An interfaith seminary · Serving all 50 states · Online
ConfluenceSeminary of Sacred Studies
con·flu·ence (noun): the place where rivers meet and flow on together. At Confluence, the world's spiritual traditions, and seekers of no tradition at all, come together to learn from one another.
Exploring Wisdom ✦ Honoring Tradition ✦ Embracing Unity
Our conviction
Your spiritual life belongs to you
Confluence Seminary holds that every person is born with the right to guide their own spiritual life. We believe that anyone who feels called to ministry should be able to answer that call through ordination.
Ordination with Confluence is simple. Complete our $100 Ordination Orientation online, a short course of about two hours, and you are ordained for life as a Minister or Reverend. There are no annual fees and no renewals. From there, you may continue your studies and earn further titles and degrees.
Exploring Wisdom
Study sacred texts, theology, mysticism, and ethics across the world's traditions, from the Abrahamic faiths to Zoroastrianism.
Honoring Tradition
Learn each faith on its own terms and from its own sources, with care for the communities that keep it alive.
Embracing Unity
Lead weddings, memorials, blessings, and other ceremonies that bring people of every background together.
The first step
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
The old Chinese proverb holds true for ministry. You have the capacity to make the world kinder and more whole, and ordination may be what helps you act on it. Your first step can happen today.
At a glance
About the Seminary
About Confluence
A modern interfaith seminary that prepares people to lead the ceremonies and moments that matter most.
Who we are
A seminary for every tradition and every calling
Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies is a non-denominational, interfaith religious institution. We ordain ministers, confer religious titles, and offer a full course of study in the world's spiritual traditions.
We work almost entirely online, which lets us serve students and ministers in every state across the country. Our purpose is the same one that has guided houses of worship for thousands of years: to help people mark life's great passages with meaning, dignity, and care.
Our ministers officiate weddings and commitment ceremonies, lead memorials and celebrations of life, bless homes and newborns, and offer spiritual companionship in their communities. Each ceremony can be personal and authentic to the people it honors.
Our mission
Opening the door to ministry
Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies opens the door to ministry for everyone who feels called. Through affordable ordination and honest, respectful study of the world's spiritual traditions, we prepare ministers of every faith, and of no faith, to serve their communities with knowledge, compassion, and understanding.
For most of history, religious institutions have decided who may serve. Too often the answer was only men, only members of one faith, or only those who could afford years of costly training. Confluence exists to remove those barriers.
Our vision: a world where people of every tradition, and of none, understand and care for one another, and where anyone who feels called to serve has the knowledge and the standing to do so.
What we believe
Inclusion
Confluence welcomes people of every faith, of no particular faith, and of every background. You do not need to leave your own tradition to join us.
Meaningful ceremony
Words spoken with care can connect and uplift. We give our ministers the knowledge and confidence to lead ceremonies that people remember.
Bridges across traditions
Where the world's traditions meet, understanding grows. We work toward a more connected and compassionate society.
Our seal
The tree, the book, and the eye
The seal of Confluence shows a tree of life rising from an open book beneath a radiant eye. The book represents the sacred texts of the world. The tree represents the growth of wisdom, with roots in many traditions and one living trunk. The eye represents insight and the light of understanding.
Knowledge ✦ Compassion ✦ Understanding ✦ A More Peaceful World
Designations
Titles, Degrees, and Honors
Every designation at Confluence is earned with credits. The Ordination Orientation carries 1 credit hour; every other course carries 3 credit hours. Tuition is $100 per course at the 100 level, $150 at the 200 level, $175 at the 300 level, and $200 at the 400 level, and every credit you earn counts toward the next title or degree.
Requirements
Credits required for each designation
The Ordination Orientation earns your ordination. From there, take any courses you like. Each level below opens once you complete its courses. Otherwise, you choose which courses to take.
Your title should reflect your own understanding of your calling and the way you serve. You choose it yourself, within the guidelines below: each level lists the titles open to you once you have earned its credits.
Reverend
Lifetime ordination as a minister of Confluence Seminary, with authority to officiate weddings, handfastings, memorials, and other ceremonies.
Apostle
A title grounded in the study of the sacred feminine and the full story of women in religion.
