§2-406
Maryland Marriage Law
24
Counties (23 plus Baltimore City)
49 yrs
Continuous Standing
3-5 wks
Credentialing
Maryland Ordination Through AEGA
Recognized credentials, no state registration.
Maryland is a "no state registration" state for marriage officiants. Maryland Family Law §2-406 authorizes any ordained minister 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 Maryland 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. The credential satisfies Maryland Family Law §2-406 for conducting marriages in any of the 24 counties (23 plus Baltimore City). AEGA is not a denomination; it is a covenant fellowship of ministers credentialing ministers.
Who AEGA Credentials in Maryland
Six common Maryland ordination pathways.
AEGA carries credentialed ministers across every region of Maryland, from Baltimore, the Washington suburbs, Annapolis, and the Eastern Shore. The six profiles below describe the most common ministers applying for AEGA credentials in the state.
Senior pastors of Maryland congregations.
Lead pastors carrying ordination through AEGA across Baltimore, the Washington suburbs, Annapolis, and the Eastern Shore. The credential names the holder as an ordained minister of a Spirit-filled fellowship in continuous standing since 1976.
Maryland church planters and bivocational pastors.
Ministers starting new works inside Maryland cities. AEGA's 501(c)(3) charter and ordained credential satisfy the religious-organization recognition new churches need.
Maryland chaplains needing the ordination prerequisite.
Hospital, hospice, federal-prison, and law-enforcement chaplains. Endorsing-agency status with AEGA covers every federal track and most state and municipal chaplaincy programs.
Wedding officiants across Maryland.
Ministers whose call includes officiating weddings across Maryland. The AEGA credential is recognized in all 24 counties (23 plus Baltimore City) under §2-406.
Ministers transferring credentials into AEGA.
Pastors and ministers moving from another fellowship or denomination into AEGA. The Credential Committee reviews prior standing and places the minister at the appropriate tier.
Bivocational and second-career ministers.
Maryland ministers carrying ordination alongside other vocational work. AEGA's Licensed and Ordained tiers fit both full-time pastors and ministers in marketplace ministry.
Credential Pathways for Maryland Ministers
Credentialing tracks under one Spirit-filled fellowship.
AEGA carries four ministerial tiers. Maryland applicants begin at the tier that matches their call.
Ministerial Apprentice.
The formation tier for ministers preparing for Licensed or Ordained credential. Twelve to twenty-four months under a local pastor. 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 plus $50 annual renewal. Open to ministers in any city.
Licensed Minister.
For ministers in part-time or full-time ministry with limited experience. Authorizes preaching, marriage officiation, 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 ministerial standing.
Why AEGA in Maryland
A covenant fellowship for the long career of Maryland ministry.
AEGA-credentialed Maryland ministers receive recognition under Maryland Family Law §2-406, regional covering through AEGA's Presiding Bishops, and the standing of a Spirit-filled fellowship that has carried ministers since 1976.
Maryland Family Law §2-406.
The Maryland statute that authorizes AEGA-ordained ministers to conduct marriage ceremonies. No state registration required.
Recognized across 24 counties (23 plus Baltimore City).
Maryland ministers carrying AEGA credentials serve in Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, and Frederick, and every smaller community across the state.
49 years of standing.
AEGA has carried Spirit-filled ministers since 1976. Maryland clerks, chaplain boards, and charter agencies recognize the credential on file.
Covenant fellowship, not a denomination.
AEGA is a Spirit-filled covenant fellowship of ministers credentialing ministers. Maryland ministers carry standing without surrendering local-church autonomy.
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 Maryland, answered.
Do I need to register with Maryland to officiate weddings as an ordained minister?
No. Maryland Family Law §2-406 authorizes ordained ministers of a religious organization to conduct marriage ceremonies, without state-level registration. The AEGA ordination credential is sufficient in all 24 counties (23 plus Baltimore City). The minister signs the Maryland marriage license after the ceremony; the county clerk records the marriage based on the signed license.
How long does AEGA ordination take in Maryland?
Most AEGA credentials, including ordination, are issued within three to five weeks of a complete application. The timeline is the same in Maryland as in any U.S. state. The Credential Committee review covers doctrinal alignment with the historic Spirit-filled stream AEGA has carried since 1976, references, and ministry experience.
What is the difference between AEGA ordination and a Maryland online ordination?
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, references, and ministry experience, plus a monthly giving commitment for Licensed and Ordained tiers. Both produce a credential a Maryland clerk will accept under §2-406; only one places the minister inside ongoing covering.
Can a Maryland-ordained AEGA minister also become a chaplain?
Yes. AEGA Ordained Minister credentials are the prerequisite for chaplain endorsement. Maryland hosts federal, state, and municipal chaplaincy roles in hospitals, prisons, and law-enforcement agencies where AEGA-ordained ministers serve.
Can I transfer my existing ordination into AEGA in Maryland?
Yes. Ministers carrying ordination from another fellowship or denomination may apply to transfer credentials into AEGA. The Credential Committee reviews prior standing, doctrinal alignment, and ministry record, and places the minister at the appropriate tier. Maryland ministers follow the same transfer pathway as ministers in any other state.
Learn more about ordination through AEGA.
Spirit-filled covenant fellowship. 49 years of continuous standing. Recognized under Maryland Family Law §2-406 across all 24 counties (23 plus Baltimore City). AEGA credentialing is the pathway for Maryland ministers, chaplains, and church planters.