American Weddings Blog

After years of preventing online-ordained ministers (and many other Virginians) from officiating weddings, lawmakers in Virginia might soon allow regular folk to officiate weddings for friends and family members. This development is part of an update to the Commonwealth’s marriage law currently making its way through Virginia’s legislature.
 
If passed, the law would make it much easier for American Marriage Ministries' (AMM) Ministers to officiate weddings in Virginia. It would also represent a step towards marriage equality in a place where county clerks routinely prevent ministers from registering as wedding officiants.
 
Here’s a summary of 2020 Virginia House Bill No. 863:...(continued)

Our very own Lewis King recently joined the Your I Do Crew! Podcast in Ohio for some engaging, humorous, and insightful podcast sessions.

So save these links, and whether you're on your commute to/from work, enjoying a mid-day break, or just looking to join in on some of the important conversations going on at American Marriage Ministries -- please give them a listen! 

Part 1: "Get Ordained!"

All about online ordination, why American Marriage Ministries is different, and what's going on in the state of Tennessee

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In this series of articles, we’re answering questions about what we do here at American Marriage Ministries, and the role that online churches play in the wedding industry.

A lot of people want to know how to become ordained online, and what it actually means. Since there are so many options, it can be hard to sift through the different beliefs and guidelines. 

So why do people get ordained?

Becoming an ordained minister online is the easiest way for most people to officiate weddings for friends and family members. (If you've been asked to officiate a wedding, this is probably the best option for you, too!)

Webster’s Dictionary defines ordination as:

 “To invest officially with ministerial or priestly authority.”

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One of the most common questions aspiring wedding officiants ask is, “…where should I get ordained online?” You might have been asked to officiate a wedding, or perhaps there’s another religious ceremony you want to perform. Or, maybe you just want to become ordained so that you can have the title “minister.” They are all legitimate reasons to get ordained, and for most people, the easiest way to make that happen is to get ordained online. 

The good news is that there are plenty of online churches and religious organizations, so there’s probably one that shares your values and beliefs. The next step is finding out what one fits your needs, how much each church charges for ordination (American Marriage Ministries doesn’t charge anything) and then clicking “get ordained.”...(continued)

Are you wondering what’s happening with the legal challenges to a law that prohibits ministers ordained online from officiating weddings in Tennessee? Here are the latest updates, and everything you need to know to be allowed to perform weddings in the state. But before we dig into the details, the bottom line is this: 

You can still perform weddings in Tennessee if you got ordained online.  

We’ve heard that some county clerks in Tennessee are turning ministers away because they got ordained online. While these reports are isolated, it is important to remember that you are still legally allowed to perform weddings in Tennessee, even if you were ordained online. It's also important to remember that the law here is clear, and that the weddings are legally valid. ...(continued)