Certificate in Interfaith Studies
Recognizes a broad grounding in the world’s religious, spiritual, and secular traditions.
Associate
For those who serve congregations and offer spiritual care in hospitals, hospices, prisons, the military, and the community. Also earns the Associate of Ministry degree.
Senior
For pastors, teachers, spiritual directors, and leaders of religious communities.
Fellow of Confluence Seminary
Our highest earned designation, for those who oversee and mentor other ministers. Also earns the bachelor’s degree.
The 200, 300, and 400-level courses are being written now. Each designation opens as its courses are released. Apostle is always open: it requires The Divine Feminine, and the Associate and Senior levels add Associate Apostle and Senior Apostle for those who have taken it.
Your ordination and every designation you earn are for life. There are no annual fees and no renewals.
Honorary titles
Special Title Certificates
Many ministers request a special religious title that reflects their role in their community. Any ordained minister of Confluence may request one. No coursework is required.
The Special Title Certificate reads in part: "Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies has conferred upon [Your Name] the Honorary title of Bishop."
Honorary degrees
Honorary Doctor of Divinity
Confluence confers the Honorary Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) on ministers whose service, leadership, or lifetime of spiritual work deserves recognition.
Ordained ministers may request the honorary degree through the online application by describing their ministry and service. Honorary recipients may use the title Doctor in a religious setting, and the degree is noted as honorary on the diploma.
Your credentials
Documents for your ministry
Ordination Certificate
A handsome display certificate printed on heavyweight paper and bearing the embossed seal of the Seminary. It certifies that you are a legally ordained minister of Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies and states in writing that the Seminary authorizes you to perform marriage ceremonies and all other rites and ceremonies of the ministry.
Minister ID Card
A wallet-sized card that identifies you as an ordained minister, for use at weddings, hospitals, and other places where you serve.
Special Title Certificate
Printed on heavyweight paper and bearing the Seminary seal, it records the honorary title conferred upon you.
Replacement Certificates
If a certificate is lost or damaged, a replacement costs $50 and comes with a new wallet-sized Minister ID Card. Request one through the contact form.
Course Certificates and Diplomas
A Certificate of Completion for each course, and a diploma for each designation you earn, each bearing the Seminary seal.
All Confluence degrees are non-accredited. Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies is a religious educational organization. Its ordinations, titles, certificates, and degrees, including honorary degrees, are religious credentials. They are not academic degrees and are not accredited by any agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Ordination
Online Ordination: How It Works
One $100 course, taken online at your own pace, makes you an ordained minister for life.
The calling comes first
No website can ordain your spirit
Ordination begins in the spiritual life, at the moment a person answers a call to serve. Only you can know whether that call has come to you.
What Confluence offers is recognition of that call. We give you the study, the formal ordination, and the credentials you need to serve others. The process happens online, but the calling is yours.
The ordination process
Three steps to ordination
Apply online
Complete the online application. Then create your student account in the Classroom and enroll, paying securely online by card.
Complete the Ordination Orientation
Take our $100 Ordination Orientation online at your own pace. It takes about two hours and includes your Statement of Calling.
Receive your credentials
You are ordained for life and may use the title Reverend or Minister. Download your Certificate of Ordination and Minister ID Card free, or order a printed certificate with an embossed gold seal for $30.
Your ordination
What you can do as a Confluence minister
- Officiate weddings, elopements, vow renewals, and commitment ceremonies
- Lead handfastings and other traditional and earth-centered rites
- Conduct funerals, memorial services, and celebrations of life
- Perform baby blessings, namings, house blessings, and other solemn celebrations
- Use the title Reverend or Minister, or add The Divine Feminine course to earn Apostle
- Present your credentials when requesting clergy visits at hospitals, nursing homes, and jails
Hospitals, care facilities, and correctional facilities each set their own rules for clergy visits. Many ask clergy to register in advance, and some require a background check or chaplaincy training. Contact the facility before your visit.
For life
One course. One fee. No renewals.
Your $100 course fee is the only cost of ordination. Once you have earned your designation, there are no additional fees and no annual renewals. Your ordination lasts for your lifetime.
