Why Become Ordained? Understanding the Endorsement Process

At this point in the class, you are learning about the skills needed to be a wedding officiant, but I want to briefly call attention to becoming ordained with the Christian Leaders Alliance because the next step in the course is about getting a recommendation.

What we find is that you are becoming trained. If your intention is to become ordained, we ask in the ordination process that you receive an endorsement.

We have a tool available for you to make that known—that someone would be willing to endorse you as a minister and as a wedding officiant.

So that tool is there.

Let's briefly talk about it.

Why Ordained? What Is Ordination?

Ordination is when someone else recognizes you as a spiritual leader and as a minister.

You are not putting the crown on your own head.

Part of ordination is that there is a process.

This process includes asking someone to endorse you.

This is important.

We will not ordain someone through the Christian Leaders Alliance who is unendorsed.

We have seen the power of that endorsement.

If you want to go beyond being a wedding officiant and become a minister—for example, if you want to become a Minister of the Word—you will need more than one endorsement. You will need three endorsements.

The endorsement process is a huge part of your credibility.

Why Become Ordained with the Christian Leaders Alliance?

First of all, the Christian Leaders Alliance understands the grassroots nature of calling and provides a process for that calling to grow into ordination.

The Christian Leaders Alliance recognizes this first level of ministry and often sees that it becomes a gateway into additional ministry roles.

Many officiants become chaplains.

For instance, we've noticed that volunteer chaplains often begin by officiating a wedding. Then, before long, we hear that they are serving as:

• A volunteer corrections chaplain
• A nursing home chaplain
• A motorcycle chaplain
• Or in another chaplaincy role

We've seen this happen many times.

For many people, the ordination process starts with becoming a wedding officiant.

Some of you already know that you want to become a chaplain.

One of the requirements for many chaplaincy pathways is taking this course.

This course is where that chaplaincy ordination journey can be founded and grounded.

It begins with this first recommendation that you are seeking.

Gather Your First Recommendation

The next step, if you are interested, is to gather a recommendation—an endorsement—for your ordination.

Whether this is for becoming a one-time wedding officiant or whether this is a stepping stone toward becoming a chaplain later, do it now.

Get that first recommendation out of the way.

Whether you eventually become:

• A Minister of the Word
• A Chaplain
• A Life Coach Minister
• Or another ordained role within the Christian Leaders Alliance

The Wedding Officiant Course is required, and ordination can begin at this Wedding Officiant level.

This endorsement applies to any future role you pursue.

For example, let's say that later on you decide you want to become a Minister of the Word.

You're starting here.

Get your endorsement here.

Complete your Wedding Officiant ordination.

That endorsement can then serve as your first endorsement for future ordination programs.

How the Endorsement Process Works

At the Christian Leaders Alliance, endorsements are part of the public recognition process.

They demonstrate that other people see you as a spiritual leader.

Depending on the ordination pathway, you will need between one and three endorsements.

This Wedding Officiant endorsement specifically starts that process.

You can use this first endorsement as endorsement number one for your entire endorsement package if you continue into additional ordination roles later.

Next Step

The next item in this course is an Ordination Endorsement Tool that will help you obtain that first endorsement.

Take advantage of it and begin the process of receiving public recognition for your calling, training, and ministry journey.