The Ministerial Seminary of America, LLC
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The Ministerial Seminary of America, LLC

A Mother Performs a Wedding for her Daughter

Yes, I performed my daughter’s wedding ceremony.  As an ordained minister, it was an honor to perform the sacred and sacramental rite of marriage for my daughter and it was the beginning of a close bond built between my new son and myself. The modern world has new thoughts about who should perform a wedding ceremony.  Couples want these special vows to be administered by someone they know and love—by someone who knows and love them.

 

Officiating my daughter’s wedding was legally performed.  I had studied at seminary to obtain my ordination, and I meet all the requirements in the state in which the ceremony was performed.  But now you can get ordained on line to perform that special wedding ceremony for a loved one.  It wasn’t my seminary studies that prepared me to perform this special ceremony.  It was raising my daughter that prepared me—knowing her, remembering her from the day of her birth, watching her grow, sharing joys and sorrows throughout her life and realizing the love she had in her heart for her new husband.  These were the things that prepared me.  As the officiate, I was able to help my daughter and her husband create a ceremony that embraced what they felt in their hearts, their unique spirituality and inclusion of family members on both sides. 

If you have been asked to perform a wedding ceremony for a loved one, then you have been honored.  However, it is important to make sure that you do so legally.  Following is a list of suggestions to follow regarding getting ordained on line to perform a wedding:

1.  Do you homework.  Make sure you find out the laws of the state in which you are going to perform the wedding.  Each state’s laws vary.  Don’t rely on interpretations of the law as provided by on line sites. 

2.  Call the Secretary of State’s office to find out the statute. 

3.  Armed with information regarding the statute, call the county to find out what their requirements are.  If the clerk tries to give you information that does not meet the statute explanation, explain to them your understanding of the statute and your right to religious freedom.  They will probably cooperate.

4.  Pick an online site that provides a phone number and call it.  Give them a couple of days to get back to you.  If they don’t return your call, don’t use them.

5.  Make sure your site is incorporated so that they can legally provide services.

6.  Make sure you order a paper copy of your ordination and that it carries an original signature and seal from the organization.  Do not rely on email messages that say your are ordained. 

7.  Keep your ordination certificate in a safe place.  You may need to verify your status as an ordained minister if the marriage is ever challenged.

Remember, the ceremony is an act of love and ministry to the couple.  Enjoy the honor but remember your purpose is one of facilitating the love between the happy couple.

 

 

 

Ordination Begins With You

Ordination begins with you.  It is a clear and concise decision, made by you, to accept your role in the divine plan for serving the children of God.  It is your decision to fulfill the main purpose of your presence here on earth.  It is your acceptance that you are not only worthy of serving, but that it is your inheritance.

The definition given for the word “Ordination” on dictionary.com is:  to invest with ministerial or sacerdotal functions.”  Our creator invests this purpose in each of us.  No one is really set apart as being more of a minister than another.   It is simply our awakening to our true function and purpose that sets us apart.  All are called and it is just a matter of time before all will answer God’s calling.  Once the call is answered, then one is a minister, regardless of religious affiliation or course of study.

Some cannot hear their calling.  We need not judge them.  We have all been blind to one thing or another during our lifetime   As the beautiful song “Amazing Grace” teaches, “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”  Sometimes, the blind cannot see that they are blind.  We are no different.

Some of our blindness is the result of right, wrong thinking.  We believe we have the only answer—the right way, and that all others are wrong.  This right, wrong thinking drives our work, our thoughts, our direction.  We must convince others to change their wrong thinking.  Yet, right, wrong thinking drives us away from the one basic tenant found in all the great religions—love.  We are told to love our neighbors as ourselves.  I believe that much of this black and white thinking stems from a lack of love.

Some of us believe we have God figured out.  Yet, how could we have such a mysterious and glorious God figured out?  And, when we think we have the one right answer, doesn’t that limit our ability to hear other equally mysterious and powerful callings from God and his divine intercessions in ways we as yet cannot comprehend due to our own blindness?  Doesn’t it limit our ability to grow in God?

How do we begin the answer to our calling?  We begin by turning to God and asking for the intercession of grace.  Grace comes to all who ask for it.   It cannot fail us.  Through the grace of God, we go forward with our calling, not concerned for its direction, as long as we take each step with God.   

 “Ask and you shall receive,” is a powerful, powerful message.  Yet it is often misunderstood.  What are we to ask for?  If we ask for specific things, then aren’t we assuming that we know what we need more than God does?

 “Ask and you shall receive,” is also a simple message.  Our God wants us to have all that we need.  Yet, the greatest commandment given is based upon one word—Love.

What if our daily prayer went something like this:

Dear God, 
I ask knowing that I will surely receive.  Yet, I ask for only one thing—that I have the faith and trust in you to allow you to lead me, guide me and provide for me the things required to serve your people.  I know that I need not really ask, as you are an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful and all-giving God.  I know that I need only align my heart with yours, my love with yours, my direction with yours and wait with faith and patience for your guidance, through your most gracious and holy gift of grace.  Amen, and again I say, Amen.

According to the prayer of St. Francis, “it is in giving that we receive.”  If all that we ask for is for the common good of all of God’s children, an act of giving, then we shall surely receive.  If what we are asking for is founded in love, then, we shall surely receive.  If all that we ask for is to serve God’s people, then we will surely receive all that we would ever need. 

