Since 2008, the Christian Universalist Association has been offering an educational program leading to ordination for people in the United States. Seven people have already graduated from the program and been ordained, and over 20 people are currently enrolled. The CUA is a legally established religious association of churches with the right to ordain ministers, providing them with legal credentials to perform weddings and any other ministerial functions under U.S. law. Ministers ordained by the CUA are also spiritually authorized to perform baptisms, funerals, and serve holy communion in the eyes of our organization.

The CUA has created an ordination program that can suit the needs of anyone who wishes to study Christian Universalism and prepare for any type of ministry in this message -- including ministers ordained by another organization or denomination, active members of the laity of a church, theologians, religious education professionals, chaplains, and laypersons who would like to serve as an ordained Christian Universalist minister. Our program is not intended to be a substitute for a seminary education, but it does provide extensive knowledge in the areas of Christian Universalist theology and history, as well as some training in ministerial ethics and pastoral care, discipleship and church planting.

If you are a layperson who would like to learn about Christian Universalism and serve in a pastoral role, this course will give you the knowledge, confidence, and legal credentials you need! After going through the CUA ordination program, you may feel prepared and ready to do any of the following:

• Conduct weddings, funerals, and baptisms in the Christian Universalist spirit.
  
• Serve as a military or hospital chaplain in the Christian Universalist spirit.
  
• Lead a Bible study group to teach the theology of Christian Universalism.
  
• Teach a Sunday School class with a Christian Universalist emphasis.
  
• Start a Christian Universalist house church.
  
• Start a Christian Universalist campus ministry.
  
• Serve as a deacon or assistant pastor in a Christian Universalist-friendly church.
  
• Even start your own full-service church based on the message of Christian Universalism, with the help of the CUA.
  

We are also happy to provide ordination credentials to people who have already been ordained by other organizations, and we can tailor your CUA ordination course to your individual needs. Many ministers and seminary students who believe in Christian Universalism are looking for a way to study this subject in depth, because most seminaries offer little or no education about Christian Universalist theology and history. If you are already a minister or seminary student and you would like to supplement your academic education with a strong program specifically in Christian Universalism, the CUA ordination program can be shortened for you according to your prior experience.

To be ordained by the Christian Universalist Association, an applicant must:

• Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States.
  
• Be at least 21 years of age.
  
• Have earned a high school diploma or GED.
  
• Be a CUA member.
  
• Successfully complete the ordination process as approved by the CUA Board of Directors and Ordination Committee.
  

The full version of the CUA ordination and education program requires an applicant to do the following:

• Submit an application form, either online or through the mail.
  
• Give permission to the CUA to run a criminal background check on your name. This is mainly to protect our organization from lawsuits if one of our ministers commits a serious crime in connection with his ministerial duties -- e.g. we would not want to inadvertently ordain a convicted child molestor.
  
• Have three people who know you submit confidential letters of recommendation.
  
• Have at least three contacts either in person or by telephone with a liaison assigned by the CUA Ordination Committee. This is to get to know you and for mentoring. The mentorship may be minimal or extensive depending on your background and needs. (Read short bios of the ministerial mentors/liaisons you could be paired up with, so that you can indicate your preference in your application.)
  
• Read selections from the Bible, a packet of articles, and 13 books (see reading list).
  
• Submit a resume.
  
• Submit a signed copy of the CUA Statement of Faith and Non-Hatred Pledge.
  
• Write a paper about your spiritual journey and call to ministry, a paper about your spiritual beliefs, and 7 papers in response to the required readings (see list of required papers).
  
• Donate $300 for a non-refundable application fee. This donation covers all costs of time and money associated with processing your application, conducting the criminal background check, reviewing letters of recommendation and all written materials you send, meeting with you in person or by phone, etc. It also helps to support our organization. It does not cover the cost of books (you must purchase or borrow those yourself).
  

The reading and writing assignments may be shortened for people who are already ministers with knowledge and experience, on a case-by-case basis. The application fee may be reduced to $150 for people who are approved by the CUA Ordination Committee for a fast-track program with significantly reduced coursework requirements.

The application process is simple: Send the CUA your application form, your signed copy of the CUA Statement of Faith and Non-Hatred Pledge, and have three letters of recommendation sent to us. This material will be reviewed and a criminal background check will be performed. If the Ordination Committee feels that you are well suited to become a CUA minister, you will be admitted into the program.

Important Note: Donating the application fee does not guarantee that ordination will be granted! The CUA is not a mail-order ordination mill; this is not a "pay to get ordained" offer. If you are looking for a quick way to get ordained without effort and study -- and which will not be taken seriously by most people and churches -- look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you are looking for a credible ordination that will build your knowledge and abilities and which you will be proud to put on your resume, we encourage you to go through the study process of the CUA ordination program. We have a serious educational program which must be taken seriously and completed by the applicant in a way that demonstrates learning and readiness for Christian Universalist ministry in order to be ordained by the CUA.

For a part-time student of the CUA ordination program (e.g. someone who has a full-time job), it will typically take one to two years to complete. Applicants have up to three years to complete the program. If it is not completed within three years of initial application date, the applicant must begin the process anew and donate a re-application fee of $100.

Final, lifetime ordination is granted by laying on of hands by a CUA minister at an ordination ceremony. The ceremony normally takes place at a CUA annual conference but may be arranged for a different time and location if necessary, on a case-by-case basis. If the ordinand chooses not to be ordained in person at a ceremony, then his/her ordination must be renewed every three years for a donation of $50.

If you have any questions before applying, please contact us.

If you wish to apply for the CUA ministerial ordination and education program, please fill out the online form below, or if you prefer, click here to go to a page with a printable application form (MS Word .doc) and further instructions to apply by mail. You can donate the $300 application fee either by mailing a check payable to the Christian Universalist Association along with your printed application form, or by clicking on the PayPal/credit card donation button that will appear on the page that loads after you submit your online application form.

When you click "Submit Application" you will be taken to a page where you can donate the application fee online and print out other forms and documents you will need. If you wish to submit your application and payment by mail instead of using the online form above, please click here to go to a page with downloadable forms and instructions.