When it comes to a wedding officiant, some people get confused about a wedding officiant and an ordained minister. Does the wedding officiant need to get ordained? The main difference between the two is that the wedding officiant owns a degree that allows him to officiate a wedding. On the other hand, an ordained minister gets ordained from any particular church and is allowed to do other church activities as well along with officiating a wedding.
The main discrimination occurs at the religious level. For a religious wedding getting ordained is necessary for a wedding officiant as well. Here in this article, we have discussed some differences between a wedding officiant and an ordained minister.
Wedding officiant vs ordained minister
Some religious groups and churches differentiate between the various types of clergy, classifying them as ordained minister or wedding officiant. Each religion sets out its own policy of distinguishing between the two, although in many cases religious organizations consider the ordained minister as a permanent clergy. Ordination allows the minister to perform church rituals including baptisms, legal marriages, and funerals. On the other hand, wedding officiants are licensed ministers who are required to officiate a wedding at a local congregation. Although, the wedding officiant needs to get ordained to officiate a wedding. Besides ordination, all other credentials of a wedding officiant are for a limited time.
The reason for the difference
Usually, the difference between wedding officiants and ordained minister is based on a religious level. Congregations prefer a clergy who is officially ordained to perform any ritual be it weddings.
Difference on basis of duties they perform
Some denominations limit the duties of a wedding officiant such as they can only officiate a wedding as are allowed legally. They are restricted to perform other church duties. Ordained ministers can perform all religious rituals including weddings and funerals. Along with wedding officiants and ordained ministers, there is also a licensed minister who is allowed to perform specific duties but only within a local church.
Difference in Education and Training
Educational standards are different for both wedding officiants and ordained ministers. Wedding officiants are qualified in just officiating a wedding. They own a license and are legally allowed to perform wedding rituals. Before ordination, many Christian churches demand an ordained clergy to hold a degree of Master of Divinity. A wedding officiant can also get ordained to perform other activities as well. There is no qualified degree for an ordained minister to complete before getting ordained but there is some documentation process that needs to be done.
Difference in terms of officiating a wedding
Certain state laws restrict ordained ministers to officiate a wedding whereas a wedding officiant must hold a license and is destined to perform wedding rituals. However, they should be legally allowed by the state to officiate a wedding.
However, there is not such a big difference that keeps both of them in separate fields. Only certain congregations have set some different rules for them.
