Why we exist
For too many people, the available paths to ordination come with baggage — institutions whose histories are entwined with exclusion, colonialism, and patriarchal control. If you're LGBTQIA2+, or if you simply don't subscribe to a worldview that was built to exclude people like your friends and family, your options have been limited.
Church of Pride is the alternative. We ordain ministers who believe love is for everyone — so that when two people want to stand in front of their community and make a promise, the person at the front of the room actually believes they should be there.
“You shouldn't have to subscribe to a worldview that was built to exclude you just so you can stand at the altar and tell two people they're married.”
Statement of Beliefs
As ministers and members of the Church of Pride, we affirm the following tenets:
Love is sacred and belongs to everyone.
Every couple deserves to have their union celebrated and legally recognized, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, or background.
All people have the right to officiate love.
The authority to solemnize a marriage should not be gatekept by institutions rooted in exclusion.
Dignity is inherent and universal.
Every person possesses worth that cannot be diminished. We stand against discrimination in all its forms.
Faith is personal.
We honor the spiritual autonomy of every individual. Our ministers are free to define their own beliefs and practices within the framework of these tenets.
By seeking ordination through the Church of Pride, you affirm these tenets as your own. These beliefs form the foundation of our ministry and guide every ordination we confer.
What we actually do
The mechanics are simple: you fill out a form, pay a one-time fee of $20, and receive a certificate of ordination as a minister of the Church of Pride. That ordination is valid for life and intended to authorize you to officiate weddings in accordance with applicable laws.
But what we really do is give people permission — not from us, but from themselves. Permission to be the one who stands up and says, “I believe in your love, and I'm honored to make it official.”
Simple, transparent, yours.
Most ordination providers bury their pricing, charge for renewals, and upsell “letter of good standing” packages and premium credential tiers. We think that's unnecessary complexity. With Church of Pride, you know exactly what you're getting before you pay: ordination, a certificate, and the authority to go marry people.
You pay $20, you get ordained, you get your certificate. That's the whole deal — one time, valid for life, no follow-up fees, no “suggested donations.”
When you get ordained through the Church of Pride, you're sending a message. Not just that you believe in love — but that you don't need an institution wrapped in centuries of tradition and exclusion to say so.
Who we're for
Everyone. Church of Pride is for LGBTQIA2+ people who want an affirming path to ordination. It's for allies who want to stand with their community. It's for people who've left organized religion and people who never joined. It's for the spiritual and the secular, the devout and the questioning.
The only thing we ask is that you believe in the dignity of all people and the right of every couple to be married by someone who celebrates their union.
