Becoming an Ordained Minister

Universal Life Church - Become an ordained minister

          Alexandra Rose became a member of ULC because she knew from a very early age that she wanted to work with others. Even though the method and means to achieve that were as yet uncharted territory during her early learning, her lifelong quest for knowledge and enlightenment has instilled in her a devotion to self-discovery and working with her clients. Initially, she pursued an education in Social Work, however once the world of alternative therapies and non-traditional ministry was opened, her path began to unfold. About a year after intensely studying one of these modalities, she received what in a traditional ministry is referred to as a “calling”, the deep knowing that she was to be a spiritual counselor. Having been raised in a moderately observant Jewish home, this came as a surprise. She had not considered ministry as a part of her path. The desire to bridge these led to a period of searching, both inwardly and via various external resources to discern how to follow this guidance. It was during one of the times, in the Spring of 2004 that she received her ordination through ULC.

Since that time, service to others has continued to evolve and her commitment deepens. She feels truly blessed to have been chosen to serve others through God/Goddess’ word and honors all paths and traditions. One of the key elements of her work is bringing others to the deep recognition we all carry within a spark of divinity, whether you choose to refer to this as soul, higher power, guide, etc. At this point, she is honored to have those who are ready for this work drawn and receptive to the combination of therapeutic modalities, prayer and actively engaging guidance, which encompass her sessions. The healing room in which she works contains many “spiritual” tools; from smudge supplies to angel statues. At any given moment she may stop to utilize these to further a client’s goals or ease their transition to the next level.

Currently, I am impassioned about working with women to reclaim their power and remember their place as torchbearers and nurturers of the spirit. I envision a world in which men and women view each other as spiritual partners, joined in service to the healing of our world so that all live in freedom and peace, grounded in knowing our true selves. We move forward with the certainty that no problem is insurmountable when we each add our unique talents with a sincere to serve. My dedication to all who work with me, and fully engage, is to provide experiences where they see the light within more brightly and know themselves more fully than ever before.

For more information, go to http://www.alexandrar.com or http://www.proudwomencircles.com or call me directly at 800-508-6147.

May your days be filled with joy, your nights be peaceful and all of your life be an experience of love always!

Blessings always,

Rev. Alexandra Rose

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Ordination with the Free Online Ordination button.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary.

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Online Ordination

Universal Life Church - Wedding - Judi Ketteler and Allen Raines’ August wedding will not be traditional by any stretch of the imagination.

The Madeira couple’s ceremony will take place at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal rather than a church. They won’t have bridesmaids or groomsmen because they didn’t want to choose among many family members and friends and risk making someone feel left out.

And performing the ceremony will be their friend Tim Linneman, a 35-year-old market researcher from Glendale who recently became an ordained minister through the Modesto, Calif.-based Universal Life Church with little more than a click of a mouse.

“We’re not religious at all, and we didn’t want to do the wedding in a church,” said 32-year-old Ketteler, a freelance writer and editor. “And we didn’t really want to go to a courthouse and have a judge do it. We wanted someone who knows us.”

The Universal Life Church will ordain just about anyone, free of charge, after they fill out a form on any of the church’s Web sites and click “Ordain me.”

It sounds like a joke, but the church is real – and growing fast.

The Universal Life Church has more active, registered ministers in Greater Cincinnati – more than 230 – than any other denomination except the Catholic Church, according to the Ohio Secretary of State. That number is triple what it was in 2003. (Kentucky does not maintain a registry of ministers, but 65 Universal Life Church ministers in Kentucky have asked to be listed on the church’s Web site.) About 70 percent of people who become ordained through the Universal Life Church do so for the same reason Linneman did – to officiate at weddings, said Universal Life Church President Andre Hensley.

Ketteler and Raines asked Linneman, Raines’ friend of 15 years, to do the honors after attending Linneman’s own wedding last year. Linneman and his wife, Erin, used a friend who is a Universal Life Church minister and a friend who was a seminary student to perform their ceremony.

“I thought it went great. I loved having our friends involved,” Tim Linneman said. “My family is mainly Catholic and so are most of my friends, so I’ve been to a lot of very long weddings. I think people appreciated that it was pretty short.”

Ketteler and Raines said their families understand their decision.

“No one freaked out,” Ketteler said. “My family might be happier if we were doing it a little bit differently, but they also respect that this is what we want to do.”

Andre Hensley’s late father, Kirby Hensley, officially incorporated the Universal Life Church with the state of California in 1962, offering free, lifetime ordainments with no questions asked. The Web site launched in 1995, and today there are about 18 million ordained Universal Life Church ministers worldwide, Hensley said.

The church ordains 8,000-10,000 ministers every month through several different Web sites and the mail, advertising itself largely through word of mouth.

“Couples just want to have it their own way, rather than go to a minister they don’t already know,” Hensley said.

Church staff members have denied ordainment requests, if they believe someone has submitted a false name or has filled out the form on a lark, Hensley said. But they approve most applications.

“We’re like every other church,” Hensley said. “We have to take things on faith.”

People seek ordination through the Universal Life Church for all different reasons. Vicki Whitewolf-Marsh, who recently moved from Cincinnati to Alabama, became a Universal Life Church minister so she could pray with other Native Americans in Cincinnati-area hospitals and perform smudging ceremonies, which involve burning herbs for purification purposes.

Whitewolf-Marsh, 50, said some hospitals told her that she couldn’t perform the ceremony unless she was a clergyperson.

“This way, I can hold my head up and say I’m with a religious community and I’m a minister,” said Whitewolf-Marsh, who also has performed weddings and a funeral.

Some Universal Life Church ministers have turned their new titles into part-time jobs.

Joyce Engelman of Union, Ky., who operates the Big Bone Landing, Marina & Campground, has performed about 40 weddings at the marina since she got ordained about two years ago because she thought it would be fun to officiate at weddings.

“Usually people I marry, they’re older, or they’re younger and pregnant,” said Engelman, 57, who charges $50 per wedding. “And a lot of people been married a couple of times and they’ve already had the frills, so honestly they don’t care.”

Sam Lapin, a speech communication professor at Northern Kentucky University, became ordained five years ago for the same reason.

The 43-year-old Burlington resident markets himself by leaving business cards at county clerks’ offices and popular ceremony locations. Lapin, whose fees start at $100 per ceremony, has performed more than 40 weddings in the past two years for couples who aren’t part of any organized religion or who are planning nontraditional ceremonies.

That’s why 40-year-old Melissa Sibert and 43-year-old Steve Huber of Amelia contacted Lapin. Sibert says they struggled to find a minister for their July 7 wedding on the 18th hole of the golf course at Belterra Casino Resort & Spa, where they’ve celebrated birthdays and other special occasions, until the casino gave them Lapin’s name. It will be the third marriage for each.

“A lot of people won’t give someone a chance if they don’t know you,” Sibert sad. “(Lapin) put together the whole ceremony and e-mailed it to me, and I cried. It was really special.”

Lapin hopes there will be more unique weddings.

“I do have an Elvis outfit,” said Lapin, who also teaches a course on the history of rock ‘n’ roll. “I’m hoping to make use of that some day.”

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free  and lasts for life, so use the button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.

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Become an Online Minister

Universal Life Church Minister - Free Online Ordination

Calling

I was ordainded by your online Seminary in 2002  and I am very interested in continuing my education at your Seminary. I am planning on taking your Doctor of Divinity Course next month.

 

Purpose

What made me decide to become a ULC minister in the Future I want to be able to offer online classes to others like I was fortunate to receive from ULC.

Experience

I became a Minister June 7, 2002 for Universal Life Church, an Elder at the Greater Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in 1998, and o October 14, 2002 I was Consecrated in Klileen,Texas for the Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church here in Austin, Texas. 

Background

I grew up Catholic and when my adopted mother died no one else in her family was still Catholic and  I was not allowed to continue attend the Church I grew up in. My cousin was Church of Christ I believe.The I went to live with my adopted father and his wife was Pentacostal Holiness. 

When I became an adult I chose to attend various churches,Greater Peace Pentacostal Victory Christian Center Assemblies of God, Teagues Jerusalum Temple Church of God and Christ, Greater Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, Grant Chapel AME, I currently attend Ministry of Challenge  Outreach Ministry.

I even all most converted to Buddhism.

Service

I really have been called in Missions/Outreach for those who struggle with Mental Health Issues,and the Justice System.I teach self esteem and symptom management groups at a place called SHAC Self-Help and Advocacy Center.

before I left on a 6 month leave, I helped form a NA group for those with dual-diagnosis, called Eagle Wings of Recovery.

Impact

I feel that being ordained has made a positive Impact in my life. I met an Artist by the name of Dennis W. Brown and he does Sketch Photography he is the one who drew my picture in colored pencil, he has been drawing since he was a young child about 5 years old and the Love of drawing never left his heart.

We started Star Portraits together he says his drawing is a gift from God and he is good. 

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Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free  and lasts for life, so use the button.

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials. Many have been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and can attest to its ongoing growth and change.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Spirituality

Understanding the Western Spiritual Mind By Rev. Amy Heiser     The course Defining Spirituality was fascinating to me.  On the last page of lesson 18 the story regarding Socrates in relations to the difficulty we embark on this path of Ministry – It was good to read this, as I too had similar experiences.   Incorporating Spirituality into this modern life is a hard task at first because you are challenged to think about what you believe and to have faith in your beliefs; which really makes you reflect within.  Also, there are many people in the world who are quick to judge.    As Ministers we will meet others who sometimes expect us to solve their problems rather than finding their own power within.   I have learned that we can't take on problems of other people in such a way that we try to save them.  They are on their journey for a reason, so we need to help them find their lesson.  I feel it is part of our job as Ministers not merely help others, but to teach others how to help themselves.  This is a difficult job, as some people might not be ready to do that.     This course did help me understand various perspectives leading to how people think and therefore behave.  To understand the difference (and similarities) between the science minded and spiritual minded – I needed that lesson a long time ago!  That exact debate has come up in my study groups many times and I never knew how to handle it.  I am so thankful that this lesson gave me information and knowledge that I can refer back to in such situations in the future.     I loved the section in lesson 3 where it discusses the imagination.  I came to understand the power of imagination a long time ago.  When I was a teenager I let my thoughts, feelings and imagination take control.  Later in life, when my daughter was 3, we were getting ready for a family gathering.  I set up a dress and tights for my daughter to put on, and then I ran around the house like a chicken with my head cut off.  My daughter began itching her legs and yelling "Mom, there are spiders on my legs".  In the hustle and bustle I blew it off saying "There are no spiders, finish getting ready".  She argued "No mommy, there are spiders and they itch".  After going around and around I finally stopped and said "No, there are no spiders; it's just your imagination".   She responded, "Well Mom, my imagination hurts."  NOW that stopped me dead in my tracts.  What a statement for a three year old, for how true this can be.   This experience taught me that we must discipline our thoughts and our imaginations, and when we can do that in a balanced way then we can truly create our realities – then anything is possible.     Although my beliefs are slightly different, as I do strongly believe in morals and ethics yet I believe in the concept of Karma vs Sin.   As humans we are prone to make mistakes and have judgment errors.  We cannot always know every side of a situation, therefore we make choices and decisions based on what we know and perceive.  This is being Human.   I believe our purpose here is to have experiences.  As humans we don't appreciate what we have until it's earned or gone (this sometimes can include spirituality) but then when we get back what we lost, we can truly appreciate it and be grateful; or appreciate the next similar opportunity.  We will either see the experience as a blessing and learn our lesson at hand, or repeat the experiences until that lesson is learned.    I too was brought down like Rev. Chuck in the last lesson.  The scenarios are different but the feelings the same.  My scenarios came from someone I called a friend.     I trusted this person, gave this person all I could.   I thought God lead to me this person to guide them, to teach them something.   As this relationship continued, we started to "agree to disagree" about most things and in a subtle ways I was criticized, put down, and condemned.  I lost my foundation, my peace and how to stand up for myself.    This led me to be untrusting of others and defensive in my behavior.    My gut feeling told me I should walk away from this friend but I didn't understand why, I didn't realize the mental abuse that was occurring, so I did not listen and I actually did the opposite and put myself into the relationship more.  Finally I did not give this friend what she wanted and the bomb exploded.  Behind my back this "friend" attacked me publicly (online blogs) in which I had no way to defend myself.  This friend took my actions and added her own intentions and set out to take me down.   This really messed with my head, my ideas about life, who I was and who I was supposed to be.    I called out to the Deity/God/Universal Energy  for help.  I was lead to The Celestine Prophecy,  Wayne Dyer,  Deepak Chopra,  - and many other authors who had similar life philosophies , which made me feel  "normal". – I no longer had to "agree to disagree".     I once again found acceptance with myself, and through that acceptance I found my peace again.         What I learned from that experience was that WE have a choice who we allow into our lives.  This choice is OUR responsibility.    If we allow people who are aggressive or abusive into our lives and we ignore these traits, then we either become like them or we become victim to them.  So, one big life lesson is we MUST choose our relationships wisely.      Since then, I have recognized the people that were always in my life supporting me; those who recognized my positive traits, who encouraged me to be all I can be.  I have also met new people and common interest groups who understand me, just the way I am.  I learned that people who make you feel good are the people good for your life.  I have learned that relationships are about relating.   Through all this I have found wholeness again.   While I continue my personal journey I hope to take the experiences I had thus far, with the knowledge I am gaining from the ULC courses to help others as they seek their own truth, peace and enlightenment.        Thank you.    ~ Reverend Amy Heiser ******************************************** To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link. Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church, as well as an online seminary program and a chaplaincy program. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar