How to Spot Online Ordination Scams: Signs to Watch For

There are several reputable online ordination options to choose from as you start your journey as a wedding officiant, such as ordination through American Marriage Ministries and other well known churches. Unfortunately, there are also questionable organizations and scams to watch out for.

 

Some of the most common online ordination scams are those selling credentials that aren’t legally recognized, or that don’t provide a fair service for the price. Here at AMM, we get calls from people who became ordained with other churches, and never even received hard copies of their credentials that they ordered. 

 

These scams take money and personal details from hardworking people but don’t offer much (or anything) in exchange. Not only is this unfair (and in some cases illegal), but it also creates distrust of legitimate online churches that work hard to make ordination easy and affordable for everyone.

 

With this in mind, here are key signs to watch for to avoid common online ordination scams. 

 

Related: How to Tell if Your Officiant Can Perform a Legal Wedding

 

Note: When we say ‘scam,’ we aren’t talking about ordinations that don’t align with specific faith traditions – we don’t have opinions on how churches should perform their sacred ordinations. For example, while some Christian churches may call an ordination a ‘scam’ if it doesn’t follow their specific biblical interpretation of consecration, we hold no such judgements. AMM is a non denominational constitutional church that ordains people from all backgrounds, walks of life, and faiths. The list below is for education purposes only, to help you choose the best place to get ordained online. 

 

 

Looking for the best place to get ordained online can feel daunting at first, but there are a few signs that will help you spot the difference between a reputable ordination service and a questionable one. Keep reading to learn more. (Photo by Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels)

 

 

6 Warning Signs of Online Ordination Scams

 

1. No Contact Information 

 

Reputable online ordination services will make it easy to contact them. You’ll likely see an email option, phone number, and physical mailing address where they can be reached with questions about your ordination, minister standing, and more. 

 

If you can’t find an online church’s contact information, or if there’s no physical address provided, that’s a red flag. This isn’t a guarantee that someone is trying to scam you, but it is something that should make you wary.

 

 

2. High Fees for a Basic Ordination 

 

Several reputable online churches offer free or low cost ordinations, including American Marriage Ministries, ULC, and The Church of The Latter-Day Dude. The cost of purchasing minister credentials or training courses from these organizations is also affordable. Because of this wide availability of low cost options, any church that charges you a very high fee for a basic ordination should be met with skepticism.

 

While a legitimate online church might charge a small fee to ordain you, a very high fee that doesn’t come with additional training, printed minister credentials, or physical items like an ID badge or officiant stole is a red flag. Proceed with caution! 

 

 

3. No State-by-State Information on Minister Recognition

 

Each state has its own rules regarding the authority of online-ordained ministers. Some states, like Virginia, question the validity of online ordination. Other states, including California and Vermont, are very welcoming to these ministers. Therefore, credible online churches will always point to state-by-state recognition of their ordinations, especially when discussing where their ministers are legally allowed to conduct weddings.

 

If an online church does not discuss which states recognize their ordinations, or offer any state-by-state information on minister registration, this could be considered a red flag, and we recommend you do more research when choosing where to get ordained.

 

Check out AMM's Weddings by State: Minister Registration Requirements by State

 

 

4. No Online Reviews

 

If a church that offers online ordinations has no online reviews, it’s probably a bad sign. We live in a time when anyone can easily post a review online in seconds, sharing about their experience with a business. Established businesses typically have at least a few reviews, whether positive or negative. And here at AMM, we're very proud of the more than 1,700 ministers that gave us a 5 out of 5 review on Google!

 

A church without a single review isn’t guaranteed to be a scam, but we suggest getting more information from someone you trust before choosing them for your ordination. 

 

 

5. 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization

 

While most churches are considered non-profits by default, only some take the time to become recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Although this extra step is by no means required (and isn’t a deal breaker one way or the other) – 501(c)(3) status does add an additional layer of accountability and oversight, which naturally increases public trust in the organization. Financial records of a 501(c)(3) are closely monitored by the IRS, helping to prevent fraud and improve transparency for everyone.

 

For added protection against online ordination scams, we recommend you choose a church that’s a recognized charitable organization – a 501(c)(3) like American Marriage Ministries (AMM)!

 

 

6. Unprofessional Website

 

Last, give the church's website a good, long look. Are there a lot of misspelled words, out of place images, vague language, or poorly written sentences? A typo isn’t cause for concern, but a site with lots of errors is a big red flag.

 

A respected online church will take care of its website – the same way a brick-and-mortar church will lovingly tend to its surrounding grounds. This means that a trustworthy online church will have a site that looks and feels professional, welcoming, recently updated, and easy to navigate. 

 

 

Offering the Most Robust Online Ordination Available: American Marriage Ministries

 

Online ordination with American Marriage Ministries is free and easy – it only takes a few seconds to complete the online ordination application. We are a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and our ministers are legally authorized to perform weddings in every US state (with the exception of Virginia, where we are currently exploring our options). 

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AMM ordains people from all backgrounds and walks of life. All are welcome here! We do not require our ministers to hold any specific spiritual beliefs; we only ask that you agree to our simple tenets: All people, regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, have the right to marry; It is the right of every couple to choose who will solemnize their marriage; All people have the right to solemnize marriage.

 

Get the best training and most robust ordination available, backed by our team of experienced wedding professionals to make every wedding ceremony you perform a unique and powerful occasion. Step into your new role as an AMM Minister with confidence!

 

• Learn More About Online Ordination with American Marriage Ministries

 

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Learn More About What it Means to Get Ordained Online

 

• Popular Places for Non Denominational Ordination Certificates Online
   
• What Does it Mean to be an Ordained Minister?

 

• Online Ordination for Modern Pagans: Why it’s So Important, Especially Now

 

• How to Conduct an Ordination Service for a New AMM Minister

 

 

Click the article linked above to use this simple ordination service outline & script to celebrate your new role as an ordained AMM Minister. (Photo: fizkes / iStock)

 

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