1. Introduction explains
Christian marriage.
Questions asked to
ensure the marriage is
legal.
2. Vows – promises which
the bride and groom make
committing themselves to
one another.
3. Rings – exchanged.
4. Official
statement for the
bride and groom are
now married.
5. Prayers
and blessings
for the couple
and then for
the whole
congregation.
6. Signing of the
marriage register, and
receiving of the
marriage certificate –
a legal requirement.
Ways in which the
ceremonies reflect and
emphasise Christian
teaching about
marriage
God made Eve as a partner
for Adam. The Adam and
Eve Creation Story teaches
that marriage is a gift from
God, and a part of God’s
plan for human beings.
“You shall not commit adultery.”
Responses to civil partnerships
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as
one does with a woman, both of them have
done what is detestable. They are to be put to
death; their blood will be on their own heads.”
(Leviticus 20:13)
"... man will leave his father and mother and be
united to his wife, and they will become one
flesh.” (Genesis 2:20-24)
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit
the Kingdom of God? Neither the sexually immoral
nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor
homosexual offenders ...” (1 Corinthians 6:8-10)
“Do not lie with a
man as one lies with a
woman; that is
detestable.” (Leviticus
18:22)
Divorce
Beliefs about the ethics of divorce and remariage
Old Testament
“I hate divorce, says the Lord.”
Jesus
Anyone who divorces his wife and a
marries another woman commits adultery
against her. And if she divorces her
husband and marries another man she
commits adultery.”
"Anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness,
causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the
divorced woman commits adultery.”
if her husband dies, she is legally a
free woman and does not commit
adultery if she marries another man.”
Sexual
relationships
and
contraception
Beliefs about sexual relationships
Jesus+Bible:
Marriage only
appropriate
place for sex.
“be fruitful
and multiply
and fill the
earth…..”
“ You
shall not
commit
adultery.”
Roman Catholic
“sex actually requires
marriage for the
realisation of its
potential.”
Beliefs about contraception
Roman Catholic
“Every marriage act
(sex) must remain open
to the transmission of
life”
Using contraception may make people
more promiscuous, preferring sex to
love, seeing others as sex objects and
not for who they are.
Sex is spoiled if it is not an expression of
love between married people, or if there is
no chance of children being conceived.
Natural
contraception is
OK
Church of England
“ This planning of the family
should be agreed by husband
and wife, and should be the
result of a positive choice
before God.”