Wedding Policies for Churches . . . Do you have one?
A pastor recently received a call from a young woman who wanted to get married in the church he served. The young woman explained that years ago, she had attended the church and that it was her and her future husband’s desire to have their wedding performed where their parents got married as well; and where their parents attended.
The pastor asked if both of them were believers (meaning if they believed that Jesus Christ gave them eternal salvation), and a after brief pause the young lady answered: “I am a believer, but my future husband is not.”
The pastor asked, if they would be willing to meet with him, especially since one of them is not a believer, and that he requires counseling before any marriage.
The woman became somewhat upset and replied that all she wanted was a wedding in the church.
You would think the story ends here, but not so. Soon after, the pastor was reminded by some Deacons of the church, that he should give in and marry them, since the parents, who were attendees heard about the conversation from their daughter and were very upset. The Deacons concern was that the entire family may leave over this “hard-headed” behavior of the pastor. The parents of the young couple also told the Deacons that another (willing) pastor should perform the wedding in the church if their pastor was not going to do it.
. . . I will leave you in suspense how the pastor reacted, but maybe this Blog is the place where we can raise and ask the following questions:
1. Is marriage a sacrament in the church you serve?
2. Will you as a pastor marry individuals, who are not saved?
3. Do you have a church policy in place? Could you spell out the key issues and points?
4. How would have you reacted to the Deacons response to the problem?
The pastor asked if both of them were believers (meaning if they believed that Jesus Christ gave them eternal salvation), and a after brief pause the young lady answered: “I am a believer, but my future husband is not.”
The pastor asked, if they would be willing to meet with him, especially since one of them is not a believer, and that he requires counseling before any marriage.
The woman became somewhat upset and replied that all she wanted was a wedding in the church.
You would think the story ends here, but not so. Soon after, the pastor was reminded by some Deacons of the church, that he should give in and marry them, since the parents, who were attendees heard about the conversation from their daughter and were very upset. The Deacons concern was that the entire family may leave over this “hard-headed” behavior of the pastor. The parents of the young couple also told the Deacons that another (willing) pastor should perform the wedding in the church if their pastor was not going to do it.
. . . I will leave you in suspense how the pastor reacted, but maybe this Blog is the place where we can raise and ask the following questions:
1. Is marriage a sacrament in the church you serve?
2. Will you as a pastor marry individuals, who are not saved?
3. Do you have a church policy in place? Could you spell out the key issues and points?
4. How would have you reacted to the Deacons response to the problem?
_______________________
| Permalink | | links to this post 
