How to Become an Ordained Minister in Mississippi

To become an ordained minister in Mississippi, you need to be ordained according to the rules of a recognized church or religious body and remain in good standing with it. That single sentence is the whole legal foundation. Everything else is choosing an organization, completing its process, and handling the paperwork correctly when you officiate.¹

What Mississippi Law Actually Requires

Mississippi Code § 93-1-17 authorizes any minister of the gospel ordained according to the rules of his church or society and in good standing to solemnize marriages, along with any rabbi or other spiritual leader authorized by their religious body. Certain judges and county officials can also officiate, but that path doesn’t involve ordination.¹

Two phrases in the statute do the real work. “Ordained according to the rules of his church or society” means the ordination has to follow whatever process your religious organization uses. There is no state-mandated procedure and no state licensing board for ministers. “In good standing” means your relationship with that organization must be active and current when you perform a ceremony. If your credentials lapse or the organization removes you, you lose the legal authority the statute demands.

The statute sets no minimum age for officiants, but most ordaining organizations require applicants to be at least 18, so that’s the practical floor.

Are Online Ordinations Valid in Mississippi?

Yes. In the 1988 case In re Will of Blackwell, the Mississippi Supreme Court reviewed a marriage officiated by a Universal Life Church minister. The court acknowledged the ULC was “hardly a conventional church by Bible Belt standards” but concluded it was “enough of a religious body” and the minister was “enough of a spiritual leader” to validate the marriage under the statute.

The statutory text is broad on purpose. It covers any minister of the gospel ordained by the rules of his church or society, plus any other spiritual leader of any other religious body. Nothing limits it to established denominations or requires seminary training. If the organization qualifies as a religious body and follows its own ordination rules, the ordination fits the statute.¹

One caveat worth knowing before you show up at the courthouse. Individual county circuit clerks sometimes push back on online ordinations when a signed marriage license comes back for recording, and some clerks ask to see proof of ordination. No state statute requires ministers to pre-register with a county, but carrying a physical copy of your ordination certificate and a letter of good standing can prevent delays.

Choosing an Ordaining Organization

Because the statute defers to each religious body’s own rules, the organization you pick shapes both how long the process takes and what credentials you end up holding. Your options fall into three broad categories.

Traditional denominations. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, and other established churches each have their own ordination paths, often involving theological study, mentorship, and approval by a governing body. These processes can take months or years.
Non-denominational churches. Many independent congregations ordain ministers through internal processes that vary widely, from formal training programs to congregational votes.
Online religious organizations. Groups like the Universal Life Church and American Marriage Ministries offer ordination through their websites, sometimes within minutes. These are the common choice for people who want to officiate a single ceremony for friends or family.

When you compare organizations, the useful questions are practical. Does the organization issue a formal ordination certificate? Does it keep records a clerk could verify? Will it provide a letter of good standing on request? Those details matter more than the group’s size or age.

Completing an Online Ordination

The specific steps depend on the organization, but for online ordinations the pattern is predictable.

Submit your application. You’ll provide your full legal name, date of birth, and contact information. Use the exact name that appears on your government-issued ID. Discrepancies between your ordination certificate and the marriage license create problems at the clerk’s office.
Complete any required steps. Some organizations ask you to affirm a statement of belief or review a code of ethics. Others require nothing beyond the application.
Receive confirmation. Most online organizations send an email confirmation within minutes or hours. A physical certificate typically arrives within two to four weeks if you order one.
Order supporting documents. A printed ordination certificate, a letter of good standing, and a credential packet are worth having on hand. The basic ordination is often free, but organizations usually charge for printed materials.

Traditional denominations look nothing like this. Candidates typically complete coursework, sit for interviews with church leadership, serve a period of supervised ministry, and receive ordination through a formal ceremony. If you’re on that track, your denomination’s governing body will spell out every step.

Keeping Your Credentials in Order

Your authority to officiate depends on staying in good standing with your ordaining body, and what that requires varies enormously.¹ Some traditional denominations expect annual continuing education, periodic reviews, and active participation in a local congregation. Many online ordaining organizations maintain your credentials indefinitely with no renewal requirement.

Whatever the rules, keep copies of your ordination certificate, any letters of good standing, and records of every marriage you officiate, including the date, location, and names of both parties. If someone challenges your authority later, those records are your first line of defense. A minister who can produce a certificate and a current letter from the ordaining body on the spot is in a much stronger position than one who can’t.

Before You Perform a Ceremony

Once you’re ordained, the minister carries responsibility for making sure the basics are in order before the ceremony starts.

The couple must have a valid marriage license issued by a Mississippi circuit court clerk, and they must have it before the ceremony, not after.² Mississippi has no waiting period after the license is issued, so a couple can legally marry the same day they pick it up. The state does not require a blood test.

Confirm both parties are legally eligible to marry. Mississippi does not allow marriage between close relatives, and neither party can currently be married to someone else. As the officiant, physically review the license before you begin to check the names, dates, and validity.

One detail surprises new ministers: Mississippi does not require witnesses at the ceremony. The Lafayette County Circuit Clerk’s office states this directly.² Having a witness or two is still common practice and can be useful if the ceremony’s validity is ever questioned.

After the Ceremony: Returning the License

This is where new officiants most often stumble. After the ceremony, complete and sign the marriage certificate portion of the license with your name, title, and the date and location of the ceremony.² The signed documents then go back to the circuit clerk’s office that issued the license.

The return deadline varies by county. Lafayette County requires the paperwork within 14 days of the ceremony.² Lee County requires it within five days. Check with the issuing clerk’s office for the specific deadline in that county, and don’t sit on the paperwork. A late return can delay the couple’s ability to obtain a certified marriage certificate, which they may need for insurance, name changes, or other legal purposes, and it can raise questions about whether the marriage was properly recorded.

1
Justia. Mississippi Code 93-1-17 – By Whom Marriages May Be Solemnized
2
Lafayette County Circuit Clerk. Things You Need to Know Before Applying for a Marriage License