In closing, I refer to  the Sermon on the Mount in which we were told:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink;  nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns;  yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin;  and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying “What shall we eat?” Or What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

 

 

How CindyLou Serves God's Little Children

Have you been called to service but don't know how to begin?  

Sometimes it's hard, but somehow we decide to just let God lead the way. When we surrender to the belief that God will provide for us all that we need in order to be of service to all God's children, then miracles begin to happen. People come into our lives and bring resources, guidance and other gifts of grace.  Serendipity occurs in ways we could never explain.  Things grow, change and develop according to divine purpose.

Here at the seminary, we are blessed to watch this divine intervention in motion.  We are blessed by the quality of purpose our ministers bring with them and wish to share their missions with all.

Do you have a plan of service or a ministry in the works?  Share with us your thoughts, desires, plans and needs, as CindyLou has shared below.

The following is an email I received this morning from a very dear and graced servant of God.  Please visit CindyLou's website to learn about her services. 

Good Morning Reverend Barbara :
        What a wonderful joy to speak with you this morning. You sure radiate through the Holy Spirit, my goodness your voice is gentle, kind and warm, I am sure God's Love radiates through all that you touch. It was very obvious by speaking with  you that you truly Love the Lord. I am so glad that God guided me to you for my ordination paper work. This is a dream come true for me. It is something that I have wanted to complete for quite some time, so thank you so much for helping me out.
 
I am impressed with your statement about your passion for children. Glenn (my husband) and I became foster crisis parents in 1991 and shared our home with about 437 children during that time. Some children stayed over night, some for a week, some for months and some for years. Sheree, a young girl who came to us in 1992 stayed forever and became our daughter. Glenn walked her down the aisle when she got married and we were there when her first son was born. What a circle of life happens. We worked with multiple counties through Washington State and Juvenile Services and learned so much from the children. The trainings and schooling I attended through out the years have  been invaluable as many children suffer from many different kinds of abuse. The children who are Fetal Alcohol are some of the saddest. Depending upon where they are on the spectrum of FAS, many have no conscience, and no cause and affect at all. Being attacked multiple times with some children removed from our home for the safety of others it is such a learning process and heart breaking at the same time. Children with PTSD(post traumatic stress disorder) are afflictled with such nightmare and such terror in their lives. Then there are the children who just really need structure, consistency, rules and firm love. We ran a boot camp for a couple years and are so proud of our results. Here children learned to pray, they went to church hopefully a SEED was planted. I may never get to see the fuition of that see but that is OK. You never know who the blessing is for.
 
In our quest to support and nurture children we have created a Rock N Roll Bike show that we do every year. The purpose of this show is to generate dollars for at risk children. The funds all go towards the Rock N Roll Camp. WWW.RockNRollBikeShow.com    please check it out.  It tells all about the show, the camp, and the volunteers who support the show.
 
Reverend Barbara I would love to keep in contact with you weekly at least. If there is prayer that is needed from your side please let me know. I have a great prayer support here and we would be happy to lift those requests up before the Lord.
 
Thank you once again.
 
Much Love in God's Grace
 
CindyLou

Spiritual Callings to Ministerial Vocations


Spiritual Callings to Ministerial Vocations - A Critique of Traditional Religious Ordinations and Instant On Line Ordinations


How does one know when the call to ministry is valid and true to the individual?  How does one know the correct way to obtain an ordination, become a minister or cleric and join or establish a church or ministry?


If we look to the religious establishments, we  find  a variety of accredited paths to follow in order to grow intellectually and spiritually and obtain the necessary education and training to answer spiritual callings.  These paths are authentic and valid and require years of study at accredited universities.  There is much to be learned about God, humankind, spirituality, religion and service, and traditional education provides a way to challenge students while providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to be of spiritual service to their religious denomination.


On the other hand, it is not difficult to become an ordained minister, instantly.  On line ordinations provide an avenue for the not-so-traditional spiritual seeker to answer their spiritual calling, but does that alone make it valid?   I would contend that validity is in the eye of the beholder.


Consider the following: 


  • A woman  is inspired to paint beautiful portraits.  She has never had an art lesson but is simply inspired to express her creative spirit and genius in this way.  Many are inspired by gazing upon these beautiful pieces of art and some are encouraged to begin their own attempts at painting.
  • A  man  can masterfully play any musical instrument you place in front of him, yet he has never had a lesson in music. He is simply inspired to express his creative spirit and genius in this way.  Many are encouraged and inspired just by listening to the beautiful music he plays.  Some model his behaviors by learning to play musical instruments themselves.
  • A man and a woman go about their lives ministering to those in need.  They have never attended a formal seminary and have no higher education.  They are simply inspired to minister, heart and soul, to those in need and they express their creative spirit and genius in this way.  Many are healed and inspired by their acts of kindness and some are drawn to dedicate their lives to service as well.


What differences are there between the three samples above?   Should the artist and the musician cease to express their gifts of grace because they did not complete a required course of study?  Should the man and woman cease to minister because they have not completed a required course of study?    And would the required course of study alter the free gift of grace and talent each has received?


Some gifts are innate and from the Spirit.  They are acts of grace that are often expressed  without explanation.  If viewed in this light, restrictions placed upon innate callings would seem to be counter to the highest fulfillment of the gifts of grace.


We would love to hear your thoughts about this important topic.   Please, let us know what you think.


Please note:  The Ministerial Seminary of America, LLC will not post judgmental or hateful responses.  Please make sure your entry contributes to the overall understanding of this topic by those who read it.  Thank you.










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