The PCO
About Us
The Provenance Center (The PCO) is a modern, nonprofit religious corporation devoted to empowering individuals to lead significant ceremonies that celebrate life’s most meaningful moments.
The Provenance Center (The PCO) is a modern, nonprofit religious corporation devoted to empowering individuals to lead significant ceremonies that celebrate life’s most meaningful moments.
Welcome to The Provenance Center (The PCO), a modern, nonprofit religious corporation devoted to empowering individuals to lead significant ceremonies that celebrate life’s most meaningful moments. While we are predominantly digital, we are a legally incorporated church, not unlike in structure to your local Synagogue, Temple, Mosque or Church. We provide services and resources to those who wish to approach weddings and other life milestones with authenticity, dignity, and personalization. Our approach is rooted in inclusivity, modern innovation, and the timeless power of words to connect and uplift.
At The Provenance Center, we celebrate the moments that define us, bringing people together through the shared language of love, commitment, and celebration. Whether you are seeking ordination, resources, or a community that values authenticity and connection, we invite you to join us on this journey of meaningful expression and shared purpose. The Provenance Center champions inclusion, empowering individuals to honor life’s milestones with authenticity and dignity. Through our work, we seek to build bridges across traditions, fostering a more connected and compassionate society.
We are a bona fide church, rooted in the belief that rituals hold the power to bridge emotion and expression. Just as Synagogues, Churches and Mosques serve as spiritual homes, The PCO provides a sanctuary for those who wish to craft meaningful ceremonies without being confined by traditional structures. For example, our leaders and our broader community have collaboratively coalesced for our community’s use the internet’s largest and most complete library of Readings & Rituals, spanning almost all faiths, cultural and ethnic backgrounds to better support our ever-increasingly interfaith and secularizing, pluralistic society.
At The Provenance Center, we believe in the profound importance of celebrating life’s thresholds through rituals that resonate deeply with those involved. Throughout history, ceremonies have marked humanity’s greatest milestones, from marriage to rites of passage. These rituals transcend time and culture, underscoring our collective need for connection, stability, and celebration. The Provenance Center is proud to continue this tradition by empowering individuals to officiate meaningful ceremonies that honor these timeless principles with authenticity, equality, and creativity. Through ordination, education, and community support, we enable officiants to lead ceremonies that reflect the unique values and identities of all participants while providing support for their couples and the broader community.
Our creed emphasizes the transformative power of ceremonies to mark life’s milestones. We believe every person and relationship is unique, and our role is to ensure that these moments are celebrated with the reverence they deserve. At The Provenance Center, we believe that marriage is a sacred rite and a cornerstone of human connection. It embodies love, equality, and the creation of a shared future, uniting individuals in a profound and timeless commitment. Marriage, as a sacred institution, has been a focal point in humanity’s pursuit of justice and equality. From ancient traditions to modern movements like marriage equality, it reflects our collective progress toward a more inclusive society. Our mission is to ensure that this sacred bond is accessible to all, celebrated with authenticity and reverence. Whether adapting traditions or creating new ones, our community is dedicated to supporting the self-expression and meaningful connections that define these occasions. Our foundational beliefs are further explored in our guides and educational materials, which provide a consistent framework for the implementation of our principles and practices.
The Provenance Center operates with a clear and distinct ecclesiastical structure. Our board of directors, composed of experienced officiants and wedding professionals, oversees the organization’s mission and ensures compliance with legal and ethical standards. With over a decade of experience officiating weddings and counseling others, our leadership brings unparalleled expertise and dedication to guiding our community. These leaders are ordained ministers themselves, actively contributing to the development of our resources and supporting our community of officiants. Founded to address the modern need for personalized, inclusive ceremonies, The Provenance Center and its partners have been empowering individuals for years. What began as a vision to support friends and family officiants has evolved into a vibrant and diverse community.
We provide comprehensive education and resources to prepare our ministers for their roles. Our training includes highly-regarded monthly webinars, a thorough Minister Manual, and a wealth of digital tools and literature designed to help officiants craft ceremonies that are both meaningful and legally sound. Further, we have ensured all ministers of The PCO receive significant discounts to the relevant offerings facilitated by our supporting partner, Provenance. Every minister ordained through The PCO commits to upholding our principles of authenticity, equality, and personalized celebration.
Ordination through The Provenance Center is not merely a formality. Ordained ministers of The Provenance Center are more than officiants; they are leaders who inspire, uplift, and guide their communities through life’s most meaningful moments. Candidates for ordination must affirm our principles and engage with our educational materials to ensure they are prepared to lead ceremonies with integrity. This process reflects our commitment to equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools to officiate ceremonies that honor diverse traditions, backgrounds, and beliefs. For weddings and beyond, our ministers bring communities together to celebrate life’s pivotal moments.
The Provenance Center also maintains a distinct body of literature and educational content, authored by our board and contributors, which outlines our religious practices (inclusive of accommodation for diverse backgrounds), codes of conduct, and ceremony guidance. These resources ensure our ministers are guided by a shared set of values and standards, fostering consistency and excellence in their roles.
Our congregation is a diverse and dynamic community of ministers, members, and supporters. Though our primary connection is through digital platforms, our impact reaches far beyond virtual spaces. Every weekend, thousands of our ministers officiate ceremonies attended by hundreds of thousands of guests, creating ripple effects of celebration and connection. Our congregation consists of the communities that gather during ceremonies officiated by our ministers, as well as those who engage with our digital forums, resources, and webinars. Whether in person or online, these gatherings embody the spirit of connection and community – regardless of the background or tradition we may each arrive with – that defines our shared purpose and faith.
We do not confine our worship to a single physical space. Instead, we embrace the collective effervescence of coming together, whether online or in-person, to celebrate life’s milestones. Our ceremonies follow a structured yet flexible format, featuring personalized speeches, rituals, and readings that honor the individuality of those involved. These gatherings embody our shared purpose: to uplift and unite through the power of ritual and community.
Membership at The Provenance Center is open to individuals who commit to our principles and values. Members gain access to our educational resources (along with aforementioned discounted access to our partner Provenance’s tools), participate in discussions, and contribute to the ongoing development of our community. Our directory of registered ministers ensures accountability, while our educational initiatives foster continuous growth and excellence. Additionally, members regularly engage in webinars, forums, and other digital events, creating a vibrant and active congregation.
As a nonprofit religious organization, The Provenance Center is dedicated to serving its members with integrity and inclusivity. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds, creating a congregation that is as diverse and vibrant as the ceremonies we support. Our commitment to diversity extends to embracing individuals who may maintain affiliations with other denominations or traditions, reflecting the modern, pluralistic society we serve. And our commitment to equality and justice is reflected in our efforts to support underserved communities and provide resources for individuals to lead ceremonies that honor our collective diversity. We have campaigned and invested toward protecting our collective right to marry and celebrate whomever we love.
