Some University students and faculty members are more than spiritually active — 115 of them are certified ministers.

Online organizations such as the nonprofit Universal Life Church Monastery allow anyone to become an ordained minister in about five minutes without previous religious affiliation or training. Once ordained, ministers are able to legally perform wedding, baptismal and burial ceremonies in most states.

Universal Life Church Monastery gives many students the opportunity to become ordained ministers in about five minutes.

Alex Trahan, a sophomore international affairs and history major from Baton Rouge, La., said he and a friend were ordained online in a matter of minutes but have not performed any ceremonies.

“It was on a lark. A friend of mine was all for doing it,” Trahan said. ”It was my freshman year, and I figured it was a great time to explore my spirituality.”

The ULC Monastery has ordained up to 700 people in a single day and more than 300,000 people since it was founded in 2006.

Students usually decide to become ordained in order to perform weddings for friends and family members, said ULC Monastery spokesman Andy Fulton.

“Easily the best aspect of the ULC Monastery ordination for college students is that it allows them to perform informal, fun and inexpensive weddings for their friends and family,” Fulton said.

Trahan said he would advise online ordained ministers to register with the county before performing a wedding.

Online ordination is free, but in order to legally perform marriages Athens-Clarke County requires an ordination certificate on file.

Online ministries usually charge about $10 for a hardcopy of the certificate. Ministers ordained through the ULC Monastery can order a copy of their credential for around $7.

Fulton said the ULC Monastery charges fees for the paperwork to cover expenses and stay in operation.

Michael Bryson, a junior English major from Watkinsville, said he decided to become ordained in 2009 after learning about the process on an episode of Monster Garage.

“I found out I could be legally ordained online,” Bryson said. ”One of my friends got married and spent around $400 on an officiator. I found out online it was very easy and free.”

He said he has since performed two marriages for friends.

“One was a rushed job because the bride had cancer and was terminal, and they couldn’t afford anything else,” Bryson said. “The other was for a former employee. The preacher refused to perform the ceremony because she was pregnant.”

One of the ULC Monastery’s goals is supporting the fight for marriage equality in the United States. Online ordained ministers are able to perform weddings regardless of religious background, Fulton said.

Bryson said he would recommend becoming legally ordained as a student.

“Since it’s free, I think everyone should do it,” he said. “Performing a wedding is a very different experience.”