Ministerial Credentials & Legal Authority

Reverend Ben Cooper – Ordained ELIM Minister | Accredited Life Celebrant | UK Marriage Authority

As a fully ordained Christian minister and trained celebrant, Reverend Ben Cooper brings a depth of experience, compassion, and legal authority to every ceremony. Backed by formal accreditations from ELIM Church Incorporated, the Assemblies of God (AOG), and the ELIM Training & Coaching Academy, Ben offers more than just ceremony services — he brings spiritual leadership, professional training, and legal recognition across the UK.

Whether you're planning a wedding, a funeral, or a deeply personal life ceremony, you deserve someone who is fully qualified, legally authorised, and pastorally gifted.

 Certificate of Ordination – ELIM Church Incorporated

Reverend Ben Cooper is an ordained minister through ELIM Church Incorporated, a globally recognised Christian denomination with over 500 churches in the UK.

Being ordained through ELIM means:

• ✅ Ben is legally authorised to conduct Christian marriage ceremonies in accordance with UK law
• ✅ His ministry is backed by a recognised, regulated church body 
• ✅ He provides spiritually grounded services with full integrity and biblical understanding
   

“Ordination through ELIM gives me the honour and the responsibility to serve families and couples with faith, compassion, and professionalism.”
— Rev. Ben Cooper 

Chaplaincy Training & Pastoral Care Qualifications

Ben is also certified in Christian chaplaincy and pastoral ministry through:

Training in emotional care, crisis response, prayer ministry, and end-of-life spiritual support within church and community settings.

Accreditation through the AOG movement, equipping Ben with cross-denominational tools for hospital visits, bereavement support, and ceremonial guidance.

These qualifications allow Ben to minister during:

• Funerals & memorials
• Hospital/hospice visits 
• Grief and bereavement support
• Special blessings and dedications
   

 ELIM Leadership Training

As part of his spiritual growth and ministry readiness, Ben has completed the ELIM Leadership Training Programme, covering:

• Pastoral responsibility
• Biblical communication
• Ethical leadership
• Servant-hearted ministry
  This training shapes every ceremony Ben leads — offering people not just a speaker, but a shepherd.
   

 ELIM Training & Coaching Academy Accreditation

Ben is also a certified graduate of the ELIM Training & Coaching Academy, a national programme that develops Christian leaders in:

• Strategic thinking 
• Ministry coaching
• Personal development
• Accountability in leadership
   

This accreditation reflects Ben’s ongoing commitment to growth as a celebrant, pastor, and spiritual guide.

 Legal Authority to Conduct Christian Marriages in the UK

Unlike independent celebrants, Reverend Ben Cooper holds the legal right to conduct Christian weddings that are recognised under UK marriage law, through his ordination with ELIM Church.

 Here’s what this means for couples:

• You don’t need a separate civil ceremony at a registry office
• Ben works with the local registrar to ensure the marriage is legally recorded
• Your wedding can be both faith-filled and legally binding
• Ceremonies can be conducted in ELIM-registered buildings or other approved venues
• You can say “we were married by our minister” — and it’s legally recognised
  

This makes Reverend Ben one of the few celebrants who combines:

• Christian pastoral care 
• Legal marriage authority
• Customised, personal ceremonies