How to Become an Ordained Minister: A Comprehensive Guide

If you feel called to serve in traditional church or community ministry, the journey to become an ordained minister is a profound and fulfilling path. The Ordained Minister Program is designed to offer a comprehensive and affordable alternative to traditional seminary education, equipping you with the knowledge and skills needed to serve in volunteer,  part-time, or full-time ministry roles. Whether you aspire to lead a church, plant a new congregation, or serve in various church staff roles, this program is tailored to meet your needs.

Why Choose the Ordained Minister Program?

The Ordained Minister Program provides a structured and accessible route for those who feel a calling to ministry but may not have the resources or time to attend a traditional seminary. This program guides you through the steps of ordination. See Ordination Steps. 

This ordained minister program is ideal for individuals called and passionate about ministry who seek to make a significant impact within their communities. These steps into ordained ministry typically take 9 to 16 months to complete, depending on your pace. Upon completion, you will be fully ordained, with all the credentials necessary to lead a church or take on other vocational ministry roles.

Key Roles for an Ordained Minister

As an ordained minister, you will be prepared to take on a variety of roles within the church and community:

• Pastor or Church Planter: Lead an existing church or plant a new congregation, guiding your community in spiritual growth.
• Staff Minister: Serve in various capacities within a church, supporting the pastor and congregation in different ministerial roles.
• Traditional Ceremonial Duties: Conduct essential ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other rites, providing spiritual leadership during life’s significant moments.

Key Benefits of Becoming an Ordained Minister

• Traditional Minister Ordination: The program aligns with typical ordination requirements, ensuring you receive a certification recognized across denominations.
• Credible Ordination: This program goes beyond basic licensing, offering full ordination for those seeking vocational opportunities and enhanced credibility within their ministry roles.
• Wider Reach: Ideal for individuals aiming to pursue paid ministry positions or advance to specialized roles within the church, expanding your ability to serve in diverse capacities.
• Ceremonial Skills: Gain proficiency in officiating a wide range of Christian ceremonies, allowing you to serve your community more effectively.
• Skill Development: The program is a foundational course that can be further built upon, ultimately leading to advanced ministry roles, such as becoming a Minister of the Word.
• Soul Center Registration: Upon completing the program, you will be eligible to register a Soul Center with the Christian Leaders Alliance, further extending your ministry’s reach and impact.

Specializations and Opportunities

As a fully ordained minister, you can specialize in various ministerial roles, expanding your reach and impact. Whether you’re interested in youth ministry, marriage counseling, or community outreach, the program provides a solid foundation that can be tailored to your specific calling.

Ideal Candidates for the Ordained Minister Program

This program is perfect for:

• Those called to full-time or part-time ministry.
• Individuals interested in church planting or pastoring.
• Those seeking an affordable and accessible alternative to traditional seminary studies.

The Ordained Minister Program equips you to serve as a pastor or staff minister and provides a robust foundation for additional specializations. This makes you a well-rounded and adaptable leader, ready to meet your congregation’s and community’s diverse needs.

Conclusion

Becoming an ordained minister is a significant step in answering your calling to serve God and your community. The Ordained Minister Program offers an affordable, comprehensive, and accessible path to full ordination, equipping you with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead, teach, and serve. Whether you’re interested in pastoring, church planting, or specialized ministry roles, this program provides the foundation to make a lasting impact. If you feel the call to ministry, this program is the perfect place to start your journey toward ordination and beyond.

The Steps to Become an Ordained Minister with the Christian Leaders Alliance

If you feel called to serve your community as a fully ordained minister, the Christian Leaders Alliance offers a unique and accessible path to ordination. This program is designed for individuals who wish to lead, guide, and support others in a church or community setting. Here’s how you can embark on this meaningful journey to become an ordained minister.

Step One: Discern Your Calling

Your journey to ordination begins with discerning your calling. Reflect on your personal journey to becoming a Christian. What is your testimony? Often, your own experiences in following the Lord play a crucial role in shaping the type of ministry you’re called to.

Do you feel an internal calling to ministry? This could be a deep passion for guiding others through important life transitions, such as weddings, baptisms, or funerals. Perhaps you feel a strong empathy for those seeking spiritual support and direction, or you’re motivated to offer encouragement, leadership, and hope through the Christian faith. As it says in Ephesians 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called.” This step is all about recognizing and affirming your calling, ensuring that your desire to serve is rooted in a genuine commitment to others.

In addition to your internal calling, consider the external calling. Do others in your church recognize your potential for ministry? Have people suggested that you should become a pastor? Perhaps a loved one has asked you to perform a wedding ceremony, or you’ve been invited to lead a Bible study or small group. These are all signs of an external calling, where others acknowledge your gifts and abilities for ministry, as reflected in Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.”

The discernment of this calling should be approached prayerfully. Reflect on your internal and external callings, your testimony, and the gifts God has given you for ministry. As Philippians 2:13 reminds us, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.” Often, this discernment process leads you to seek out ministry training. If you’ve found that traditional ministry training is costly, you may have discovered the Christian Leaders Institute, where donation-supported, free ministry training is available. Now, you’re ready to move on to the next step in your journey to becoming an ordained minister.

Step Two: Begin Your Ministry Training

After discerning your calling, the next step is to begin your ministry education with the Christian Leaders Institute. This training is designed to be accessible and free, removing financial barriers that might otherwise prevent you from pursuing your calling.

Your first course will be “Getting Started with Multiply Christian Leaders,” which lays the foundation for your ministry work. As Proverbs 4:7 says, “Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.” Following this, you can choose from a wide range of ministry training courses. It’s recommended that you start with the Wedding Officiant Skills course, which allows you to become a licensed wedding officiant. This course provides key insights and practical experience that will be invaluable as you continue on your path to becoming an ordained minister with the Christian Leaders Alliance.

Step Three: Secure Level Three Endorsement

Once you have completed your training, the final step is to secure a Level Three Endorsement. This endorsement is a formal recognition of your readiness and commitment to serve as a fully ordained minister. It affirms that you have completed the necessary training and are prepared to take on the responsibilities of ordained ministry. As 1 Timothy 3:10 advises, “Let these also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless.” With this endorsement, you’ll be officially recognized as an ordained minister, ready to serve your community in this vital and fulfilling role.

Why Choose the Christian Leaders Alliance?

The Christian Leaders Alliance offers a comprehensive, credible, and affordable path to full ordination, making it accessible to anyone who feels called to ministry. Unlike traditional seminary education, this program is designed to fit into your life, allowing you to study at your own pace while still receiving robust and thorough training. Whether you’re called to full-time ministry, church planting, or simply want to serve your community in a more official capacity, the Christian Leaders Alliance provides the tools and support you need to succeed.

In summary, the Christian Leaders Alliance equips you to respond to God’s calling by offering accessible, high-quality training that leads to ordination. As the Bible says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). If you feel called to be one of those laborers, this program offers a practical and spiritually enriching path to fulfilling that call.