How to Become Ordained in North Dakota

Written and reviewed for accuracy by the ordination research team at the Universal Life Church Ministries on January 12, 2023

Do you want to get ordained in North Dakota but aren't sure where to start? Thankfully, we make it easy, and anyone can become a legally ordained minister online right here on our website, granting them the power to perform all manner of religious duties, including officiating weddings.

For a long time, the road to ordination was a lengthy and rocky one. Ordination was limited only to those who could invest thousands of hours and a lot of money, as well as pass all manner of arbitrary barriers just to be considered.

The Universal Life Church believes that the path to ordination should not be an exclusive road only a privileged few may walk. That's why we've made ordination free and as quick and easy as possible online.

Just because North Dakota is home to the rugged Badlands doesn't mean its people aren't well versed in doing that which is right. In fact, many North Dakotans have chosen to get ordained with the ULC to continue living out its motto that "we are all children of the same universe."

In the following paragraphs, we'll go over how we are able to ordain you online, explain legal questions you might have, and show you just how easy it is to get ordained in North Dakota!

1. Become an Ordained Minister in North Dakota

Every journey begins with a first step, and yours begins with filling out the ordination form on our website. Once you fill out and submit the form, your application will be processed and you'll be ordained instantly. Congratulations, you're now an ordained minister! To get things started, click the link below:

Start Your Ordination

You might be wondering how something that was previously so complicated can now be so simple. Our philosophy is that anyone who feels the calling should be able to get ordained without barrier, and that's why we've made ordination easier than it's ever been in history. It is our privilege to foster your ordination, and in turn, perhaps assist you in making your own spiritual dreams come true.

2. Put Your Ordination to Use in North Dakota

After you've filled out the ordination form and received your confirmation email, you have a variety of options on how to use your newfound ordination, should you so choose. Ministers can perform all sorts of religious ceremonies in North Dakota, whether you're in Fargo or Medora.

As a minister of the Universal Life Church, you can:

Officiate wedding ceremonies
Perform baptisms and christenings
Preside over funerals
Oversee myriad other spiritual ceremonies

Ministers in North Dakota can even open their own ministry or church should they so choose! To take a look at the options you have, we encourage you to take a look at our Minister Training Center for a full rundown.

3. How Ordination Works in North Dakota

Ordination has been around for centuries, and is of paramount importance to many religious denominations. The details will of course vary between faiths, but generally, getting ordained is the process by which one is officially recognized as a clergyperson in a particular religious denomination or faith tradition. Ordination establishes one as a leader within the faith, and grants privileges within the faith unavailable to outsiders. One such privilege, for example, is the power to officiate weddings.

In centuries past, ordination was often a long and grueling process, required a significant investment of both money and time. Not to mention the exclusivity; Ordination was often only reserved for men.

We do not subscribe to such an approach. The Universal Life Church believes that those are all simply artificial barriers obscuring those called to ordination from reaching their goals. And it is for that reason that we've made ordination quick, free, and available to all. We believe that anyone in North Dakota should be able to get ordained online at no cost, so that they might pursue their ministerial goals unburdened.

Perhaps most exciting, however, is that Universal Life Church ordination grants one the legal rights of clergy of other religious traditions, including fulfilling legal duties like officiating weddings!

4. Ordination Supplies Required in North Dakota

As you consider your ordination path, please take stock of the fact that you'll likely need a handful of documents, apparel, and other materials in order to fulfill your role as a minister. What you need might change state to state, but our ministers in North Dakota find that the following items are important:

Ordination Set

Long Sleeve Minister Shirt

Professional Ministry Set

No matter what you use your ordination for, always remember that we have resources online and items available to you to shepard you on your ministerial journey.

5. Use Your Ordination to Perform Weddings in North Dakota

There are a lot of reasons one might want to get ordained, but one of the most popular is to officiate legal weddings for friends and family, and ULCM ordination grants everyone the right to legally officiate weddings.

As often as ministers get asked to perform weddings, there's a chance you'll find a couple wishing to have a humorous wedding ceremony in Bismarck. Or maybe it will be a couple planning an Interfaith wedding ceremony at the Peace Chapel within the International Peace Garden.

If officiating weddings is one of the reasons you got ordained, you'll want to make sure you check out the weddings laws where the wedding is taking place. Please note that wedding laws can change state to state and even county to county. To find out more about the legal requirements in your area, take a look at our page on officiating weddings in North Dakota.

How North Dakota Recognizes ULC Ordinations

Fully legally recognized in North Dakota, Universal Life Church Ministries has the legal standing to issue valid religious ordinations. Per state law, ministers in good standing with ULCM can carry out all standard duties one might expect of clergy, including, but not limited to, the power to preside over and officiate fully legal wedding ceremonies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you legally get ordained online in North Dakota?

Yes! As a resident of North Dakota you can legally get ordained online by the Universal Life Church. Online ordination might not be as familiar to you as the more “traditional” ordination practices of other religious organizations, but our use of the internet to assist you in the process does not detract from your ordination.
How much time does it take to get ordained in North Dakota?

At the Universal Life Church we have purposely and deliberately made ordination available online nearly instantaneously for people in North Dakota, because we firmly believe that anyone in North Dakota who feels called toward ordination should have the right to access it and take personal control over their own spiritual practice.
What is the cost to get ordained in North Dakota?

Becoming a minister with the Universal Life Church is free! We want every person in North Dakota who feels called toward ordination to achieve it, so we do not charge to get ordained online. However, It is important to know that in some areas you may need to show physical proof of ordination, which we charge a small fee for.
What age do you have to be to get ordained in North Dakota?

We do require that those in North Dakota who are interested in ordination with the Universal Life Church be at least 18 years old, or we can not honor your ordination as valid. ULC ministers who were ordained online should also note that in their local area there may be a different age requirement to solemnize marriage.