The best source of information for how to join a church is one of the clergy members. Don’t hesitate to meet with one and say you want to join their church. Some churches have ceremonies to accept new members, like a Baptism in Catholicism, and others don’t have strict rules besides attending services. It is possible to become an independent reverend and form your own denomination. There aren’t any rules against this, and as long as you find a following, it’s another potential path.
Being active in the community is also important because many denominations require you to get sponsorship to attend school for religious training. Getting the whole congregation on your side is a great way to gain that sponsorship.
Also ask the minister what being a reverend is like. Learn as much as you can from them to be sure that this is what you want. It’s very possible that the clergy member you talk to might tell you that joining the ministry isn’t right for you. There are all kinds of reasons they might say this, and it doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person, so try not to take it personally. [4] X Research source
Some denominations make you go in front of a review committee that will question you about your beliefs and commitment to the church. Be honest and open with them, even if there are negative things in your past. This is important for them to determine if you’re the best person to represent the church. Other churches might have less strict rules for sponsorship. This is very specific to each organization.
You should also learn about how church services in your religion work. This is a major part of a reverend’s job. This is also specific to each church, so feel free to ask a clergy member what you need to study.
If you want to be a Catholic priest, then you usually need a college degree to attend seminary because it’s the equivalent of a master’s degree. In this case, college is required. [8] X Research source If you don’t want to serve the church full-time as a minister, going to college is also important so you can have another career.
In the Catholic church, a deacon doesn’t have to attend seminary. They have to be a church member for at least 5 years, be at least 35 years old, take an oath of commitment, and remain celibate if they aren’t yet married. This is another way to become a reverend if you’re Catholic. [10] X Research source Some Protestant sects don’t require seminary either. It depends on your denomination.
Some denominations like Lutherans require an internship after seminary rather than during it. In smaller denominations, the internship process might not be formal or even required.
A major part of most ordination exams is a Bible content quiz. By now, you should be an expert on the Bible and have passages memorized. Other denominations may ask you about performing church services, giving out sacraments, and handling ethical problems that might come up while you’re serving. In some denominations, you’ll have to write an ordination paper in advance of the exam. The topic depends on the committee, and you’ll have to defend it in the meeting. Some denominations let you serve in a probationary period after passing your exam before officially ordaining you.
Some states don’t even require a state license to officiate weddings. In this case, you can perform weddings as soon as you’re ordained. If you’re unsure about this process, asking another clergy member can help.
This is a good choice for people who want to get approved to officiate a wedding but don’t want to actually serve as a clergy member. Universal Life Church is a popular organization for quick ordination. These online churches usually don’t belong to any denomination. This is how they can ordain people without any qualifications. If you do go this route to get ordained, be aware that most churches and religious organizations won’t view it as legitimate. It’s like getting a degree from a non-accredited school. This might be fine if you don’t want to work in a church, but if you do, then skip this shortcut.
These websites only ask for basic information like your name, email, and home state. Most don’t even ask your address. If one of them is asking for personal information, then it may be a scam. Find a different website.
There may be a small fee to file the paperwork. It depends on the state you’re in. Some states don’t even require a state license to officiate weddings. As long as you’re an ordained minister, the marriage is legal.
