How to Become a Minister in AR

Researched and edited for accuracy by trained team members at GetOrdained™ on February 06, 2023

Here's something not many people realize: becoming ordained in Arkansas is quite easy! Sure, there was a time when becoming a minister was both time-intensive and expensive (seminary school isn't cheap). This selective process meant that the title of "minister" was reserved only for those fortunate enough to have the time and money to pursue ministerial work as a career.

Get Ordained™ is focused on breaking down such systemic barriers and granting the opportunity to anyone who feels so-called to become an ordained minister. To help pave this path, we have developed an online ordination model that is easy to navigate, takes only minutes to complete, and – best of all – is free to use!

The people of Arkansas have a proud history of defending freedom and promoting equality. ULC is recognized all across the Bear State, meaning your ordination is valid anywhere in Arkansas where the people are kind and the values are good - everywhere!

In the guide below, we'll explain how the process of online ordination works, talk through the legal aspects that are important to understand, and give you specific steps for how to be ordained in Arkansas.

1. Become a Minister in Arkansas

Receiving ordination credentials via Get Ordained™ first requires completing the ordination application here on our website. This no-frills form asks you to input some basic information in order to create an account and register your ordination.

After pressing submit, your application will be processed by our system. In just moments, you'll receive confirmation of your ordination and see a digital version of your ordination credential certified by the Universal Life Church Ministries. That's all – you're now an ordained minister! Click the button below to get started!

Begin Your Ordination

You might be thinking: why do we make ordination so simple? Well, the Universal Life Church Ministries was founded on the notion that each individual's faith journey is unique and that fulfilling one's spiritual destiny requires the opportunity to chart one's own path through the universe. In our view, creating barriers and restrictive rules for who can – and cannot – participate in the benefits of clergyhood is antithetical to progress.

We believe that everyone has a right to pursue this path, regardless of what they believe or how they identify. Creating an easy, open process means that anyone can participate in ministry, and they can do so in the way that makes the most sense to them.

2. Using Your Ordination in Arkansas

The great part about becoming a minister with Get Ordained™ is that after signing up, you'll have total freedom to choose how to leverage your new status as a member of the clergy. As a largely rural state, couples here may have you officiate their ceremony outside in the beautiful Arkansas landscape. However, there's no shortage of gorgeous indoor venues in the city of Little Rock! Whether outdoors or inside, ULC ordination is valid across the state.

As an ordained minister, you can:

• Officiate legal weddings
• Carry out vow renewals
• Preside over funerals & baptisms
• Perform many other types of ceremonies

In fact, some inspired Get Ordained™ ministers in your state of Arkansas have even taken it upon themselves to form their own ministries and churches! To read more about the wide range of options available to you, visit our Minister Training Center.

3. Ordination in Arkansas

Ordination is far more than a piece of paper, it's a tradition that spans across both faiths and centuries. Every religious body has its own process, rules (and even names) for ordination, but the concept remains consistent. In the most basic sense, ordination is the method for consecrating an individual as a member of the clergy in a particular faith system, an honor typically conferred by members of church leadership. Put in simple terms, becoming ordained distinguishes a member of the faith and grants them the authority to perform official clergy duties, such as presiding over weddings and other ceremonies.

Historically, this path was a challenging one to walk. For one, depending on the faith system, becoming ordained also might require years of dedication and study to even qualify. Not to mention that half the population was generally disqualified from the start; in most religious bodies, this opportunity was offered only to men.

As pioneers of an open, online ordination model, Get Ordained™ views such restrictions as unnecessary and elitist. For that reason, we're proud to offer ordination to anyone who feels so-called, free of any barriers or difficult rules. We firmly believe that the people of Arkansas deserve the chance to pursue their faith convictions in whatever way they best see fit, including becoming ordained!

The best part? Ordination provided through Get Ordained™ offers all the same powers and rights enjoyed by clergy members of other religious groups. Members of the ULC are therefore granted the ability to perform any duty typically carried out by a minister of a more traditional religious denomination.

4. Ordination Supplies You'll Need in Arkansas

Regardless of what ministerial duties you plan to get involved in, it's important to make sure you have all the documents and supplies necessary to pursue your goals! Among our ministers in Arkansas, the items below have consistently proven the most popular:

If those items don't seem relevant to your goals, not to worry! Feel free to explore our full catalog of ministry supplies.

5. Become Ordained to Officiate a Wedding in Arkansas

People choose to become ministers for all manner of reasons, and once ordained, they have the freedom to choose what directions to move in. One of the most common ways that new ministers look to get involved is by performing ceremonies like weddings.

Traditional weddings are common in Arkansas, although modern/creative weddings are certainly on the rise. ULC ministers can officiate in all of Arkansas- from Texarkana all the way to the Tennessee border! Wedding ceremonies in Arkansas are rich with tradition, emotions, and of course, love. A romantic ceremony in the Ozarks is the perfect scene and setting for this new chapter in the couple's love story.

If you expect that performing a wedding is in your future, it’s crucial to do your homework to understand the wedding laws in the area where you plan to officiate. Because the rules for officiating a wedding often vary from state to state (and even county to county) learning the process is important to ensure the wedding you perform is legally recognized. Please visit our guide to performing a wedding in Arkansas to get started.

Online Ordination in Arkansas

The Universal Life Church Ministries is an official religious organization in good standing in Arkansas. Therefore, ordinations provided by the ULCM via Get Ordained™ are fully recognized and valid. Ministers ordained online are treated the same as any other clergy member, and as the laws of Arkansas explain, certified ministers are granted the ability to perform duties such as officiating legal wedding ceremonies.