Cibus Mission presented itself as a modern, explicitly inclusive religious organization with a clear focus on marriage equality and community service. I selected the $50 “Premium Officiant” package, primarily because it included two things that matter in Virginia clerk interactions: a physical certificate and a Letter of Good Standing, both suitable for in-person filing.

The purchase flow was unusual. The credential package was available—and processed—before completing the ordination application itself. Within minutes of payment, I received an email confirming the order along with digital copies of both the certificate and the letter, even though the formal ordination form appeared further down the page. Physical credentials were scheduled to ship within 3–5 business days, with PDFs delivered immediately.

The ordination application required confirmation that I was over 18 and explicit agreement to a short list of tenets, including:

• A belief in sustenance (“Cibus”) for mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being
• Affirmation that Love is Love
• A commitment to solemnize marriages in good faith
• Recognition of marriage rights for two consenting adults
• The principle that adults called to serve as officiants should be permitted to do so

Once submitted, the ordination was approved, and I was issued a Letter of Good Standing dated January 20, 2026, signed by the Executive Director, Denise N. Cintron. The letter explicitly authorizes registration with city, county, or state agencies, confirms 501(c)(3) public charity status, and states that I am authorized to solemnize marriages and perform religious services. A minister’s certificate number (1000-0201) was issued, with the notable condition that credentials must be renewed annually.

That renewal requirement is the primary drawback. While the documentation is thorough, clear, and professionally presented—and the organization maintains formal records—the annual renewal creates an ongoing obligation that does not exist for most traditional brick-and-mortar clergy. From a legal-comparison standpoint, it reinforces how modern or nontraditional religious bodies are often held to procedural standards that legacy institutions are not.

Still, from a paperwork perspective alone, Cibus Mission provided one of the fastest, most explicit, and clerk-friendly sets of documents I’ve encountered so far—complete with a named executive officer, nonprofit status, and direct contact information.

Arrival

January 28, 2028

The package arrived on my doorstep eight days later. It was addressed to “Officiant Lewis Moten,” in a large yellow envelope with the words “Do Not Bend” written in a black Sharpie. Along with the certificate and letter of good standing, a thin piece of foam board was also included to prevent the package from bending. The documents themselves appear on lightly yellowed paper, unlike the digital ones.