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Ordination Questions & Answers
About Becoming A Minister
With The American Fellowship Church
Many ask us how to become a legally ordained minister with the Church.
Some ask about the services our ministers can offer and where they can offer them.
Others want to know about our requirements for ordination or what
minister training we offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions. For any question that interests you, just click on the link to locate the answer. The answer will appear at the very top of the page. If you want to read through all of our questions and answers, scroll further down this page or click here.
Why should I pay the American Fellowship Church to be ordained when I can get a free ordination elsewhere?
If I have to prove that my ordination with your church is real and legal, can you verify my ordination?
My daughter (son, friend, etc.) is engaged and he/she wants me to marry him/her and her fiancé. Can I officiate at my daughter's wedding if I'm ordained in your church?
Will other churches recognize my ordination?
Can I start my own church? If I can, how would I do that?
If I'm ordained by your church, do I have to be called "Rev"? If not, what other titles could I have?
What is the value of a D.D. degree?
If I'm ordained with your church, can I perform marriages?
As a minister in your church, can I do healing work with people who are sick?
If I'm ordained by the American Fellowship Church, can I make prison visits?
Can I have a ministry that travels around the country?
As an American Fellowship Church minister, can I do counseling?
How much training do I need to be ordained as a minister with the American Fellowship Church?
I feel called in my heart to be ordained but I don't want to practice traditional ministry. Do I qualify for ordination in your church?
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Why should I pay the American Fellowship Church to become ordained if I can get a free ordination elsewhere?
Answer: Some churches offer free ordinations. Before accepting such an offer, find out if they make a permanent record of your ordination including your name and address and the date you were ordained.
We keep permanent records on all ministers with currently valid ID cards. We even keep records for many years on ministers without valid ID cards.
Also, satisfy yourself that they are likely to be around for a while. Finally, ask if they are the mother church or just operating under a church charter. If they are the mother church (and that is what you want) you can see if they are in good standing in the state where they are incorporated.
Usually the Secretary of State will be able to verify their standing and tell you how long they have been in existence. Back to Questions
Question: If I have to prove that my ordination with your church is real and legal, can you verify my ordination?
Answer: Yes, we can. The American Fellowship Church has been in continuous existence since 1975 and we keep records on everyone we ordain. This enables us to verify your ordination if you request us to do that.
This could be important, for example, if you were to perform a marriage ceremony that was questioned for some reason. Occasionally we are asked to verify a minister's standing to prison authorities for the purpose of allowing our ministers to make pastoral visits. Back to Questions
Question: My daughter (son, friend, etc.) is engaged and they want me to perform the wedding for her and her fiancé. Can I officiate at my daughter's wedding if I'm ordained in your church?
Answer: Yes, you can perform a wedding for your daughter and her fiancé, or other relatives and friends, as long as they and you do so according to local law.
If you plan to perform marriages for friends or others, we urge you to look at "Minister Licensing." From there you can find the state where you intend to perform the ceremony, and then contact your local county clerk's office. Once you are ordained with the American Fellowship Church you will have access to "Details of Marriage Laws"
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.
For more complete information, become ordained or Back to Questions
Question: Will other churches recognize my ordination?Answer: Other churches can do what they wish. Some recognize only their own church and reject all others. On the other hand, some cooperate with many churches including ministers of the American Fellowship Church. Back to Questions
Question: Can I start my own church? If I can, how would I do that?
Answer: Yes, we offer church charters for ministers wanting to start their own church. See our description of the "Church Charter Packet" under "Church Documents" ( click here). Back to Questions
Question: If I'm ordained by your church, do I have to be called "Rev"? If not, what other titles could I have?
Answer: You may have any religious title of your choice: Minister; Reverend; Pastor; Sister; Brother; Rabbi; Priest or Priestess, etc.
Back to Questions
Question: What is the value of a D.D. degree?
Answer: Our Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree is simply recognition of the fact that someone has made a donation to our Church. All honorary degrees are "unearned" since no studies are involved. Honorary degrees are simply recognition for something the recipient did for the institution that granted it. It makes many people feel good to have the degree and that is its value. For more information about the D.D. degree, click here.
Back to Questions
Question: If I'm ordained with your church, can I perform marriages?
Answer: Yes, you can perform marriages, but some states or other jurisdictions require you to register first. If you plan to perform marriages, we urge you to review our Minister Licensing Laws section of our site "Details of Marriage Laws." This publication contains important information you needbefore 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.
Question: As a minister in your church, can I do healing work with people who are sick?
Answer: Yes, you can do healing work with the sick as long as you have the ability to do that and you do not diagnose or treat any disease. You may serve as a conduit for spiritual/religious healing. However, medical diagnosis and treatment are functions legally reserved for appropriately trained and licensed medical professionals. Back to Questions
Question: If I'm ordained by the American Fellowship Church, can I make prison visits?
Answer: Many of our ministers have been allowed to make prison visits. Sometimes our ministers are required to get a letter of approval from the American Fellowship Church. Back to Questions
Question: Can I have a ministry that travels around the country?
Answer: Absolutely. You can have a traveling ministry with the American Fellowship Church. Back to Questions
Question: As an American Fellowship Church minister, can I do counseling?
Answer: You may do counseling as a clergy person if you have the ability and/or training to do that in a competent manner. Back to Questions
Question: How much training do I need to be ordained as a minister with the American Fellowship Church?
Answer: You don't need any training for ministry with our church but we do offer courses that will help you become a better prepared minister. Visit our online "Minister Training" to discover what we have. Understand, though, that you do not have to take the courses unless you want to. Back to Questions
Question: I feel called in my heart to be ordained but I don't want to practice traditional ministry. Do I qualify for ordination in your church?
Answer: Absolutely. Many people do exactly that. They follow their heart's calling to ordination. Back to Questions
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