§2.202
Texas Family Code
254
Texas Counties
49 yrs
Continuous Standing
3-5 wks
Credentialing
Texas Ordination Through AEGA
Recognized credentials, no state registration.
Texas is a "no state registration" state for marriage officiants. Unlike Virginia or Tennessee where ministers must register with a court before officiating, Texas Family Code §2.202 authorizes any "licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest" of a religious organization to conduct marriage ceremonies. The AEGA ordination credential is sufficient. Sign the marriage license, the county clerk records it.
AEGA Ordained Minister credentials in Texas name the holder as an ordained minister of AEGA Ministries International, a Spirit-filled fellowship recognized as a religious organization under U.S. law and chartered as a 501(c)(3) since 1976. Sufficient under Texas Family Code §2.202 to conduct marriages in any of the 254 counties. AEGA is not a denomination; it is a covenant fellowship of ministers credentialing ministers.
Who AEGA Credentials in Texas
Six common Texas ordination pathways.
AEGA carries credentialed ministers across every region of Texas, from senior pastors in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth to Hispanic and bilingual ministers in South Texas, El Paso, and San Antonio. Each pathway runs through the same Credential Committee review.
Senior pastors of Texas congregations.
Lead pastors carrying ordination through AEGA across Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, and small-town Texas. The National Division covering reaches every region through state and area coordinators.
Hispanic and bilingual Texas ministers.
Rev. Abel Balli, Jr. serves as National Director of AEGA Hispanic Churches, with oversight for Spanish-speaking and bilingual ministers across South Texas, El Paso, Houston, and DFW. Credentialing runs in language and cultural context.
Texas church planters and bivocational pastors.
Ministers starting new works inside Texas cities. AEGA's 501(c)(3) charter pathway pairs with regional coverage so new Texas churches receive both the legal covering and the relational covering from day one.
Ministers transferring credentials into AEGA.
Pastors and ministers moving from another fellowship or denomination into AEGA Texas. Regional leaders and the Credential Committee walk the transfer through, usually within three to five weeks.
Texas chaplains needing the ordination prerequisite.
Hospital, hospice, federal-prison, TDCJ, and law-enforcement chaplains across Texas who need AEGA Ordained Minister credentials before applying for chaplain endorsement. The credentialing path is the gate.
Wedding officiants across Texas.
Ministers whose call includes officiating weddings across Texas. Under Family Code §2.202, AEGA ordination is recognized in every Texas county. No state registration required.
Credential Pathways for Texas Ministers
Credentialing tracks under one Spirit-filled fellowship.
AEGA carries four ministerial tiers plus the comparison, timeline, certificate, and chaplaincy pages Texas applicants reference most. Begin at the tier that matches your call.
Ministerial Apprentice.
The formation tier for ministers preparing for Licensed or Ordained credential. 12-24 months under a local pastor. Texas applicants begin here if no prior ministerial standing.
Christian Worker.
For those called to lay ministry roles: Sunday school teacher, jail or street ministry, house-to-house visitation. $50 application + $50 annual renewal. Open to ministers in any Texas city.
Licensed Minister.
For ministers in part-time or full-time ministry with limited experience. Authorizes preaching, marriage officiation under Texas Family Code §2.202, baptism, and all sacerdotal duties.
Ordained Minister.
The highest credentialing tier. Required for chaplain endorsement, charter pastorship of an AEGA congregation, and the most formal forms of Texas ministerial standing.
Why AEGA in Texas
A covenant fellowship for the long career of Texas ministry.
AEGA-credentialed Texas ministers receive recognition under Family Code §2.202, regional covering through three seated Texas Presiding Bishops, and the standing of a Spirit-filled fellowship that has carried ministers since 1976.
Texas Family Code §2.202.
The statute that authorizes AEGA-ordained Texas ministers to conduct marriage ceremonies across all 254 counties. No state registration required.
Three Texas Presiding Bishops.
Rev. Dr. Jesse Guerrero, Rev. Dr. Jason Rodriquez, and Rev. Dr. Lynn Burling. Texas-credentialed ministers carry direct fellowship with senior leadership inside the state.
Hispanic ministry oversight.
Rev. Abel Balli, Jr. serves as National Director of AEGA Hispanic Churches. Credentialing in language and cultural context across South Texas, El Paso, Houston, and DFW.
49 years of standing.
AEGA has carried Spirit-filled ministers since 1976. Texas county clerks, chaplain boards, and charter agencies recognize the credential on file.
Get Ordained · By State or Nation
Become an ordained minister wherever you serve.
Every state has its own requirements for officiating weddings, performing chaplaincy, and operating a church. We’ve mapped the path for the states most of our applicants come from.
Frequently Asked
Getting ordained in Texas, answered.
Do I need to register with Texas to officiate weddings as an ordained minister?
No. Texas Family Code §2.202 authorizes a "licensed or ordained Christian minister or priest" of any religious organization to conduct marriage ceremonies, without state-level registration. The AEGA ordination credential is sufficient in all 254 Texas counties. The minister signs the Texas marriage license after the ceremony; the county clerk records the marriage based on the signed license.
How long does AEGA ordination take in Texas?
Most AEGA credentials, including ordination, are issued within three to five weeks of a complete application. The timeline is the same in Texas as in any U.S. state. The credential review by the Credential Committee covers doctrinal alignment with the historic Spirit-filled stream AEGA has carried since 1976, references, and ministry experience.
Does AEGA recognize Hispanic and bilingual ministers in Texas?
Yes. Texas is one of AEGA's largest Hispanic-ministry regions. Rev. Abel Balli, Jr. serves as National Director of AEGA Hispanic Churches, with oversight for Spanish-speaking and bilingual ministers across South Texas, El Paso, Houston, and DFW. Credentialing, fellowship, and conference participation run in language and cultural context.
Can a Texas-ordained AEGA minister also become a chaplain?
Yes. AEGA Ordained Minister credentials are the prerequisite for chaplain endorsement. Texas hosts major military installations (Joint Base San Antonio, Fort Cavazos), federal prison facilities (Beaumont, Fort Worth, Three Rivers), and large medical systems (Houston Methodist, MD Anderson, Memorial Hermann) where AEGA-ordained Texas chaplains serve.
How does AEGA ordination compare to online ordination services in Texas?
AEGA ordination is a sacred setting-apart act inside a covenant fellowship, not a same-day certificate. AEGA requires an application, doctrinal review by the Credential Committee, a thorough review covering doctrinal alignment, references, and ministry experience, and a monthly giving commitment for Licensed and Ordained tiers. Both produce a credential a Texas county clerk will accept under Family Code §2.202; only one places the minister inside ongoing covering.
Learn more about ordination through AEGA.
Spirit-filled covenant fellowship. 49 years of continuous standing. Recognized under Texas Family Code §2.202 across all 254 counties. AEGA credentialing is the pathway for Texas ministers, chaplains, and church planters.