your exact reason is for becoming an ordained minister, it is important that you have a clear idea of how the process works so that you hit all of the correct points. These days, it is incredibly easy to become a minister for free on the internet. Take a look at this general guide and see how you can get the ball rolling on assuming the role of wedding officiant.
Know Your Role
Though all ordained ministers are given the general responsibility of marrying a couple during a ceremony, the exact role of each officiant will vary depending on the event. For example, there are couples who want the officiant to have an involved role and do a bit more talking. Others, conversely, may wish the minister to stick with the basics and keep the event quick. To get a good idea of what your position will be, speak with the couple early. If you’re performing multiple events, keep in mind that each couple will have different preferences.
Start the Application
Next, it is time to dive into the application part of the process. By looking over the resources offered by the Universal Life Church, you can give yourself a better idea of how to start. The application does not require an extensive amount of time or any preliminary studying of facts and figures. Instead, you will be asked to provide a few key details about who you are. Specifically, the ULC needs to know in which state you are looking to become an officiant.
It is important to note that you need to list the state where the event will take place when you become a minister online, rather than defaulting to become an officiant in your state of residence. You are being granted officiant status in the state you list, so you cannot put down one state and then perform a wedding in another under the same license.
Obtain Credentials
Certain states have more regulations when it comes to what an ordained minister needs to do in order to prove his or her status. When you become a minister online free through the ULC, you are given the option of ordering a package that contains a number of pertinent documents connected to your status. If the state you will be performing the marriage within requests a license proving that you are a minister, this package will have the correct paperwork included for your convenience.
Review the Basics of the Speech
The biggest responsibility the minister is tasked with is delivering the speech. This is where the actual ceremony occurs, as the officiant speaks the vital words that bond the couple and pronounce the marriage as official before the crowd. If you’ve never performed a marriage before, then take a look at examples of wedding speeches in advance. Reviewing a handful of templates can offer a lot of insight into how your own text should look. Be sure to come up with a few drafts in order to perfect the final version.
When you want to learn how to become a minister, it can be comforting to discover that the process is not very involved. All you need to do is take a look at the online process of how to become a minister for free to learn exactly what steps you need to take in order to achieve the status of officiant.