🧭 Worksheet 13.4: CLI / CLA Continuing Training Pathway Plan

Worksheet Purpose

This worksheet helps you create a personal continuing training plan for your wedding ministry.

A wedding ministry may begin with officiating ceremonies, but it can grow into a larger calling: marriage ministry, premarriage conversations, life coaching, community chaplaincy, Soul Center development, MinistryBiz leadership, or further ordained ministry through Christian Leaders Alliance. Topic 13 is designed to help students connect wedding ministry with continuing training and ordination pathways through Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance.

The purpose of this worksheet is to help you discern your next faithful training step, not rush into titles or roles before you are ready.

Brief Biblical Framing

Paul wrote:

“The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
2 Timothy 2:2, WEB

Christian ministry multiplies through trained, faithful, teachable leaders.

A wedding minister serves at the beginning of a new household. That sacred moment deserves more than personality, good intentions, or a beautiful voice. It calls for biblical grounding, role clarity, skill development, spiritual maturity, legal awareness, and accountability.

Proverbs says:

“A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain to sound counsel.”
Proverbs 1:5, WEB

A thriving wedding minister keeps learning.

Part 1: My Current Wedding Ministry Stage

Check the statement that best describes where you are right now.

☐ I am discerning whether I am called to wedding ministry.
☐ I want to become a Christian wedding officiant.
☐ I am already serving as a wedding officiant.
☐ I want to become more skilled as an Advanced Wedding Officiant.
☐ I sense a broader calling as a Wedding Minister.
☐ I want to develop premarriage conversations or marriage ministry.
☐ I sense a calling toward life coaching.
☐ I sense a calling toward chaplaincy.
☐ I am exploring Soul Center development.
☐ I am exploring a Wedding Officiant MinistryBiz.
☐ I sense God may be calling me toward broader ordained ministry.
☐ I am unsure, but I want to keep discerning.

Briefly explain your answer:

Part 2: What Needs Am I Seeing?

Wedding ministry often reveals deeper needs in couples, families, and communities.

Check any needs you have already noticed or expect to encounter.

☐ Couples need help understanding covenant marriage.
☐ Couples need help preparing for communication and conflict.
☐ Couples need guidance about prayer and spiritual life.
☐ Couples need premarriage conversations.
☐ Couples need a meaningful Christian ceremony.
☐ Couples need help navigating family pressure.
☐ Couples need support with blended family situations.
☐ Couples need encouragement after the wedding.
☐ Couples need referral to counseling or crisis support.
☐ Couples need connection to a local church.
☐ Couples need connection to a Soul Center or local Christian community.
☐ Couples need marriage coaching or practical next steps.
☐ Families need prayer, hospitality, and pastoral presence.
☐ My community needs a stronger Christian marriage witness.
☐ My area needs trustworthy Christian wedding officiants.
☐ My ministry needs better business, tax, legal, and recordkeeping systems.

What repeated needs do you sense God may be putting in front of you?

Part 3: My Training Readiness Inventory

Rate yourself honestly.

Use this scale:

1 = I need major growth
2 = I have some beginning awareness
3 = I am growing but need more training
4 = I am fairly prepared
5 = I am strong and ready to help others

Which three areas most need training next?

Part 4: CLI / CLA Pathway Discernment

Review these possible next steps. Mark the ones that may fit your calling.

Wedding Ministry Training

☐ Wedding Officiant
☐ Advanced Wedding Officiant
☐ Wedding Minister
☐ Covenant Ceremony Design Lab
☐ Pre-Marriage Counseling
☐ Creating a Wedding Ministry / Developing a Wedding Ministry

Marriage and Relationship Formation

☐ Romance ministry training
☐ Marriage ministry training
☐ Communication and people skills
☐ Conflict and reconciliation training
☐ Family systems awareness
☐ Sexuality and covenant formation
☐ Household discipleship resources

Coaching Pathways

☐ Coaching Foundations
☐ Life coaching courses
☐ Marriage coaching focus
☐ Identity coaching focus
☐ Relationship peace coaching focus

Chaplaincy Pathways

☐ Chaplaincy Foundations
☐ Community Chaplaincy
☐ Crisis or disaster response chaplaincy
☐ Marketplace chaplaincy
☐ Public-facing care ministry
☐ Grief and transition care

Soul Center and Local Ministry

☐ Soul Center registration awareness
☐ Soul Center leadership training
☐ Local Bible study or prayer gathering
☐ Marriage-focused Soul Center gatherings
☐ Church planting skills
☐ Local church ministry partnership

Ordained Ministry Pathways

☐ Ministry Officiant
☐ Lay or Field Minister
☐ Coaching Minister
☐ Ministry Chaplain
☐ Ordained Minister
☐ Minister of the Word
☐ I need help discerning which pathway fits.

