Jojo Chanel-Horn
Ordained Minister in Houston, Texas
Why did you originally become an ordained minister online?
JoJo Horn is an ordained minister dedicated to creating authentic, heartfelt ceremonies that honor life's most significant transitions. JoJo proudly serves their community by officiating both weddings and funerals, approaching each service with warmth, professionalism, and deep respect. For couples getting married, JoJo works collaboratively to craft a bespoke ceremony, whether it's a traditional service, a contemporary celebration, or a ceremony unique to their partnership. The focus is always on creating a joyful and memorable moment where the couple's true connection shines. In funeral services, JoJo offers compassionate leadership, guiding families through a difficult time while honoring the life and legacy of their loved one with dignity and empathy. As a transgender minister, JoJo brings a uniquely inclusive and affirming perspective to every event. JoJo is committed to serving people of all backgrounds, identities, and paths, ensuring that every individual and family feels completely seen, validated, and celebrated exactly as they are. When you choose JoJo Horn, you are choosing an officiant who is dedicated to making your important day meaningful and entirely your own.
Where are you from?
Houston, TX
What do you hope to achieve with your online ordination?
My goal in seeking online ordination is to strengthen my existing ministry and expand my ability to serve my community with greater legitimacy, professionalism, and education. Core Objectives 1. Enhanced Legitimacy and Professionalism While I am already an Ordained Minister and legally perform ceremonies, obtaining a respected online ordination provides a recognized educational framework. This achievement: * Boosts Client Confidence: It affirms my professional commitment and dedication to my calling, increasing trust with couples and families seeking my services. * Deepens Foundational Knowledge: It allows me to formalize my understanding of theology, ethics, and counseling, improving the quality and pastoral care I offer across all services. 2. Greater Ministry Reach and Effectiveness The ordination is a tool to better fulfill my commitment to radical inclusion: * Serving All Needs: It ensures I have the robust ministerial training to handle the diverse spiritual and emotional needs of every client, from joyous weddings to complex, compassionate memorial services. * Empowering My Calling: As a transgender minister, formal ordination validates my ability to stand as an affirming leader, strengthening my platform to advocate for, and serve, marginalized communities with dignity and authority. Ultimately, I hope to achieve a more respected, more skilled, and more effective ministry that continues to celebrate and affirm all people throughout their most significant life transitions.
Religious Affiliations
Universal Life Church
Additional Information
"My religious affiliation is Lutheran. My practice is deeply rooted in the Christian tradition, but my ministry is defined by a commitment to radical inclusion and affirmation for all people, regardless of their background or identity. My goal is to share God's unconditional love by serving people from all faiths (or no faith at all) in a spiritual, respectful, and authentic manner. I bring the compassion and structured approach of my Lutheran background to every ceremony while ensuring the service remains entirely customized, affirming, and unique to the couple or family I am serving."
What do you think makes your ceremonies special as a Houston, TX wedding officiant?
JoJo Horn's ceremonies are set apart by a deep commitment to authenticity, empathy, and radical inclusivity, stemming from JoJo's life experience as a transgender ordained minister. For Weddings: JoJo specializes in creating a space where all love is fully seen and celebrated. Couples who choose JoJo benefit from: * Profound Affirmation: As a minister who is transgender, JoJo inherently signals a completely safe, non-judgmental, and affirming environment. For LGBTQ+ couples, this ensures their love and identity are honored without question. * Heart-Centered Storytelling: JoJo prioritizes getting to know each couple's unique journey. The resulting ceremony is deeply personal and customized, reflecting the couple's genuine values, humor, and traditions rather than a generic template. * Authentic Customization: JoJo’s focus is on crafting a service that is a true reflection of the couple, making it memorable because it feels entirely theirs. For Funerals: During times of grief, JoJo offers a guiding presence marked by compassion and respect for the whole person. This includes: * Honoring the Whole Life: JoJo is adept at honoring the complexity and beauty of the life lived. This commitment ensures that the deceased's identity, chosen family, and most meaningful relationships are acknowledged with dignity and respect, especially when family dynamics are complicated. * Meaning Beyond Dogma: As an inclusive ordained minister, JoJo's priority is to create a ceremony that provides comfort and meaning for all attendees, regardless of their religious background. The focus remains squarely on the life and legacy of the loved one. * Empathetic Presence: JoJo's life experiences translate into an extraordinary capacity for empathy and calm presence, offering steady support to families during their most difficult moments. In summary, JoJo Horn offers more than just a ceremony; they offer a safe, customized, and genuinely meaningful experience that honors every identity and story with integrity.
Are there particular areas near you where you prefer to travel or have special experience?
- Houston Metro Area (Primary Focus) I operate throughout the entire Harris County and the adjacent areas. This includes: Central/Inner Loop: Downtown, Midtown, Heights, Montrose (where I have deep community connections, especially with the LGBTQ+ community). West/Katy: Familiarity with the larger wedding and memorial venues and logistics in the Katy and Fort Bend County areas. North/The Woodlands & Conroe: Experience navigating the specific regulations and settings of the suburban and nature-based venues in Montgomery County.
- Coastal & Regional Specialty: Galveston Galveston County is a frequent service area for me, and I have specialized experience there: Logistical Expertise: I am very familiar with the $30 travel fee structure for this trip, the time required for travel and service on the island, and coordinating with popular beach and historic venues in Galveston. Coastal Weddings: I have specific experience handling the unique considerations for beach and coastal ceremonies (e.g., wind, tides, permit locations).
- TDCJ/Correctional Facilities Due to my highly inclusive and affirming approach, I have specialized experience that requires travel, often outside the immediate metro area: TDCJ/Prison Weddings: I am uniquely equipped to navigate the complex application and travel requirements for ceremonies at correctional facilities throughout the region. This work often requires extended travel time and precise logistical planning. I am prepared and equipped to travel wherever your service is needed in the surrounding counties (e.g., Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, Brazoria), providing the same level of personalized, professional, and affirming service regardless of the location.
Types of Service Offered
Marriages, Same-Sex Marriages, Renewal of Vows, Premarital Counseling
Additional Information
Yes, there is a core element of my ministry that goes beyond the ceremony itself: my unwavering commitment to radical inclusion and advocacy. The Heart of My Ministry: Radical Inclusion While I provide custom, professional services for weddings, funerals, and other life rites, the foundation of my work is the principle of radical inclusion. This means my services are defined by absolute affirmation and respect for every person I serve. * Affirming All Identities: As an Ordained Minister with a Lutheran foundation, and as a transgender minister myself, I guarantee a safe, non-judgmental, and celebratory space for all couples (including LGBTQ+), families, faiths, and backgrounds. * Beyond the Script: My services extend beyond reading a script. I bring a genuine pastoral presence—a calm, empathetic temperament that is crucial for navigating both high-stress joyful events (like weddings) and moments of deep sorrow (like funerals). * Advocacy in Action: My ministry is a form of advocacy. By operating openly as an inclusive officiant, I am affirming the inherent worth of every individual in the community. I ensure that every ceremony I perform is a true reflection of the couple or family's authentic values and commitment. Simply put, you hire me not just for the ceremony, but for the guarantee of a safe, authentic, and affirming spiritual experience.