Become Ordained in Wisconsin: Your Guide to Legally and Spiritually Preparing for Ministry

Becoming ordained in Wisconsin to officiate weddings is a meaningful way to serve your community and celebrate one of life’s most cherished moments. Wisconsin law provides clear guidelines for who can officiate weddings, and the Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA) offers the training, credibility, and spiritual foundation you need to fulfill these requirements and thrive in this sacred role.

Understanding Wisconsin’s Wedding Officiant Laws

In Wisconsin, the authority to solemnize marriages is governed by Wisconsin Statutes § 765.16. This law specifies that the following individuals are authorized to officiate weddings:

Religious Officials: Ordained ministers, priests, rabbis, and other spiritual leaders licensed by their denomination or organization.
Judicial Officers: Judges, reserve judges, and court commissioners.
Tribal Officials: Officials designated by a federally recognized tribe in Wisconsin.

Religious officiants must be ordained or licensed by a recognized religious organization. Unlike some states, Wisconsin does not require officiants to register with the state or local government. However, officiants should ensure they have proper documentation of their ordination in case proof is required.

After officiating a wedding, the officiant is responsible for completing and signing the marriage license and returning it to the issuing county clerk’s office within three days of the ceremony for official recording.

How the Christian Leaders Alliance Meets Wisconsin’s Requirements

The Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA) ordination program is designed to meet Wisconsin’s legal requirements while equipping you with the skills and confidence to excel in this role.

1. Legitimate Ordination

CLA ordination is recognized by law because it is issued by a biblically grounded religious organization with a reputation for training Christian leaders. Your credentials meet Wisconsin’s legal definition of a religious officiant authorized to solemnize marriages.

2. Proof of Ordination

Upon completing the program, CLA provides official documentation of your ordination, ensuring you have the credentials necessary to officiate legally in Wisconsin.

3. Practical Training

Through the Christian Leaders Institute’s Wedding Officiant Skills Class, you’ll gain essential knowledge about officiating weddings in Wisconsin, including:

Understanding marriage laws in Wisconsin.
Designing meaningful and personalized wedding ceremonies.
Managing legal responsibilities, including completing and submitting the marriage license.

Equipping You for Ministry Beyond Weddings

While CLA ensures you meet Wisconsin’s legal requirements, the program also prepares you for broader ministry opportunities.

Confidence in Your Calling

The CLA program is more than just earning credentials—it equips you with spiritual and practical tools to serve with excellence. You’ll learn:

Biblical Foundations: Understand marriage as a sacred covenant established by God.
Ceremony Design: Create personalized ceremonies that honor God and reflect the couple’s love story and commitment.
Effective Communication: Develop skills to deliver inspiring and heartfelt wedding messages.

Credibility to Serve with Excellence

Unlike quick online ordination options, CLA emphasizes comprehensive training and mentorship. This ensures that you are well-prepared to officiate weddings that honor God and bless couples while building your credibility as a ministry leader.

Expanding Your Ministry Beyond Weddings

Becoming ordained in Wisconsin is not just about officiating weddings—it’s a gateway to a broader ministry calling. Through Christian Leaders Institute, you gain access to over 200 courses in areas such as pastoral care, leadership, and biblical studies. Whether you feel called to serve as a pastor, chaplain, or community leader, CLA provides the foundation for lifelong ministry.

Ephesians 4:12 (WEB) reminds us that God equips His people “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of serving, for the building up of the body of Christ.” By stepping into this role, you are answering God’s call to serve and strengthen others in their faith.

Start Your Journey Today

Becoming ordained in Wisconsin is more than just obtaining a credential—it’s an opportunity to serve others, share God’s love, and embark on a transformative ministry journey. With Christian Leaders Alliance, you’ll receive the training, resources, and spiritual support needed to officiate weddings confidently and honorably.

Whether you officiate one wedding or feel called to pursue additional ministry roles, your ordination will equip you to make a lasting impact. Take the first step today and become ordained in Wisconsin with Christian Leaders Alliance, ready to serve God and others with excellence and purpose.

Watch a Video Introducing the Wedding Officiant Class by Professor Henry Reyenga

Suggested Links:

Compare Christian Leaders Alliance with Instant Online Ordination – Click Here

Check out the Accreditation Status of the Christian Leaders Institute – Click Here

Learn more about the Christian Leaders Alliance – Click Here

See the Christian Leaders Alliance Minister Directory – Click Here

Learn more about Soul Centers a place to register your Wedding Officiant ministry- Click Here

Wisconsin Ordination

My name is Lisa Otterbacher. My loving husband, Tim, and I have been married for 33 years, and we are blessed with two wonderful adult children. We are beyond excited to be first-time grandparents to our one-year-old granddaughter. We reside in west-central Wisconsin, where we enjoy spending our free time Become ordained in Washington hiking, camping, snowshoeing, and kayaking. My most cherished moments are those spent with my family, treasured biblical friends, traveling in our motorhome, and riding our motorcycles across the country.

