How To Become An Ordained Minister In Michigan
If you want to start your own religious organization or become a pastor, the first step is ordination. Ordination is the process of becoming an ordained minister, which allows you to perform weddings, funerals, baptisms and other ceremonies within your church.
In Michigan, you must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the county where you apply for ordination. You must also provide proof of citizenship if you are not a citizen of the United States.
The next step is to meet with a representative from your county’s clerk’s office to file an application for ordination. The clerk will ask you questions about your religious beliefs and practices, as well as your educational background and personal history. If everything checks out, they will issue a certificate stating that you have been ordained as an official minister in Michigan. You may now perform legal weddings according to state law!
How To Become An Ordained Minister In Michigan
How to get ordained and perform a wedding or ceremony in Michigan.
Since 2010, Open Ministry has been ordaining and helping people all over the world perform weddings, ceremony and other sacerdotal duties. This page focuses on requirements and information for Michigan, if you don’t need the States Statues or ordination information for Michigan scroll down to the bottom of the page for links to other states.
Let’s get started with the information for Michigan
If you are planning to get ordained in Michigan or you have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony in Michigan, or simply need to to find a minister in Michigan to perform your wedding ceremony the information on this page will assist you. If you still have questions we invite you to visit our FAQ or contact us for more detailed information. We are here to help and support our ministers and congregation.
Registered Ministers with Open Ministry have successfully performed thousands of marriages in Michigan and around the world!
The Ordination and Officiant information is provided below in an easy five step layout which is designed help walk you through the most common steps on registering to become a minister for Michigan and how perform a wedding ceremony in Michigan.
- 1) Become an Ordained Minister in Michigan
- 2) Contact the County Clerk in Michigan
- 3) Get your Ordination Credentials for Michigan
- 4) How to Perform a Wedding in Michigan
- 5) Michigan State statues and Officiant information
STEP 1 – HOW TO BECOME ORDAINED
How to get Ordained in Michigan and become a minister to perform weddings and marriage ceremonies in Michigan
Ordinations for Michigan are completely free and can normally be completed in less than a day. Thousands of people have registered and became licensed ministers in Michigan. Once you have completed the ordination process you are able perform marriages through Open Ministry in and for the state of Michigan!
Become Ordained for free and start your journey as an authorized minister in Michigan with Open Ministry.
Get started today by clicking on the link below!
STEP 2 – CONTACT THE COUNTY CLERK
How to Register to Officiate a Marriage in Michigan
Next, contact the office of your local marriage authority (typically your county clerk in Michigan). Let them know that you are a ordained minister with Open Ministry in California, and ask them what information the will require of you, to officiate a marriage in Michigan. Most clerks and governing agencies may require that you present them with a physical copy of your ordination record.
When speaking with the county clerk; it can be helpful to use the following phrases.
- What agency or department issues marriage licenses in your county and how may I contact them?
- I am an ordained minister with a church in California and I would like to register as a wedding Officiant in your county to perform and solemnize weddings.
- I have my Letter of Good Standing and/or Ordination Credential as proof of my ministry and ordination.
- What additional documentation is required for me to register as a wedding Officiant in your county or state?
STEP 3 – GETTING LICENSED TO PERFORM THE MARRIAGE
License to perform a wedding in Michigan
After you’ve contacted your marriage authority, you will want to visit our bookstore to get physical copies official credentials for presentation and your records. (See Michigan State Statutes for More Specific Requirements )
When registering in Michigan you may be asked to display proof of your ordination to the county clerk’s before they will accept the marriage license as having been legally solemnized. We typically advise ministers of Michigan to get a Complete Minister Package for Michigan which includes your Letter of Good Standing (the live signed and notarized physical copy of your standing with our ministry).
Having your physical copies credentials provides peace-of-mind to couples and others that you intend to marry. Additionally, we recommend at least 4 weeks between the date of the wedding ceremony and your order, to ensure that you receive all of your materials and are able to register in time. Please note that every state and county can impose different requirements. This may include other nominal fees and additional paperwork that may need to be completed before the ceremony can take place.
It is important to note that some county clerks in Michigan may require wedding officiants to attach a statement which asserts some of the elements in the marriage license upon submission, including the following:
- The time and location at which the wedding took place
- The names and places of residence of all official witnesses
- The religious organization in which the officiant is ordained
- The printed name and address of the officiant
Please note that, when filling out a marriage license, that Michigan State may request you use the title “Minister” or “Reverend”. The County Clerks may also require you enter your denomination, you can use “Non-Denominational”. Failing to state a denomination may result in rejection and could require a duplicate marriage license.
STEP 4 – HOW TO PERFORM THE WEDDING
How to perform a wedding in Michigan
Once you have completed of the above, you are ready to perform the wedding! Be sure that the couple has picked up their Michigan state issued marriage license from the appropriate office. Michigan marriage licenses valid for a set number of days, and there may be a waiting period between when the couple receives the marriage license in Michigan and when the ceremony may be legally performed in Michigan. This information should be written on the license and followed to ensure the ceremony is recorded properly.
Please be aware that the signed license must be returned to the issuing office in Michigan before the time limit is reached. Check the marriage license for the exact dates. Once the the previous matters have been addressed, officiating a wedding in Michigan can be a great and wonderful experience.
If you have any comments or issues as a wedding officiant in Michigan, or after you have been ordained, or would like to just asking for guidance on how to perform a wedding ceremony in Michigan. We recommend that all new Michigan wedding ministers who have issues or concerns about the ceremony read over our helpful guides.
State Statutes for Michigan
Credentials for Registration in Michigan
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Michigan
551.7 Persons authorized to solemnize marriage; records; returns; disposition of fees charged by mayor or county clerk
(1) Marriages may be solemnized by any of the following:
(a) A judge of the district court, in the district in which the judge is serving.
(b) A district court magistrate, in the district in which the magistrate serves.
(c) A municipal judge, in the city in which the judge is serving or in a township over which a municipal court has jurisdiction under section 9928 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.9928.
(d) A judge of probate, in the county or probate court district in which the judge is serving.
(e) A judge of a federal court.
(f) A mayor of a city, anywhere in a county in which that city is located.
(g) A county clerk in the county in which the clerk serves, or in another county with the written authorization of the clerk of the other county.
(h) For a county having more than 2,000,000 inhabitants, an employee of the county clerk’s office designated by the county clerk, in the county in which the clerk serves.
(i) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in the state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination.
(j) A minister of the gospel or cleric or religious practitioner, anywhere in the state, if the minister or cleric or religious practitioner is not a resident of this state but is authorized to solemnize marriages under the laws of the state in which the minister or cleric or religious practitioner resides.
(2) A person authorized by this act to solemnize a marriage shall keep proper records and make returns as required by section 4 of 1887 PA 128, MCL 551.104.
(3) If a mayor of a city solemnizes a marriage, the mayor shall charge and collect a fee to be determined by the council of that city, which shall be paid to the city treasurer and deposited in the general fund of the city at the end of the month.
(4) If the county clerk or, in a county having more than 2,000,000 inhabitants, an employee of the clerk’s office designated by the county clerk solemnizes a marriage, the county clerk shall charge and collect a fee to be determined by the commissioners of the county in which the clerk serves. The fee shall be paid to the treasurer for the county in which the clerk serves and deposited in the general fund of that county at the end of the month.