Confluence also stands behind you for life. Through the contact form, you can request a letter verifying your ordination, or ask for help completing a marriage license or other clergy paperwork, at any time.
Degrees
Religious Degrees
A Certificate in Interfaith Studies, and associate and bachelor's degrees in theology, ministry, divinity, and religious studies, earned through self-paced online courses.
Degree titles
Choose the degree that fits your work
Confluence confers religious degrees in Theology, Religious Studies, Divinity, Ministry, Metaphysics, and related fields.
Traditional ecclesiastical degrees include the Associate of Ministry and the Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.).
We consider any religious degree title that fits your calling, such as Bachelor of Christian Education, Bachelor of Interfaith Ministry, or a degree in Jewish Studies, Islamic Studies, Buddhist Studies, or Interfaith Ministry. Tell us the title you have in mind on your application.
Certificate in Interfaith Studies
The Ordination Orientation (1 credit hour) plus any five 100-level courses (15 credit hours). A certificate, not a degree, and available today. Every course counts toward the Associate of Ministry.
Associate of Ministry
The Ordination Orientation (1 credit hour) plus five 100-level courses (15 credit hours), including the four foundation courses (Interfaith Dialogue, History of World Religions, Introduction to Comparative Religion, and The Divine Feminine), and five 200-level courses (15 credit hours). Earns the title Associate.
Bachelor's Degree
B.Th., Bachelor of Ministry, Bachelor of Religious Studies, or another religious title. Requires the Associate of Ministry (31 credit hours) plus five 300-level courses (15 credit hours) and five 400-level courses (15 credit hours). Earns the title Fellow of Confluence Seminary.
How the levels work. Every degree begins with ordination: the Ordination Orientation is Course 100 and earns 1 credit hour, which is included in every total above. Courses are numbered by level: 100s, 200s, 300s, and 400s. Completing five courses at one level opens the next level. Our current courses, numbered 101 to 128, are 100-level courses. The Certificate in Interfaith Studies is available today. The 200, 300, and 400-level courses are being written now, and each degree opens as its courses are released.
The Seminary also confers the Honorary Doctor of Divinity. See Designations.
Every credit counts toward the next degree. Courses completed for your Associate of Ministry count toward your bachelor's degree.
Program requirements
How to earn your degree
Apply online
Complete the online application and choose the degree you are seeking.
Get ordained
Complete the $100 Ordination Orientation (Course 100, 1 credit hour). Every degree begins with ordination.
Write your spiritual autobiography
Tell the story of religion and spirituality in your life, from childhood to today. One page or more. The two are not always the same, and we want to hear about both.
Describe your work
Summarize the work you do in religion, spirituality, or faith leadership, and explain how this degree will support your work and your goals.
Share prior college work
If you have taken college courses before, upload your transcripts with your application. The faculty reviews them when planning your course of study.
Complete your courses
Take any courses you choose, online and at your own pace. Every course counts toward your degree. Tuition is $100 per course at the 100 level, $150 at the 200 level, $175 at the 300 level, and $200 at the 400 level, paid securely online by card when you enroll.
Submit your final work
Submit your bachelor's degree research paper through the contact form.
All Confluence degrees are non-accredited religious degrees. They are religious credentials for ministry, not academic degrees, and are not accredited by any agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Curriculum
Courses of Study
Self-paced online courses at four levels, each worth 3 credit hours, from $100 per course at the 100 level to $200 at the 400 level, plus the Ordination Orientation. Select any course title to open its page, with a welcome to the course, how it works, its outline, and required texts.
How study works
Learn on your own schedule
Confluence uses competency-based education. There are no set class times and no semesters. You work through each course at your own pace and submit your coursework whenever it is ready. Your credits count toward the designations you want to earn.
Choose any courses you like. Your ordination comes from the short Ordination Orientation. After that, titles are earned by the number of credit hours you complete, not by which courses you take, though some titles also require The Divine Feminine. Degrees are earned level by level: five courses at each level earn a degree and open the next level.
Not sure where to begin? We suggest four foundation courses: Interfaith Dialogue, History of World Religions, Introduction to Comparative Religion, and The Divine Feminine. Together with the Ordination Orientation, they earn 13 credit hours and the title Apostle, and they count toward the Certificate in Interfaith Studies and the Associate of Ministry.
Every course includes a syllabus, a reading list, lessons, a ten-question quiz for each module, and a final exam with one essay of 1,500 to 2,000 words. Pass each quiz and the final exam with 70% or higher (retakes are allowed) and have your essay approved, and you earn 3 credit hours and a Certificate of Completion.
Course numbers. The Ordination Orientation is course 100. Our introductory courses are numbered 101 to 128. Completing five 100-level courses opens the 200 level, five 200-level courses open the 300 level, and five 300-level courses open the 400 level. The 200, 300, and 400-level courses listed below are coming; we will open them as they are completed.
Tuition is $100 per course. Confluence courses and degrees are non-accredited religious education.
Course catalog
Ordination
Your first step: a short orientation that earns lifetime ordination100 Ordination Orientation
Open now · OrdinationFoundations
The academic study of religion, its history, and its texts109 History of Religious Thought
Open now · 3 credits110 History of World Religions
Open now · 3 credits113 Introduction to Comparative Religion
Open now · 3 credits114 Introduction to Theology
Open now · 3 credits124 Sacred Texts of the World
Open now · 3 creditsWorld Traditions
The living faiths of the world, studied from their own sources101 Buddhism
Open now · 3 credits102 Christianity
Open now · 3 credits108 Hindu Traditions
Open now · 3 credits111 Indigenous Religious Traditions
Open now · 3 credits115 Islam
Open now · 3 credits116 Judaism
Open now · 3 credits129 Amish, Mennonites, and the Anabaptist Tradition
Coming soon · 3 creditsMystical and Esoteric Traditions
Inner paths, hidden wisdom, and the language of myth103 Comparative Mythology
Open now · 3 credits106 Gnosticism
Open now · 3 credits107 Hermetic Traditions
Open now · 3 credits117 Mysticism
Open now · 3 credits127 Western Esotericism
Open now · 3 creditsThe Sacred Feminine and Earth Traditions
Goddess, women, and the living earth105 The Divine Feminine
Open now · 3 credits119 Paganism and Earth-Centered Traditions
Open now · 3 creditsCritical and Contemporary Studies
Hard questions, honest answers, and a little humor104 Cults and High-Control Groups
Open now · 3 credits118 New Religious Movements
Open now · 3 credits120 Parody and Invented Religions
Open now · 3 credits125 Sexuality and Spirituality
Open now · 3 credits128 Atheism, Agnosticism, and Humanism
Open now · 3 creditsMinistry and Practice
Skills and disciplines for spiritual leadership112 Interfaith Dialogue
Open now · 3 credits121 Pastoral Care and Counseling
Open now · 3 credits122 Religion and Culture
Open now · 3 credits123 Religious Ethics
Open now · 3 credits126 Spirituality and Contemplative Practice
Open now · 3 credits200 Level: Intermediate Studies
$150 per course. Opens after you complete five 100-level courses. Courses marked open are available now; the rest are being written.201 Atheism and Agnosticism: History and Ideas
Coming soon · 3 credits202 Buddhist Scriptures and Schools
Coming soon · 3 credits203 Chaplaincy: Hospitals, Hospice, Prisons, and the Military
Coming soon · 3 credits204 Death, Dying, and Grief Across Traditions
Coming soon · 3 credits205 The Hebrew Bible in Context
Coming soon · 3 credits206 Hindu Scriptures: The Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita
Coming soon · 3 credits207 Indigenous Spiritualities of the Americas
Coming soon · 3 credits208 The New Testament and Early Christianity
Coming soon · 3 credits209 The Qur'an and Islamic Thought
Coming soon · 3 credits210 Religion in America
Coming soon · 3 credits211 Rites of Passage: Weddings, Funerals, and Ceremonies
Open now · 3 credits212 Supervised Ministry Practicum
Coming soon · 3 credits213 Women Mystics of the World
Coming soon · 3 credits214 Faith and Power: Religion and American Politics
Open now · 3 credits215 American-Born Faiths: Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Black Religious Movements
Open now · 3 credits216 Is Reality an Illusion? The Holographic Universe, Simulation Theory, and Ancient Cosmologies
Open now · 3 credits300 Level: Advanced Studies
$175 per course. Advanced courses built on primary sources, scholarly debate, and research writing. Opens after you complete five 200-level courses. Courses marked open are available now; the rest are being written.301 Comparative Theology: Reading Across Traditions
