Introducing the Christian Leaders Institute and Alliance Program path to ordination

How do you become ordained in Indiana? Becoming ordained can be a deeply rewarding and fulfilling journey for individuals seeking to serve their faith community and officiate sacred ceremonies. If you’re looking to officiate weddings or engage in other ministerial duties in the state, it’s important to understand the process of getting ordained and the resources available.

The Ordination Law in Indiana for Officiating Weddings: In Indiana, the process of becoming an ordained minister is governed by state law. According to the Indiana Code 31-11-6-1, any person ordained or designated as a church or religious organization leader is authorized to solemnize marriages. This includes individuals who have been ordained through online ordination programs. Therefore, registering with any government office as a wedding officiant is not required.

The only requirement is that the officiant completes the marriage license in the presence of the couple and any required witnesses. Additionally, the officiant must read the Declaration of Intent to the couple, which confirms their voluntary entrance into the marriage. After the ceremony, the completed marriage license must be returned to the county recorder’s office within a specified timeframe, typically within a few days.

Get Ordained in Indiana with Christian Leaders

Get your Christian Leaders Institute training and credentials with the Christian Leaders Alliance.

The Christian Leaders Institute (CLI)

The Christian Leaders Institute is a Biblical online educational institution offering free ministry and ordination training programs. CLI aims to provide accessible theological education to individuals from all backgrounds, empowering them to deepen their understanding of Christianity and prepare for various ministry roles. The institute offers a wide range of courses, including biblical studies, theology, church history, leadership, and pastoral care.

The Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA:

The Christian Leaders Alliance partners with the Christian Leaders Institute to provide an ordination program for individuals who have completed CLI’s courses and training. The CLA was founded in 2014, and thousands of ministers have been ordained. Through CLA, individuals can obtain formal recognition and authorization as ordained ministers, enabling them to perform weddings and other religious ceremonies in Indiana legally.

To begin the ordination process in Indiana through CLI and CLA, follow these steps:

1. Create a free study account with the Christian Leaders Institute and get familiar with the Study.christianleaders.org platform.  
2. Enroll in the Christian Wedding Officiant Skills course and commence your training.
3. After completing the Skills course, you will enroll in the Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant Recognition Class. This class recognizes your online training and completes your ordination into a local geographic endorsement-based ordination credential. You will be listed in the Christian Leaders Alliance Directory, and you may order your ordination credentials. You are eligible to register a local ministry at a Soul Center. 

Specific Requirements to get ordained in Indiana as a Wedding Officiant: While Indiana does not have specific state-mandated criteria for ordination, individual religious organizations and denominations often have their own requirements. For those seeking ordination through CLI and CLA, the following steps are involved:

a. Education and Training: Enroll in the Christian Leaders Institute and complete the required courses and training modules to gain a solid foundation in ministry. CLI offers flexible online programs that accommodate individuals’ schedules and preferences.

b. Ordination Process: Individuals can apply for ordination through the Christian Leaders Alliance after completing the necessary education and training. This process involves providing a local endorsement and completing a minister profile.

c. Wedding Officiant Authorization: Individuals can legally perform weddings in Indiana once ordained through CLA. It is advisable to consult with the county clerk’s office in the county where the ceremony will take place to understand any additional local requirements or registration procedures.

What are the Core Clergy Roles at Christian Leaders Alliance?

Ministerial Roles with Christian Leaders Alliance: The Christian Leaders Institute and Christian Leaders Alliance support various ministerial roles beyond wedding officiation. These roles cater to individuals with different levels of commitment, time availability, and areas of interest. Here are the core minister roles. All these roles can be specialized. There are over 30 specializations – Click here.

1. Wedding Officiant: The introductory minister role equips individuals with the necessary skills to confidently lead couples from the initial meeting to their wedding day. The program typically requires around 10 hours of study and the provision of one recommendation. This role is the foundation for all other roles.
2. Field Minister: Designed for individuals with limited study time but a strong desire to engage in church work, this program offers free courses and mini-courses for lay ministers, church elders, and deacons.
3. Licensed Minister: Tailored for part-time ministers seeking further training, this program includes 13 study credits and six mini-courses aimed at enhancing ministerial skills.
4. Coaching Minister: For those interested in incorporating coaching methods into their ministry, this program provides two free coaching courses, 15 credits, and six mini-courses.
5. Licensed Ministry Chaplain: This program is designed for volunteer chaplains in local institutions like fire departments or veteran groups. It requires 18 credits and six mini-courses to complete.
6. Ordained Minister: Geared towards individuals already involved in ministry work or those seeking comprehensive training and credentials, this program consists of 21 credits and seven mini-courses.

