Clergy Renewal of Standing & Ordination

A man standing at a podium with a woman standing beside him

OUnI is an ecclesiastical home for Interfaith clergy and provides them with appropriate credentials as well as logistical, educational and spiritual support.

OUnI calls and ordains qualified persons to carry out its ministry in the world and also grants ecclesiastical standing to qualified persons who were previously ordained through an Interfaith seminary or through a different faith tradition and who otherwise meet the standards set forth by OUnI for ordination.

There are four paths acceptable at this time:

  1.  An accredited Master’s degree from a seminary program in theology or a related field.
  2.  Graduation from an approved interfaith seminary.
  3.  In keeping with United States federal law for its chaplaincies, five years of ministry experience as a spiritual community leader can be sufficient without any graduation or formal education, apart from an accredited Bachelor’s degree.
  4. Community-endorsed or ordained spiritual leader to an OUnI approved member community.

If the applicant desires OUnI endorsement for some professional clergy positions such as chaplaincy, then a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) may be required solely for that qualification. Each chaplaincy path has different training and entry requirements. The committee for clergy endorsement will work with all applicants to ensure that their needs, and the needs of the professional body, are supported.

Since 2010, the Order has worked with the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and has been the onsite coordinator and host of that organization’s annual Interfaith breakfast during their national conferences. The Order is an approved endorsing agent for APC. OUnI has already ordained and endorsed chaplains to support first responder and disaster chaplaincy programs. It is now seeking approval for United States federal endorser status.

Eco-ministry is a unique form of clergy status that OUnI first ordained into the world in 2014. Each individual will have to demonstrate an exceptional background in the physical or Earth sciences, or some other related field, along with a call to spiritual service during the application process.