Coming soon · 3 credits302 Feminist and Womanist Theologies
Coming soon · 3 credits303 Interfaith Leadership and Conflict Resolution
Coming soon · 3 credits304 Jewish Mysticism: Kabbalah and Hasidism
Coming soon · 3 credits305 The Lost Gospels: Nag Hammadi and Early Christian Diversity
Coming soon · 3 credits306 Methods in the Study of Religion
Coming soon · 3 credits307 Nagarjuna and Buddhist Philosophy
Coming soon · 3 credits308 Religion and Violence
Coming soon · 3 credits309 Sacred Languages for Ministry
Coming soon · 3 credits310 Sufism: Rumi and the Masters of Divine Love
Coming soon · 3 credits311 Unbelief in Depth: Atheist and Agnostic Thought
Coming soon · 3 credits312 Death, Dying, and Bereavement
Open now · 3 credits313 Children, Teens, and Grief
Open now · 3 credits400 Level: Fellowship Seminars
Coming soon. $200 per course. Seminars, advanced practice, and a capstone research project. Seminars include recorded guest speakers and a field observation: attending services of two very different traditions and a live or livestreamed sacred performance. Opens after you complete five 300-level courses.401 Advanced Ministry Practicum
Coming soon · 3 credits402 Capstone Research Project
Coming soon · 3 credits403 Seminar in Interfaith Ministry Leadership
Coming soon · 3 credits404 Seminar in Religion and Science
Coming soon · 3 credits405 Seminar in Religion, Justice, and Human Rights
Coming soon · 3 credits406 Seminar in Sacred Music and the Arts
Coming soon · 3 credits407 Seminar in Spiritual Care at the End of Life
Coming soon · 3 credits408 Seminar in the Future of Religion
Coming soon · 3 credits409 Seminar in Women and Religious Authority
Coming soon · 3 creditsAdmissions
Join Confluence
Confluence welcomes anyone age 16 or older, in any state, of any faith or of no particular faith, who feels called to serve.
How it works
Apply online
Complete the online application. It takes about ten minutes. Then create your student account and enroll online, paying securely by card.
Become ordained
Complete the $100 Ordination Orientation, about two hours online, to receive lifetime ordination and the titles Minister and Reverend.
Keep studying
If you choose, enroll in more courses and submit your coursework whenever it suits your schedule.
Earn your titles
As your credits add up, earn new designations, certificates, and degrees.
Eligibility
Who may apply
- Applicants must be at least 16 years of age.
- Applicants under 18 must provide the name and email address of a parent or guardian.
- You may belong to any faith tradition, or none.
- You must complete the online application truthfully and in full.
- The Ordination Orientation is $100, and each course is $100.
Questions
Everything is online
Answers to the most common questions are on our FAQ page. If you do not find your answer there, send a message through the contact form and we will reply by email.
FAQ
Questions and Answers
Everything you need to know about ordination, titles, courses, and credentials.
About the Seminary
What does the name Confluence mean?
A confluence is the place where two or more rivers meet and flow on together as one. We chose the name because the Seminary is a meeting place for the world's spiritual traditions, and for people of no religious tradition at all. Each stream keeps its own source and character, and each is enriched by the others. The gold lines that flow together on our home page, and the tree rising from an open book on our seal, carry the same idea.
Ordination
Is ordination through Confluence legal?
Yes. In the United States, religious organizations may ordain their own ministers, and the government does not regulate who a religious body chooses to ordain. Ordination by Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies is a valid religious ordination.
How much does ordination cost?
$100, one time. Ordination comes with completing the Ordination Orientation, which costs $100 and earns 1 credit hour. When you finish, your Certificate of Ordination and Minister ID Card are free to download and print. There are no annual fees and no renewals.
Optional extras: a printed Certificate of Ordination with an embossed gold seal is $30, and a Letter of Good Standing, which some states ask for when ministers register, is $30. Request either through the contact form.
How do I pay?