Conclusion: If you feel called to ministry and aspire to become an ordained minister in Indiana, the Christian Leaders Institute and Alliance programs offer a comprehensive pathway to help you achieve your goals. By enrolling in CLI and completing their courses, you can gain the theological knowledge and training necessary to serve effectively. Through ordination with CLA, you can become authorized to officiate weddings and explore various ministerial roles within the Christian Leaders Alliance. Embark on this transformative journey, impact your faith community meaningfully, and fulfill your calling to serve others.

Testimony of a Wedding Officiant in Indiana

My name is Craig Kirkwood, and I reside in Hartford City, Indiana, with my beloved wife and best friend, Christine, to whom I’ve been married for 38 wonderful years. Hartford City is a charming small town in east-central Indiana, and it holds a special place in my heart as it is where I was born and raised.

I am incredibly grateful to have been raised in a loving, caring family with a stable home environment. My mother, a devoted Christian, faithfully brought me to church during my childhood. It was there that I regularly heard about the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I resisted this message and kept it at arm’s length throughout my teenage years. Eventually, through the silent workings of the Holy Spirit in my heart and the influence of friends who embraced Christianity one by one, I, too, somewhat reluctantly, turned away from the empty life I was leading and accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 20 years old.

The joy I discovered in my new life as a Christian greatly surprised me. I flourished and grew in my faith within the supportive community of my local church and friends. A few months later, I was baptized, marking my public declaration of faith. During this transformative period, I also had the pleasure of meeting my future wife, a new convert herself. In that first year, we got married and embarked on a lifelong journey together. Over the years, the Lord has blessed us with three wonderful sons, and together, we have experienced countless joys and trials that have deepened our faith, our relationship with Christ, and our bond with one another. Our Lord’s goodness knows no bounds.

Throughout our journey, my wife and I have served in various roles within our local church and beyond. As a young man, I led our youth group, taught Sunday School classes, and took on administrative responsibilities within the church. As our passion for Christian ministry grew, we were even presented with the opportunity to serve full-time with a small missionary organization, working alongside a national church denomination in Jamaica. I also completed a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Literature from Taylor University during this time. We are immensely grateful to the Lord for how these experiences have shaped us as a couple, impacted the lives of our sons, and personally transformed me. Presently, my wife and I are employed in business occupations. For the past 15 years, I have been working in the financial aid office at a Christian university in Indiana. We are truly blessed.

My desire to become a wedding officiant is a recent development. It emerged when a couple approached me asking if I could officiate their upcoming wedding. I gladly accepted, but when I looked into the available options for ordination for this purpose, I was disappointed with the theological and doctrinal stances of many organizations. I couldn’t bring myself to align with their positions solely to obtain a wedding officiant license. However, my search led me to discover the Licensed Christian Wedding Officiant course the Christian Leader Alliance offered. As I completed the course, I felt grateful for this path that aligns with my Christian beliefs and allows me to become a licensed wedding officiant.

The course proved to be immensely helpful from both practical and theological perspectives. It equipped me with the necessary knowledge on preparing and conducting a wedding ceremony, while reinforcing my theological understanding through the “God’s Design For Marriage” video and slides, which succinctly presented these beliefs grounded in Scripture.

Although my views on marriage were already established before taking the course, it solidified and comprehensively articulated these views and provided guidance on navigating the logistical aspects of conducting a ceremony. While I’m uncertain whether I will pursue further levels of endorsement as a Christian minister, I remain open to the leading of the Lord in the future. If I sense His guidance in those directions, I will undoubtedly consider the options the Christian Leader’s Institute offers once again.

Minister Ordination Program – More Information

Become a Minister through the training of Christian Leaders Institute – Click here.

Get Ordained Online – Check out the issues related to online ordination and the complete ordination program at Christian Leaders. Click here.

Chaplain Ordination – Are you interested in ministry chaplaincy? Click here

Free Bible School Courses – Are you interested in free bible School Courses? Click here. 

Become a Christian Minister– Are you interested in becoming a Clergy member?

Find out more about Women in Ministry. Click here

Enroll in a free Mini-Course about God’s Design for Sex – Click here.