How to Become a Minister in NM

Researched and edited for accuracy by trained team members at GetOrdained™ on January 23, 2023

Here's something not many people realize: becoming ordained in New Mexico 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!

Seeing as it is home to the oldest standing church in the country, the San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe, New Mexico has a long history of religious practice. Becoming ordained allows ministers to perform ceremonies anywhere in the state, whether they're in Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, or Roswell.

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 New Mexico.

1. Become a Minister in New Mexico

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 New Mexico

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. From Las Cruces to Raton, ordained ministers of the ULC are fully recognized and empowered to perform ceremonies of all kinds throughout 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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico

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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico

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 New Mexico, 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 New Mexico

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.

ULC ministers are often approached to officiate weddings for couples. One starry-eyed couple might ask for a traditional Christian wedding ceremony in Santa Rosa. Another might tell you they'd prefer a Pagan wedding with the Rio Grande Gorge as a beautiful backdrop.

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 New Mexico to get started.

Online Ordination in New Mexico

The Universal Life Church Ministries is an official religious organization in good standing in New Mexico. 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 New Mexico explain, certified ministers are granted the ability to perform duties such as officiating legal wedding ceremonies.