Part 5: My Next Faithful Training Step

Choose one primary next step.

My next CLI / CLA training step is:

Why this step fits my calling right now:

What this training will help me do more faithfully:

What I am not yet ready to offer until I receive more training:

Part 6: Role Clarity Statement

Complete the following statements.

Right now, I am prepared to serve couples in these ways:

Right now, I should not present myself as trained to offer:

When a couple needs help beyond my role, I will refer them to:

☐ Pastor
☐ Licensed counselor or therapist
☐ Attorney
☐ Accountant or tax professional
☐ Domestic violence or crisis resource
☐ Medical or mental health professional
☐ Experienced marriage mentor
☐ Church elder or ministry leader
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

My role clarity statement to couples will be:

Example:

“I am honored to serve as your wedding minister. My role is to help you prepare for a meaningful Christian ceremony and encourage you toward covenant marriage. I am not a licensed counselor or legal advisor, so when deeper needs arise, I will help point you toward qualified support.”

Part 7: Local Church, Mentor, or Soul Center Accountability

A wedding minister should not serve alone.

My current ministry point of reference is:

☐ Local church
☐ Pastor
☐ Ministry mentor
☐ Soul Center
☐ Christian Leaders Alliance pathway
☐ Ministry team
☐ I need to develop this.

Name of church, mentor, pastor, or ministry connection:

How often will I seek review or encouragement?

☐ Monthly
☐ Every two months
☐ Quarterly
☐ Before each wedding season
☐ After difficult ministry situations
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Questions I want to ask my mentor or pastor:

Part 8: My 12-Month Continuing Training Plan

Next 30 Days

Training action:

Ministry action:

Mentor or pastor conversation:

Next 90 Days

Training action:

Wedding ministry system to improve:

Couple care or referral resource to develop:

Next 6 Months

Training action:

Possible credential or ordination pathway to explore:

Local church, Soul Center, or MinistryBiz step:

Next 12 Months

Training action:

Ministry fruit I hope to see:

Leadership multiplication step:

Part 9: MinistryBiz and Practical Readiness Check

If you are exploring a Wedding Officiant MinistryBiz, complete this section.

☐ I have clarified what services I offer.
☐ I have clarified what services I do not offer.
☐ I have a written fee, honorarium, or donation policy.
☐ I have a basic recordkeeping system.
☐ I have considered whether I need a separate bank account.
☐ I have checked local business registration requirements.
☐ I have checked local wedding officiant laws.
☐ I have considered tax reporting responsibilities.
☐ I know when to consult an accountant or tax professional.
☐ I know when to consult an attorney.
☐ I have a basic written agreement or service outline.
☐ I have a referral list for needs beyond my role.
☐ I have a promotion plan that is honest, beautiful, and non-manipulative.

My biggest MinistryBiz readiness gap is:

My next action step is:

Part 10: Final Commitment Statement

Complete this statement prayerfully.

With God’s help, I will continue training for wedding ministry because:

I believe my next faithful step is:

I will seek accountability from:

I will avoid overstepping my role by:

I will serve each bride and groom as embodied souls before God by:

Mentor or Pastor Review Prompt

Ask a mentor, pastor, Soul Center leader, or trusted ministry guide to review this worksheet with you.

Mentor review questions:

1. Does my next training step seem wise and realistic?

2. Do you see any gifts or calling patterns I should pay attention to?

3. Are there any roles I should not step into yet?

4. What boundaries should I strengthen?

5. What kind of accountability rhythm would help me grow?

6. What is one next step you recommend?

Mentor or pastor comments:

Mentor / Pastor / Ministry Guide Name:

Date:

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,
form me before You use me.

Teach me to serve brides and grooms with humility, wisdom, and love. Keep me from rushing ahead of my training. Keep me from hiding from my calling. Give me mentors, teachers, and faithful pathways of formation.

Help me become a wedding minister who honors Your Word, respects the sacredness of covenant marriage, serves couples with clarity, and stays accountable to the body of Christ.

May my training become service.
May my service become witness.
May my witness point couples to You.

Amen.