Sign in to the Student Classroom and click Enroll on any course. Payment is handled securely by Stripe, and your course opens right away.
How long does it take?
The online application takes about ten minutes. The Ordination Orientation takes about two hours, at your own pace. You are ordained as soon as you complete it and your Statement of Calling is approved.
Do I have to leave my current religion?
No. Confluence is interfaith and non-denominational. Our ministers come from many traditions, and some from none. You keep your own beliefs.
How old do I have to be?
You must be at least 16. Applicants under 18 must include the name and email address of a parent or guardian on the application.
Does my ordination expire?
No. Your ordination is for life.
What if I lose my certificate?
A replacement certificate costs $50 and comes with a new wallet-sized Minister ID Card. Request one through the contact form.
Weddings and Ceremonies
Can I officiate a wedding?
Ordained ministers are recognized as wedding officiants in most U.S. states. See our State Guides for the rules in your state. Each state and county sets its own rules, and a few ask ministers to register or show credentials before the ceremony.
Before any wedding, contact the county clerk's office that issues the marriage license and ask what it requires of officiants. Some jurisdictions also set a minimum age for officiants, so applicants under 18 should confirm local rules.
What other ceremonies can I lead?
Ministers lead weddings, vow renewals, commitment ceremonies, memorials and celebrations of life, baby blessings and namings, house blessings, and other rites of passage.
Can I visit people in hospitals and jails?
Your Confluence credentials identify you as an ordained minister when you request a clergy visit. Each hospital, care facility, and jail sets its own rules, and many ask clergy to register in advance or pass a background check. Contact the facility before you visit.
Will you help me with marriage license paperwork?
Yes. Send your question through the contact form and we will help you complete the marriage license or any other clergy paperwork. We can also send a letter verifying your ordination. This help is available for life.
What documents might I need for a wedding?
Many ministers keep a copy of their Ordination Certificate and their Minister ID Card. If the county asks for proof of ordination, these documents show that you are an ordained minister of Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies.
Titles and Degrees
What is the difference between an earned title and an honorary title?
Earned titles, such as Associate Minister, Chaplain, Pastor, or Fellow of Confluence Seminary, are granted when you complete the required courses. Honorary titles, such as Bishop or Archbishop, are conferred on ordained ministers by request and require no coursework. Honorary titles are identified as honorary on the certificate.
Which title should I choose?
Choose the title that matches your own sense of your calling and the way you serve. After the Ordination Orientation you may use Reverend or Minister. Apostle requires a second course, The Divine Feminine. Any five 100-level courses earn the Certificate in Interfaith Studies. Completing the 100 and 200 levels earns Associate titles, the 300 level earns Senior titles, and the 400 level earns Fellow of Confluence Seminary. You may use any title from your level or the levels below it. See the Designations page for the full guidelines.
What degrees do you offer?
The Associate of Ministry and religious bachelor's degrees in theology, ministry, divinity, religious studies, and related fields. See the Degrees page for titles and requirements.
Can my previous college work count?
Upload your transcripts with your degree application. The faculty reviews them when planning your course of study.
Are your degrees accredited?
No. All Confluence degrees are non-accredited. Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies is a religious educational organization. Our certificates, titles, and degrees, including the Honorary Doctor of Divinity, are religious credentials. They are not academic degrees and are not accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Courses
Do I have to take courses to be ordained?
Only the short Ordination Orientation. Completing it earns your ordination and the titles Minister and Reverend. Further courses are optional and lead to additional titles and degrees. We suggest four foundation courses to begin: Interfaith Dialogue, History of World Religions, Introduction to Comparative Religion, and The Divine Feminine.
How much do courses cost?
Tuition is $100 per course at the 100 level, $150 at the 200 level, $175 at the 300 level, and $200 at the 400 level. Each course earns 3 credit hours when completed with a grade of 70% or higher. The Ordination Orientation is $100. Higher-level courses cost more because their papers are graded by faculty.
How do the courses work?
All courses are online and self-paced. There are no class times or deadlines. You read the assigned texts, work through the lessons, and take your quizzes and final exam, including one final essay, when you are ready.
How are courses graded?
Quizzes are graded automatically. You need a score of 70% or higher on each module quiz and on the multiple-choice part of the final exam, and you may retake them as often as you like. Each course has one written piece, a final essay of 1,500 to 2,000 words, which the Seminary reviews; if it needs more work, it is returned with a note so you can revise it. When every step is complete, you earn 3 credit hours and your Certificate of Completion.
Do I need to buy books?
Each course lists required texts on its syllabus. Many are widely available in libraries, used bookstores, and ebook editions.
Contact
How do I reach the Seminary?
Use the online contact form. We answer every message by email. The Seminary does not take phone calls.
Will you share my information?
No. The information you provide on your application is used only to process your ordination, enrollment, and credentials.
State Guides
Officiating in Your State
Every state sets its own rules for wedding officiants. Choose a state to see what Confluence ministers need to know before performing a ceremony there.
Choose your state
State guides give general information for Confluence ministers and are not legal advice. Laws and county procedures change, so always confirm the requirements with the county office that issues the marriage license.
State Guides › Massachusetts
Officiating a Wedding in Massachusetts
What Confluence ministers need to know before performing a marriage ceremony in Massachusetts.
At a glance
- Minister registration
- Not required for Massachusetts residents; out-of-state ministers need a certificate from the Secretary of the Commonwealth
- Marriage license issued by
- City or town clerk
- Waiting period
- 3 days
- License valid for
- 60 days
- Return the signed license
- No later than the 10th day of the month after the ceremony
Your authority
Can Confluence ministers officiate in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207, Section 38 allows a duly ordained minister in good standing with their church to solemnize marriages. Ministers who live outside Massachusetts must first obtain authorization from the Secretary of the Commonwealth under Section 39.
Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies formally authorizes each of its ordained ministers, in writing, to conduct marriage ceremonies. That authorization is printed on every Confluence Certificate of Ordination.
Step by step
Performing a wedding in Massachusetts
Get ordained
Complete the $100 Ordination Orientation to receive your ordination. Keep your Certificate of Ordination and Minister ID Card where you can reach them.
Register before the wedding
If you live outside Massachusetts, apply to the Secretary of the Commonwealth for a certificate to solemnize the marriage before the wedding. Request a Letter of Good Standing ($30) from Confluence through the contact form. Allow time to receive it before you apply.
Talk with the couple about the license
The couple gets a marriage license from the city or town clerk.
Check the dates
Waiting period: 3 days. The license is valid for 60 days.
Perform the ceremony
Lead the ceremony in Massachusetts with the couple present. Make sure the couple declares their intent to marry each other.
Complete the license
Fill in the officiant section of the license with the date and place of the ceremony and your information, and sign it.
Return the license
Return the completed certificate to the clerk who issued it promptly, and no later than the 10th day of the following month.
Good to know
Details and exceptions
- Anyone may also apply to the Governor's office for a one-day designation to officiate a single wedding.
- Clerks sometimes have their own questions or procedures. Contact the office that issues the license if you are unsure about anything, and confirm the current rules before every wedding, because laws change.
Official sources
Read the law yourself
Last reviewed October 2026. This guide is general information for Confluence ministers and is not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the county office that issues the marriage license.
Contact
Send Us a Message
Please check the FAQ first. Most questions are answered there. For anything else, use this form and we will reply by email.
Contact form
Confluence Seminary of Sacred Studies5900 Balcones Drive #165
Austin, TX 78731
Accessibility
Accessibility Statement
Confluence Seminary is for everyone who feels called to serve, and that includes people with disabilities.
Our commitment
Built to be usable by all
We work to make this website and the Student Classroom usable by people who rely on screen readers, keyboard navigation, captions, magnification, voice control, and other assistive technology.
Our goal is to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA (opens in a new tab), the standard most widely used for web accessibility in the United States.
What we have done
Features of this site
- Every page can be used with a keyboard alone, and a "Skip to main content" link appears first.
- Text and background colors meet WCAG contrast requirements.
- Every course picture has a written description.
- Every form field has a visible label, and error messages are written out in words.
- Quizzes have no time limits.
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If any part of a course is hard for you to use, we will provide the material in another format, such as a transcript or a document that works with your screen reader, at no extra cost.
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This statement was last reviewed in October 2026.
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