# What are the requirements to become clergy in different denominations

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-requirements-to-become-clergy-in-different-denominations/337325>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 27, 2005, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-requirements-to-become-clergy-in-different-denominations/337325 "2005-12-27T04:41:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-requirements-to-become-clergy-in-different-denominations/337325/21 "2005-12-29T01:22:04Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> Abp. Nikon

Er, Bp. Nikon.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\
**Post date:** [December 29, 2005, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-requirements-to-become-clergy-in-different-denominations/337325/22 "2005-12-29T13:11:41Z")

</div>

Thanks for the answers, guys.

> [@spingears](#):
>
> That’s a pretty tall order! Equal to the NYC phone book or an old Sears & Roebuck catalog.

Somehow I didn’t think I’d get a comprehensive list, though these answers for representative Christian (and informal) denominations are what I was looking for. I’d be interested to hear about the requirements for non-Christian religions.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-requirements-to-become-clergy-in-different-denominations/337325/23 "2005-12-30T01:13:28Z")

</div>

i wondered who had moved into that spot. thanks ybeayf.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-requirements-to-become-clergy-in-different-denominations/337325/24 "2005-12-30T15:26:12Z")

</div>

You can become an ordained minister in the Church of the SubGenius for just $30. [http://www.subgenius.com/scatalog/membership.htm;](http://www.subgenius.com/scatalog/membership.htm;) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subgenius](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subgenius).

For some reason, unlike an ordination in the Universal Life Church ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal\_Life\_Church](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Life_Church)), a SubGenius ordination will not legally authorize you to officiate at weddings, and don’t even ask about tax-exempt status. However, it **will** get you saved (“Eternal salvation – or triple your money back!”), and will qualify you to perform healings, sickenings, deflorations, excremeditations, and the acceptance of donations! Praise “Bob”! 😃

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-requirements-to-become-clergy-in-different-denominations/337325/25 "2005-12-30T15:32:42Z")

</div>

Of course, Roman Catholics, Orthodox Jews and probably some others require that you have a Y chromosome. If you don’t, you need not apply.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-requirements-to-become-clergy-in-different-denominations/337325.md?page=1)