How to Become a Minister in DE

Researched and edited for accuracy by trained team members at GetOrdained™ on January 19, 2023

Looking to become ordained in Delaware? This comprehensive guide will walk through every aspect of becoming a minister, explore the many benefits of ordination, and explain the steps required to do so. Best of all? The entire process, from start to finish, can be done online.

As you might know, becoming a minister didn't always work like this. In fact, it used to involve intensive formal schooling and many years of time. Plus, people were frequently excluded from participating simply because of their gender or sexual orientation.

But online ordination via Get Ordained™ has changed all of that. Ordination is supplied by the Universal Life Church Ministries, an organization with a philosophy based on welcoming people in instead of turning them away. Through its open, online ordination model, any individual who feels so-called is encourage to get ordained. What's more: ordination is free and never has to be renewed – it is valid for life.

The people of Delaware are known for their leadership and have been fighting for freedom and against injustices since the American Revolution. Today, many folks in the First State further this tradition by becoming ordained and advocating for that which is right.

Let's dive in and explain how online ordination works and how you can become ordained in Delaware!

1. Become a Minister in Delaware

Using Get Ordained™ to become a minister couldn't be easier: just fill out the short ordination form, press submit, and your application will be processed instantly. That's it! A copy of your digital ordination credential will then be generated confirming your new status. Congratulations, you're now a minister!

We'll also send you an email confirming your ordination and talking more about the options now available to you. If you're ready to get started, just click the button below!

Begin Your Ordination

Can ordination really be that simple? The short answer is, yes! The ease of this process we've designed stems from the foundational philosophy of the Universal Life Church: that we are all children of the same universe, and everyone deserves the right to practice their faith however they best see fit. For many of its members, ULC ordination provides the opportunity to chart their own spiritual course – free from the constraints of a rule-heavy, top-down faith organization (which describes most of the big ones).

Membership in the ULC represents a deviation from more traditional approaches, as it encourages people to pursue whatever faith practices that align best with their values, not those of a larger organization. Empowering folks to captain their spiritual ship in this way requires an ordination process that is both simple to complete and accessible to all.

2. Using Your Ordination in Delaware

Remember that becoming ordained is only the beginning! Once you've confirmed that your ordination has been processed successfully, all types of doors will be open to you. From Wilmington to Elsmere, your ULC ordination is valid, recognized, and ready to be put to use!

As an ordained minister with Get Ordained™, here are just a few of the things you can do:

• Perform weddings
• Lead baptismal ceremonies
• Preside over funeral and memorial services
• Officiate many other types of ceremonies

We're even aware of many of ULC members in Delaware who have gone on to start their own churches and ministries! To learn more about the various options available to ministers, please visit the Minister Training Center.

3. Ordination in Delaware

In simple terms, ordination is a formal act of consecration that confers leadership status and authority to perform clergy duties within a religious organization. The rite of ordination has been around for thousands of years -- pretty much as long as humans have been on the earth. However, it's far from a uniform practice; the process of ordination can vary greatly from one religious tradition to the next. The end result, though, is always the same: an ordained individual is recognized as a leader and has the right to perform religious ceremonies.

Regardless of the methods involved, the traditional requirements for becoming ordained were generally strict, necessitating candidates to undergo years of formal education and testing. It also must be noted that historically, many faith systems allowed only men to pursue the title of "minister" (and some still operate that way).

Get Ordained™ offers a re-imagined ordination process, focused on an open, online model that is more inclusive and accessible than just about any other path to ordination. Anyone who feels so-called is encouraged to become ordained, regardless of their gender, identity, or any other characteristic that faced discrimination in the past.

It's also important to note that this online process has no bearing on the legitimacy of one's ordination. Those individuals who become ministers through Get Ordained™ enjoy the exact same rights and authority under the law as ministers ordained by more traditional faith systems. That means ULC ministers in Delaware are able to perform all typical clergy duties – including officiating weddings.

4. Ordination Supplies You'll Need in Delaware

Once you decide on the type of ministerial work you'd like to undertake, we want to be sure you get everything you need to fulfill your goals! That's where our online catalog comes in. Our website offers a wide variety of packages, apparel, literature, and many other items you might find helpful in pursuing your clergy duties. After consulting our ministers in Delaware, some of the most popular items there are:

No matter how you choose to use your ordination, know that we're committed to help you obtain whatever resources you might need to take your next steps with confidence!

5. Become Ordained to Officiate a Wedding in Delaware

One of the many reasons that people choose to become ministers via Get Ordained™ is to perform legal wedding ceremonies. In fact, our ministers perform countless wedding ceremonies all across Delaware each year.

With so many unique options in Delaware, officiating a wedding could involve lots of planning with the couple. Whether the couple is eyeing a traditional wedding in New Castle or an offbeat ceremony in Dover, you should be prepared to work with them to make the bid day a success!

If you're planning to officiate a wedding, the first step will be to brush up on the rules for performing weddings in Delaware. Because marriage is a legal ceremony, following the correct processes and checking all the required boxes is incredibly important; otherwise, the wedding may not be legally recognized.

The rules for officiating are different from place to place, so when you know where the ceremony will be held, be sure to consult the requirements for that area. To learn more about the process for performing a wedding in Delaware, please visit our step-by-step guide.

Online Ordination in Delaware

As an established religious organization that remains in good standing in Delaware, ordinations conferred by the Universal Life Church Ministries are valid across the state. In line with state law, ULC ministers are granted the authority to perform all the same duties carried out by clergy members of other faith systems, including the ability to officiate legally-binding weddings.