How to Become a Legally Ordained Minister
with the American Fellowship Church
Welcome!
If you want to know how to become a legally ordained minister, the American Fellowship Church website is definitely a resource for you.
First, you can become ordained right here and now. Men and women who are not able or don't wish to become ordained through traditional paths such as seminary study, will find our path to ordination a real alternative and an easy one to follow.
Since our founding in 1975, we have helped thousands of men and women
of all faith groups, ethnic, gender, educational, professional and occupational backgrounds to become legally ordained ministers.
Men and women in every state in the United States, in all the Canadian provinces, and in many other countries throughout the world, have become ordained in our church.
Furthermore, in addition to ordination the American Fellowship Church can provide you with spirituality information and materials which you can use to enhance your well-being and assist your desire to serve God to the best of your ability, once you are ordained as a minister.
Ordination and your religious freedom
People want to become ordained in our church for almost as many different reasons as there are people. Fortunately, the constitutional separation of church and state in the United States allows for a degree of freedom for spiritual growth and religious expression.
Whether people feel the call to serve God as minister, preacher, chaplain, pastor, priest, deacon, brother or sister, or even rabbi, becoming ordained online can be the way for them to achieve their goal.
As well as being independent, non-denominational and international, the American Fellowship Church believes in allowing individual responsibility for spiritual growth and development.
We believe
- that each person's reasons for wishing to become ordained are between that person and God.
- that if you become ordained, you may find yourself led to spiritual growth and development.
- that God has different messages for different people in different situations.
- there are many paths leading to the same point and we are all open to many avenues for growth.
We ordain both men and women as ministers
The American Fellowship Church welcomes and ordains women and men into the ministry.
Testimonial from one of our Ministers...
I was skeptical at first about contacting the A.F.C., being wary of getting an affiliation I wouldn't like, but after reading the material that was sent to me, I must tell you how pleased I am to find one organized church that shares my own views about religion and the personal relationships we each have with God.... I am glad that I can be a part of the A.F.C. so that I can help others live better lives, and hopefully give constructive assistance.
Rev. D. E., New York
What does this mean for you?
The American Fellowship Church will never try to force you to accept any beliefs other than your own. However, we do suggest that spiritual growth and development take place more steadily if we eat good food, obtain proper exercise, pray/meditate and find satisfying work.
In addition to ordination we provide training courses and documents useful to ministers and churches.
How the church began...
The American Fellowship Church was founded by Theodore H. Swenson.
Rev. Swenson is a former Dean of Students at the University of California. He had wanted to become an ordained minister since he was a youth but he was not able to find the right connection to make that happen.
In short, he resigned his position with the University and, in 1975, he organized the non-denominational American Fellowship Church. In the course of setting up the Church, he learned how to help others who wanted to become legally ordained.
Testimonial from one of our Ministers...
" The American Fellowship Church has been a blessing to me. For most of my life, since I was a young girl, I have always wanted to be a missionary but did not have the money. I worked my way through college, and was a college professor for over 40 years. But then when your church ordained me, you made a dream come true. I am that missionary today here on the home field: "The Harvest is Great but the workers are few." I am now 73...and will not turn back now."
Rev. L. R., Maryland
About ordination and ministry
To begin with, it is not necessary to study to become ordained with our Church. Instead, we rely on your good will and the experience you have already gained during your lifetime.
But here's the thing... distance learning allows you to develop your counseling and pastoral skills, while carrying on with your home and family life, so, if you want more preparation, we urge you to take any or all of the home-study correspondence courses we offer. But, it is entirely up to you.
Please understand that after you become ordained, you must actually assume the role of minister and carry out your ministry to make it become a meaningful reality, unless you are becoming ordained simply to perform the wedding of a friend or relative, then your ministry can stop there, if you wish. Please see the note below re Canada and other countries outside of USA*.
Besides our courses, we offer various other materials and certificates to help you - you can even become a Doctor of Divinity. But what you do is YOUR choice.
And what's more...after you become ordained, you may
- conduct church services such as
- marriages
- baptisms
- funerals
Finally, you may also serve in any other appropriate way, including open door outreach ministries and regular church services.
If you plan to perform marriages for friends or others, we urge you to order our publication "Details of Marriage Laws." This publication contains important information you need before you perform marriages in the United States.
* You may or may not be able to perform marriages in other countries. For example, our ministers may not perform marriages in Canada where very few churches are allowed to do that.
Here's the FIRST STEP - to become ordained right now.
Because we want to be sure our ministers act in good faith,
we require you to agree to
the American Fellowship Church Code of Ethics .
When you apply for ordination, you are indicating that you accept and agree to the Code of Ethics.
We also need you to give us your name and address for our records. And the Church will NEVER violate your privacy. Without your express permission (unless compelled by law), nobody else will have access to any information you ever give us.
You may become legally ordained right now by ordering an Ordination ID Card. Your minister license comes in the form of an ID card. The ID card serves as your proof of ordination as well as your minister's license.
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Guarantee
If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with any of the materials you order from us, you may return them (in original condition) , for a full refund less the $3 shipping and handling fee. |
Delivery
Since all ordinations take place on Sundays, your ID card along with any other materials you order will be mailed to you via the US Postal Service not later than the Monday following receipt. However, we try, but don't promise to have your order in the mail by the day after we receive it.
Secure Payments
All orders are processed via Kagi secure payment system.
1-Year ID Card (Unlaminated)
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1-Year ID Card
(Laminated)
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5-Year ID Card
(Laminated)
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Lifetime ID Card
(Laminated)
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Extra or Replacement ID Card
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Requested offering
$25.00 |
Requested offering
$30.00 |
Requested offering
$100.00 |
Requested offering
$250.00 |
Requested offering
$8.00 |
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Note: We will place the title Rev. in front of your name on the ID card unless you notify us at the time you place your order that you would like a different title. To do this, use the "Title" form on the order form or send us an email immediately after you place your order
( afcweb@amfellow.org ) . |
For more information on Ordination ID cards click here
Thank you.
Rev. T. H. Swenson
P.S.The American Fellowship Church is a legally registered nonprofit organization in the state of California. If you would like to verify that we are a nonprofit organization in good standing, please feel free to contact the Office of the Secretary of State of California.
Please let us know if we may be of service or if you have suggestions of any kind.
You may send an e-mail to the American Fellowship Church by clicking here
WARNING: Do NOT become ordained with us in an attempt to gain tax benefits or to violate the laws of the jurisdiction where you reside. We are organized for RELIGIOUS purposes and not to assist with lawbreaking. We expect our ministers to behave ethically and to obey the laws of their jurisdictions. If you violate the law or if you fail to maintain an appropriate ethical and moral standard for an ordained minister, your ordination and license will terminate immediately and automatically without further notice.
Countries where we have ordained ministers
Antigua, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Italy, Ivory Coast Republic, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Guinea, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Rep.of Seychelles, Russia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, UK, USA, United Arab Emirates, Virgin Islands, W.Africa, Wales, Zimbabwe
USA states where we have ordained ministers
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakot, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canadian Provinces where we have ordained ministers
Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador
We are delighted to have been instrumental in assisting so many people to become ordained ministers. © 2006 American Fellowship Church, 225 Crossroads Blvd., #345, Carmel, CA 93923
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