§36-3-301
Tennessee Code Annotated
95
Tennessee Counties
49 yrs
Continuous Standing
3-5 wks
Credentialing
Tennessee Ordination Through AEGA
Recognized credentials. Online ordinations excluded by statute.
Tennessee is the strictest state in the union for marriage officiants. T.C.A. §36-3-301 requires that the officiant be a minister, preacher, pastor, priest, rabbi or other spiritual leader of a religious group that considers them as such, ordained by such a group. Tennessee courts have explicitly excluded same-day, online-only ordination services from satisfying this standard. AEGA is a recognized religious body that has carried Spirit-filled ministers since 1976 through a Credential Committee review process. AEGA ordination is the kind Tennessee courts accept.
AEGA Ordained Minister credentials in Tennessee name the holder as an ordained minister of AEGA Ministries International, a Spirit-filled covenant fellowship that has functioned as a credentialing body since 1976. The ordination process is traditional: written application, doctrinal review by the Credential Committee, references, and a 3 to 5 week issuance period. This satisfies T.C.A. §36-3-301 where online same-day ordinations do not. AEGA is not a denomination; it is a covenant fellowship of ministers credentialing ministers, and AEGA carries the institutional standing Tennessee statute requires.
Who AEGA Credentials in Tennessee
Six common Tennessee ordination pathways.
Tennessee is one of the most actively credentialed AEGA territories because of the state's strict officiant rules. The state hosts a strong concentration of AEGA-credentialed ministry across Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga.
Senior pastors of Tennessee congregations.
Lead pastors carrying ordination through AEGA across Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Jackson, and the Volunteer State communities that have grown Spirit-filled ministry for generations.
Ministers replacing online ordinations.
Tennessee ministers who previously held online same-day ordinations and need a credential the state accepts under §36-3-301. AEGA traditional credentialing through the Credential Committee meets the statutory standard.
Tennessee church planters and bivocational pastors.
Ministers starting new works inside Tennessee cities and rural counties. AEGA does not require denominational membership; the covenant fellowship covering is available to planters from any background.
Ministers transferring credentials into AEGA.
Pastors and ministers moving from another fellowship or unaffiliated standing into AEGA. The credential review honors prior ordination while bringing the minister into AEGA covering.
Tennessee chaplains needing the ordination prerequisite.
Hospital, hospice, Fort Campbell, federal-prison, TDOC, and law-enforcement chaplain candidates whose endorsing body requires denominational or fellowship ordination before endorsement.
Wedding officiants across Tennessee.
Ministers whose call includes officiating weddings across Tennessee counties. AEGA ordination is the kind Tennessee courts accept under §36-3-301 because the credential comes from a recognized religious body, not a same-day online service.
Credential Pathways for Tennessee Ministers
Four credentialing tracks under one Spirit-filled fellowship.
AEGA carries four ministerial tiers. 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. Tennessee 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 Tennessee city.
Licensed Minister.
For ministers in part-time or full-time ministry with limited experience. Authorizes preaching, marriage officiation under T.C.A. §36-3-301, 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 Tennessee ministerial standing.
Why AEGA in Tennessee
A covenant fellowship for the long career of Tennessee ministry.
AEGA-credentialed Tennessee ministers carry the institutional ordination Tennessee statute requires, regional covering through the Presiding Bishop, and the standing of a Spirit-filled fellowship that has carried ministers since 1976.
T.C.A. §36-3-301.
The strictest officiant statute in the country. Tennessee courts have excluded online same-day ordinations. AEGA traditional credentialing through the Credential Committee satisfies the statute.
Institutional standing since 1976.
AEGA has functioned as a credentialing body for 49 years. Tennessee courts have ruled against newer, online-only services and accepted ordinations from established religious bodies. AEGA is the kind of body §36-3-301 has in view.
Credential Committee review.
Every AEGA ordination is reviewed by a Credential Committee covering doctrinal alignment with the historic Spirit-filled stream AEGA has carried since 1976, references, and ministry experience. The process matters in Tennessee.
49 years of standing.
AEGA has carried Spirit-filled ministers since 1976. Tennessee 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 Tennessee, answered.
Is online ordination valid in Tennessee?
Tennessee courts have explicitly excluded same-day, online-only ordinations from satisfying T.C.A. §36-3-301. The state requires the officiant to be a minister of a religious group that considers them as such, ordained by such a group. AEGA traditional credentialing through the Credential Committee meets the standard; many online same-day services do not.
How does AEGA satisfy Tennessee §36-3-301?
AEGA is a religious body that has functioned as a credentialing fellowship since 1976. Ordination is granted through written application, doctrinal review by the Credential Committee, references, and a 3 to 5 week issuance period. AEGA-credentialed ministers are considered as such by the AEGA fellowship and ordained by it. This is the kind of ordination Tennessee statute and case law have in view.
How long does AEGA ordination take in Tennessee?
Most AEGA credentials, including ordination, are issued within three to five weeks of a complete application. The timeline is the same in Tennessee as in any U.S. state. The Credential Committee review covers doctrinal alignment, references, and ministry experience. The process matters more in Tennessee than in any other state.
Can a Tennessee-ordained AEGA minister also become a chaplain?
Yes. AEGA Ordained Minister credentials are the prerequisite for chaplain endorsement. Tennessee hosts Fort Campbell, the Tennessee Department of Correction, federal prison facilities, VA medical centers, and major medical systems including Vanderbilt and Methodist where AEGA-ordained Tennessee chaplains serve.
What if I was previously ordained by an online service in Tennessee?
Many Tennessee ministers come to AEGA after discovering their online ordination is not accepted by Tennessee courts. AEGA offers a traditional credentialing path that satisfies §36-3-301. Submit an application, the Credential Committee reviews doctrinal alignment, references, and ministry experience, and the credential is typically issued within three to five weeks. Prior ordinations are honored in the review even when they do not satisfy Tennessee statute.
Learn more about ordination through AEGA.
Spirit-filled covenant fellowship. 49 years of continuous standing. Tennessee's strict §36-3-301 standard requires the kind of ordination AEGA offers, not the kind online services do. AEGA credentialing is the pathway for Tennessee ministers, chaplains, and church planters.