We recently received an inquiry asking why ordination terms expire: My understanding is that Ordination does not expire. Can you explain about the 2 year, 5 year and 10 year materials? What happens at the end of the time period? We think this question has widespread implications for wedding ministers, so we’re also posting our reply here: To be fully compliant with general legal standards, ordination cannot be granted “for life.” Most ordaining bodies — churches and religious organizations — conform with a standard that limits the ordination term to a specific period. This gives both parties the option to continue the relationship, or to terminate it. In essence, what happens if…
-
-
Renewing Your Ordination Term: The Why and The How
Another question that we on the WedMinTeam at FNC are often asked is (1) why do I have to renew my ordination term as a wedding officiant, and (2) how do I renew my ordination term? The simple answer to 1 (the “why”) is that ordination isn’t for life. While some churches (and we all know who we’re talking about here) offer “lifetime ordination,” no real church or religious order grants unconditional ordination as a ceremonial minister for eternity. What happens if you change your mind about your beliefs or your calling twelve years from now? Should we still consider you ordained? What about your personal information in our incredibly…
