How to Become a Legally Ordained Minister
with the American Fellowship Church
Become ordained with online ordination
If you want to know how to become a legally ordained minister, the American Fellowship Church website is definitely a resource for you.
You can become ordained right here and now. Men and women who, for one reason or another, are not able or don't wish to become ordained through traditional paths such as seminary study, will find our path to ordination a real alternative and an easy one to follow.
The American Fellowship Church wants to provide you with spirituality information and materials which you can use to enhance your well-being and assist your desire to serve God to the best of your ability.
Ordination and religious freedom
People want to become ordained in our church for almost as many different reasons as there are people. Fortunately, the constitutional separation of church and state in the United States allows for a degree of freedom for spiritual growth and religious expression.Whether people feel the call to serve God as minister, preacher, pastor, priest, deacon, brother or sister, or even rabbi, becoming ordained can be the way for them to achieve their goal.
The American Fellowship Church is an independent non-denominational Church that believes in allowing individual responsibility for spiritual growth and development.
We welcome both men and women
The American Fellowship Church welcomes and ordains both men and women in the ministry.
We believe
- t each person's reasons for wishing to become ordained are between that person and God.
- if you become ordained, you may find yourself led to spiritual growth and development.
- God has different messages for different people in different situations.
- there are many paths leading to the same point and we are open to many avenues for growth.
Testimonial from one of our Ministers...
I was skeptical at first about contacting the A.F.C., being wary of getting an affiliation I wouldn't like, but after reading the material that was sent to me, I must tell you how pleased I am to find one organized church that shares my own views about religion and the personal relationships we each have with God.... I am glad that I can be a part of the A.F.C. so that I can help others live better lives, and hopefully give constructive assistance.
Rev. D. E., New York
The American Fellowship Church will never try to force you to accept any beliefs other than your own. However, we do suggest that spiritual growth and development take place more steadily if we eat good food, obtain proper exercise, pray/meditate, and find satisfying work.
How the church began...
The American Fellowship Church was founded by Theodore H. Swenson. Rev. Swenson is a former Dean of Students at the University of California. He had wanted to become an ordained minister since he was a youth but he was not able to find the right connection to make that happen.
He resigned his position with the University and, in 1975, he organized the non-denominational American Fellowship Church. In the course of setting up the Church, he learned how to help others who wanted to become legally ordained.
Requirements for ordination and ministry
It is not necessary to study to become ordained with our Church. Instead, we rely on your good will and the experience you have already gained during your lifetime. If you want more preparation, we urge you to take any or all of the home-study correspondence courses we offer, but it is entirely up to you. Distance learning allows you to develop your counseling and pastoral skills, while continuing with your home and family commitments.
Understand that after you become ordained, you must actually assume the role of minister and carry out your ministry to make it become a meaningful reality. Thus, your ordination will become real as a result of your own actions.
Of course, if you are becoming ordained simply to perform the wedding of a friend or relative, then your ministry can stop there, if you wish. Please see the note below re Canada and other countries outside of USA*.
We offer various materials and certificates to help you - you can even become a Doctor of Divinity. But what you do is YOUR choice.
After your ordination :
- you may conduct church services including
- marriages,
- baptisms,
- funerals.
- You may also serve in any other appropriate way, including
- open door outreach ministries
- regular church services
- youth minstries
- hospital ministries
- If you plan to perform marriages for friends or others, we urge you to order our publication "Details of Marriage Laws." This publication contains important information you need before you perform marriages in the United States.
* You may or may not be able to perform marriages in other countries. For example, our ministers may not perform marriages in Canada where very few churches are allowed to do that.
The FIRST STEP is to become ordained.
How to become a legally ordained minister
Because we want to be sure our ministers act in good faith, we require you to agree to the American Fellowship Church Code of Ethics . We also need you to give us your name and address for our records. And the Church will NEVER violate your privacy. Without your express permission (unless compelled by law), nobody else will have access to any information you ever give us.You may become legally ordained right now.
You may become legally ordained right now by ordering an ID card. Your minister license comes in the form of an ID card. The ID card serves as your proof of ordination as well as your minister's license.
We request and offering of $25.00 for a 1-year Ordination, Minister License & ID Card.
Longer licenses are available.
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- We are offering a discounted membership in ICA (the International Clergy Association *) with all ordinations taking place from now until 31st March '08
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- ( offer closes MIDNIGHT US Eastern- EST 31 MARCH 2008)
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* The International Clergy Association (ICA).
ICA is open to ministers of any church.
Membership benefits include:
- receive an ICA Membership ID card
- your listing in the ICA Membership Directory
- access to the entire ICA Membership Directory (for a small charge)
- qualify for Clergy Discounts on travel and merchandise
- parking privileges
- help with asserting your minister rights, if these are challenged (we will write to the violator)
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Special Limited Time Offer details:
- 1 Year - Minister License, ID Card (NOT laminated) - PLUS
1 Year ICA Card ( NOT laminated ) [ $50.00 ] $37.00 (SAVING $13)
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- 1 Year - Minister License, ID Card ( laminated ) - PLUS
1 Year ICA Membership Card ( laminated ) [ $60.00 ] $43.00 (SAVING $17)
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- 5 Year - Minister License, ID Card ( laminated ) - PLUS
5 Year ICA Membership Card ( laminated ) [ $200 ] $137.00 (SAVING $63)
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- Lifetime Minister License, ID Card ( laminated ) - PLUS
Lifetime ICA Membership Card ( laminated ) [ $500 ] $327.00 (SAVING $173)
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Order a Minister License and ID Card
How To Order your ordination ID card and minister license ....
You can place a secure order online right now through our service with Kagi.
We accept payments using nine major Credit Cards,(including Eurocard), PayPal, Check, Purchase Order, Cash, Money Order and Wire Transfer,
To place an order, simply click here.
Please let us know if we may be of service or if you have suggestions of any kind.
You may send an e-mail to the American Fellowship Church by clicking here.
Thank you.
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A nonprofit organization in good standing
The American Fellowship Church is a nonprofit organization. Since our founding in 1975, we have helped thousands of people from all walks of life to become ordained ministers. Men and women in every state in the United States, in all the Canadian provinces, and in many other countries throughout the world, have become ordained in our church. Some of these ministers tell of their experience on our Ministers' Feedback page
If you would like to verify that we are a nonprofit organization in good standing, please feel free to contact the Office of the Secretary of State of California.
WARNING: Do NOT become ordained with us in an attempt to gain tax benefits or to violate the laws of the jurisdiction where you reside. We are organized for RELIGIOUS purposes and not to assist with lawbreaking. We expect our ministers to behave ethically and to obey the laws of their jurisdictions. If you violate the law or if you fail to maintain an appropriate ethical and moral standard for an ordained minister, your ordination and license will terminate immediately and automatically without further notice.
Countries where ministers have become ordained
Antigua, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Ivory Coast Republic, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Guinea, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Rep.of Seychelles, Russia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, UK,USA, United Arab Emirates, Virgin Islands, W.Africa, Wales, Zimbabwe
USA states where ministers have become ordained
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakot, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canadian Provinces where ministers have become ordained
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador.
We look forward to future ordinations in these and other countries and that more people who feel called, can become ordained.
© 2006 American Fellowship Church, 225 Crossroads Blvd., #345, Carmel, CA 93923