At 21, I sent my $17 to the Unitarian Universalist Church for my ordination papers so I could perform a nude wedding for a couple my friends in front of the nude wedding party on a secluded beach near Cape Canaveral. A Redstone Rocket (I think) was supposed to be shot off when we got to the “I do’s.” They couldn’t find an ordained preacher to do it and the parents insisted it be performed by an ordained minister. We had a good time and the parents were happy to see an official document complete with old fashioned filligree from the State of Florida certifying that the marriage had actually taken place.
Here the Christian National Church offers ordination papers for a price, but they are very circumspect in their add as to what that price is. Here are their requirements for ordination:
(1) You must believe in God as the one true God.
(2) You must accept Jesus Christ as our true and holy savior.
(3) You must pray for the forgiveness of your past sins.
In return for signing off online of the above, and a check for an undisclosed amount, you get this:
(1) Printed ordination documents endorsed by the Christian National Church
(2)A printed letter of good standing.
Additional materials such as wallet ID cards, books, and certificate framing are available for purchase separately.
You can now counsel others using the Bible as guidance and perform weddings. They are careful to point out that any money spent toward your ordination or any of their other products are not tax deductible.
The fact is that anyone can perform a wedding of any kind. All that is needed is the signatures of the intended couple and two witnesses on the State application with a check attached for the and a nominal State registration fee sent to the courthouse or some other corresponding State office.
Here is a site that reviews the many, many “Churches” that offer “state-recognized” ordination papers. No “beliefs” required in many cases and whether or not you are baptized as a Christian is “between you and God.”