Pastors teach and counsel the members of their church on eternal, spiritual matters that make a tremendous personal difference to many of them. Becoming a pastor, due to the seriousness of this role, requires biblical training and careful consideration for most. While the office of pastor in America does not yet require a license, you will need one to perform weddings in most states. If you desire this position and feel spiritually called to do so, there are several steps to becoming a licensed pastor depending on your denomination.

Meeting the Qualifications

Familiarize yourself with your denomination's policy on ordination. Certain denominations utilize a list of qualifications of an elder while others tend toward a symbolic or more liberal view of who can serve in this role. You likely will need the ordination of a local church in your denomination to be ordained as a pastor within it. Non-denominational churches vary in ordination procedures.

Develop a strong relationship with your local church body through faithful, sacrificial service and leadership. Seek mentors among pastors within your denomination to assist you in the process or ordination.

Study the ordinances of the church. In addition to preaching and counseling your church, you will perform baptisms, weddings, funerals and the Lord's Supper ceremony. You must understand both how to perform these ordinances and why they are done with your denominational differences in mind.

Ordination

Express to your church body publicly the desire to be a pastor. Denominations such as Southern Baptists and the United Methodists have a formal process for ordination that typically requires a waiting period to investigate your calling.

Contact your denomination's headquarters to begin the process of ordination. This organization will assist your local body in certifying your position within the denomination. If you are non-denominational, consult an ordination service to purchase an ordination certificate.

Complete an ordination service if your local church uses one. Certain denominations and non-denominational churches perform a ceremony that features a prayer service, including existing leadership symbolically "laying hands" on the candidate to pray for him.

Contact your local county clerk or justice of the peace to purchase your marriage license documentation. Every state has different requirements for this task.