I discovered the Christian Leaders website shortly after my niece and her fiancé asked me to officiate their wedding. Initially, I believed my happenstance encounter with this ministry site was simply to find an alternative to a “generic online officiant certificate.” However, my heart is leading me to believe that God may have something more planned for me through this unexpected discovery. I don’t know where this opportunity will lead, but taking this course feels like the first step in a leap of faith.

I was born with a caregiver’s heart. I served in law enforcement for over 31 years, holding the ranks of patrol officer, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and culminating my career as Chief of Police. I hold a Master of Administrative Justice and Securities degree and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree.

Professionally, my true passion has always been in the area of sensitive crimes, including sexual assaults and crimes against children and the elderly. Upon retirement, I felt called to a new role as an advocate, walking alongside survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. In this capacity, I supported survivors as they reclaimed their voices and recaptured the vibrant lives God intended for them. I continued in this advocacy role until my mother-in-law’s health declined, and my husband and I relocated to care for her.

Before our relocation, my husband and I served as Stephen Ministers and co-coordinated the senior high school youth group at our church with another couple. I look forward to seeing where this new chapter in life will lead me. The free training offered by Christian Leaders Institute has opened a door of possibility that I hadn’t considered before. Having finally paid off my educational debt, I wasn’t willing to pursue ministry in the past due to the financial burden of additional schooling. This training has shown me new opportunities that I hadn’t previously imagined.

Psalm 139:16 and Jeremiah 29:11 are beautiful promises from God that continue to guide my mind, soul, and heart. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I am comforted knowing He has already marked out my next journey. In my 57 years of life, I have learned one undeniable truth: with God, all things are possible.

From Weddings to More Ministry: Becoming Ordained in Wisconsin

Getting ordained in Wisconsin to officiate weddings is a unique opportunity to begin a meaningful ministry journey. As a wedding officiant, you play an essential role in one of life’s most significant milestones, helping couples celebrate their love and commitment in a way that reflects God’s purpose and design for marriage. Ministry is about guiding people, sharing in their important moments, and pointing them toward a deeper relationship with Christ.

Serving as a wedding officiant in Wisconsin requires dedication, preparation, and a heart for service. The process involves meeting with couples to design personalized ceremonies that address both legal and spiritual aspects of their union. Rehearsals help ensure everyone feels confident and ready for the big day. The ceremony itself often includes worship elements, such as prayer, Scripture readings, and a meaningful message about the sacred covenant of marriage.

By becoming ordained through the Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA), you will gain the training, credentials, and spiritual foundation needed to officiate weddings in Wisconsin while embracing your calling to serve others.

A Ministry Grounded in God’s Word

One of the most rewarding aspects of officiating weddings is crafting the wedding message. Similar to delivering a sermon, your message provides encouragement, inspiration, and spiritual guidance for the couple and their guests. By drawing from Scripture, you can highlight the beauty and significance of marriage as a sacred covenant designed by God.

For many, officiating weddings becomes the first step in a broader ministry journey. Christian Leaders Alliance and Christian Leaders Institute offer pathways to expand your calling, providing training and resources to help you grow in areas such as pastoral care, leadership, and community service.

The Christian Leaders Alliance Ordination Program

Since 2014, the Christian Leaders Alliance has been equipping individuals to step into ministry with confidence. The CLA ordination program is designed to help you answer God’s call through:

Comprehensive Training: Gain practical knowledge and skills for officiating weddings and serving in other ministry roles.
Spiritual Preparation: Deepen your understanding of God’s Word and learn how to apply it in ministry settings.
Recognized Credentials: Receive ordination through a biblically grounded organization, meeting Wisconsin’s legal requirements for wedding officiants.

Thousands of individuals have embraced this opportunity, becoming ordained as wedding officiants, pastors, and ministry leaders in their communities. The program is accessible, flexible, and designed for anyone passionate about serving God and others.

A Gateway to Greater Ministry Opportunities

Officiating weddings is a deeply meaningful ministry, but it can also open doors to broader service. Whether you feel called to pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, or teaching, becoming ordained in Wisconsin can be a stepping stone to fulfilling your larger calling.

Christian Leaders Institute offers access to over 200 courses, enabling you to grow in your faith, deepen your biblical knowledge, and prepare for a lifetime of impactful ministry. Becoming a wedding officiant could be the foundation for a more significant role in God’s kingdom.

Begin Your Journey Today

Becoming ordained in Wisconsin is about more than just earning a credential—it’s an opportunity to serve others, share God’s love, and embark on a transformative ministry journey. With Christian Leaders Alliance, you’ll receive the training, support, and resources you need to officiate weddings confidently and honorably.

Whether you officiate one wedding or feel called to explore other ministry roles, your ordination equips you to make a lasting impact. Take the first step today and become ordained in Wisconsin with Christian Leaders Alliance, ready to serve God and others with excellence and purpose.

Officiant Ordination Roles

Minister Ordination Roles

Author: Henry Reyenga

Henry Reyenga is president of Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance.