What Ceremonies Can an Ordained Minister Perform?
- Ordained ministers are legally recognized marriage officiants who can perform wedding ceremonies. In many states, an ordained minister is required to officiate a wedding ceremony in order for the ceremony to be legally recognized by the state. An ordained minister will perform all the religious functions required in a wedding ceremony, walk the couple through their marriage vows and the "I do" acknowledgements, and introduce the new couple as Mr. and Mrs. to the congregation or guests attending the wedding.
- In many churches, an ordained minister will conduct and oversee the baptism ceremony in front of a congregation. In Christian churches, new members who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior go through a baptism ceremony to symbolize their new life as a born-again Christian. Persons in a baptism ceremony are bodily immersed by one or two ordained ministers into a body of water, and this signifies the death of the old person and the rebirth of the new person into the kingdom of God. Some denominations practice infant baptism instead of immersion; in this case, the minister will generally sprinkle the child with water to symbolize the rebirth.
- Funeral ceremonies are often officiated by an ordained minister who conducts the religious proceedings of the ceremony in a church, chapel at the funeral parlor and the graveside. The role the minister plays in the ceremony is based solely on his religious authority to carry out the proceedings. The minister usually gives the invocation at the beginning of the ceremony, offers a call to worship, preaches a message and gives the benediction.
- A baby dedication ceremony is a very special family event that is common in Christian churches. Parents and family members attend the ceremony to dedicate their babies to God. Ministers conduct the baby dedication ceremony and pray a blessing prayer over the baby and his parents, as the child is dedicated to God. The ceremony entails a commitment of the life of the child to God and a call on the parents and family members to train and raise the child in accordance to the Word of God and the will of God for the child's life.