Michigan Wedding Laws - How to Become an Ordained Minister in Michigan

It's easy to acquire a Michigan minister license from the Universal Life Church. Follow the three simple instructions below and you'll be well on your way to being a minister!

How To Become A Legally Ordained Minister In Michigan

1. Become ordained online through the Universal Life Church. All that is required is an internet connection and a couple of minutes and you will be able to officiate a wedding. If you are already ordained, call us or e-mail us to make sure we still have your information on file.

2. Keep your information current and accurate in our ordination database. Let us know if you move or change your legal name and/or e-mail address.

3. Make sure you have the credentials and documentation required to officiate wedding ceremonies in Michigan. Do so by calling the county clerk of the county or counties in Michigan where you are planning on performing wedding ceremonies and ask about what you will need to file for a marriage license. Every form of paperwork the county clerk will mention can be found in the Ministry Products section.

Additional information about performing weddings in Michigan can be found at the links below:

• Minister training! Why have a minister license if you don't know how to use it? Follow this link to discover how to perform wedding ceremonies, write wedding vows, and prepare a picture-perfect wedding.
• Social network! An unfortunate by-product of the nature of the Universal Life Church is that our ministers are spread throughout the world. The Ministers Network, our custom-built social network, serves to bring our community of ministers a little closer together. Visit this site to learn the tricks of the ULC trade from your fellow ministers, including the ins and outs of officiating amazing weddings. 

See Also:

A Charter May No Longer be Required: It was called to our attention that the state of Michigan may no longer require individuals to file a charter in order to perform marriages. From the website of the Michigan State government:

To perform marriage ceremonies a person should be an ordained minister, magistrate (a civil officer with power to administer and enforce law -- Justice of the Peace), mayor of a Michigan city or a judge. An ordained minister of the gospel recognized by a church may perform marriages whether or not the church has filed a charter with the State of Michigan, Department of Labor & Economic Growth, Corporation Division or an elected government official. To determine if a church has filed a charter, telephone: (517) 241-6470.

Please check with your local county clerk to determine what steps you will need to take in order to register as officiant. If your clerk does require a charter, you will find instructions on how to obtain this below.

If a Charter is required: In the past, the state required that a charter be filed before an ordination could be recognized, for the purposes of officiating weddings. "An ordained minister of the gospel recognized by a church that has filed a charter with the State of Michigan, Corporation and Land Development Bureau or an elected government official may perform marriages. To determine if a church has filed a charter (517) 241-6470. Contact the Department of Community Health, Vital Statistics at (517) 335-8677 for marriage statistics. When forming a religious organization, there is a tax guide available from the IRS, publication "tax Guide For Churches and Other Religious Organizations; Publication 1828 Catalog Number 21096G; address: IRS, Freedom of Information Reading Room, P.O. Box 795, Ben Franklin Station, Washington, D.C. 20044; telephone: (800) 829-3676. Many churches are required to have a "Church Copyright License." For further information about this license call (800) 234-2446. Marriage licenses are obtained at the county clerk's office. This may not be required if you are only intending to officiate weddings.

Act 327 of 1931: Ecclesiastical corporations: 450.178 Ecclesiastical corporations; incorporation; purpose. Sec. 178. Ecclesiastical corporations. Any number of persons, not less than 3, may incorporate for the purpose of establishing any church organization for the purpose of teaching and spreading their religious beliefs and principles. Every such corporation shall be a non-profit corporation and subject to the provisions of this act relating to non-profit corporations generally except as specifically otherwise provided. The term "church? and/or "church organization? used in this act shall be construed to include any church, denominational unit, or church society as the term is commonly used and understood but shall not apply to such organizations as Sunday schools, Epworth Leagues, Young People's Unions, Bible classes and similar societies organized by and affiliated with the parent churches. Whenever any number of churches or other corporations organized for religious purposes desire to unite in a central organization for the accomplishment of any common purpose they may incorporate such organization by severally adopting, at meetings specially called for the purpose, resolutions expressing their desire to become members of such corporation; and by filing duly attested copies of such resolutions together with a copy of the articles of such corporation, as provided for the filing of articles in section 5 of this act. The corporations formed under this section are hereinafter called ecclesiastical corporations.

Article of Incorporation Form with Instructions: (Note: Adobe Acrobat will be required.) The form is fairly basic, requiring an address for the church (can be your address), details about how often meetings will be held ("once per week, or as necessary"), details on your church structure (you could say "under the rules of the Universal life Church Monastery" or mention the basis of your beliefs), and will require three notarized signatures. The filing fee, to the state, is currently only $20.00.

CHAPTER 83 - Chapter 83. Of marriage and the solemnization thereof. (EXCERPT) 551.7 Persons authorized to solemnize marriage; records; returns; disposition of fees charged by mayor or county clerk. Sec. 7. (1) Marriages may be solemnized by any of the following: (h) A minister of the gospel, anywhere in the state, if the minister is ordained or authorized to solemnize marriages according to the usages of the denomination, and is a pastor of a church in this state, or continues to preach the gospel in this state. (i) A minister of the gospel, anywhere in the state, if the minister is not a resident of this state but is authorized to solemnize marriages under the laws of the state in which the minister resides.

Same Sex Wedding Law: N/A

To perform a marriage in Michigan you need to be ordained and may be required to provide proof of ordination such as an ordination credential, wallet credential, or a letter of good standing from the church.

ULC The Monastery's foreign corporation state filings