Page 36 - BMIN191 Beginnning Internship

36 Beginning Ministerial Internship: Student Manual

The Wedding Ceremony

LESSON “‘So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together,
2.1 let man not separate’” (Matthew 19:6).

In this age, no one can deny that the institution of marriage faces a myriad of
questions: Who should be married? How committed should two people be to a
marriage? Is marriage a commitment, at all? Of the many, these particular ones
2.1.1 are the critical questions a minister will face in an effort to guide those who enter
OBJECTIVE this sacred contract.
Explain the various In many cases, the contract is no longer seen as a sacred act, ordained by God.
components of the And when God receives so little acknowledgement, the role of the minister as His
wedding ceremony.
representative may seem minimized as well. Nevertheless, the future of marriage
2.1.2 in our culture requires that ministers uphold the God-given responsibility and
OBJECTIVE continue to teach biblical precepts related to the marriage, rather than allow the
Design a complete culture to reshape their role to fit the current trends.
wedding ceremony. Though some partners often choose otherwise, the marriage ceremony still
represents the initiation of a lifelong relationship. As long as that reality continues,
2.1.3 the minister has opportunity to help define what this institution is all about.
OBJECTIVE
Be prepared to conduct The Minister’s Role
both a wedding rehearsal
and wedding ceremony. To the Community

A minister’s understanding and convictions about marriage can influence the
community. Nothing speaks of the minister’s position on marriage better than
1 When does the Bible the marriages he or she agrees to perform. The Bible teaches that marriage is
determine divorce to be an not to be entered into lightly and that certain relationships cannot be given the
acceptable action? legitimacy marriage offers. While a full discussion on homosexuality or divorce
and remarriage cannot be fulfilled here, it is advantageous for each minister to
know what the Word of God says and know, also, the guidelines stipulated by the
organizational leadership to help with decisions on what marriages to perform.
If there are no organizational guides (which should seldom be the case), the
minister needs to be well versed in the Scriptures. With the frequency of divorce
in our culture, how important it is for the spiritual leader to take as his or her
guide the teaching of the Scriptures on what circumstances permit remarriage.
The requirements placed upon the couple, by the minister who will marry
them, teach them, their families and friends, and the extended community the
value that God, reflected through His representative, places on marriage; and that
they too need to embrace. If ministers believe premarital counseling should be a
requirement for marriage, they can make this a stipulation of their involvement.
While legislating such guidelines for the entire community may be beyond the
spiritual leader’s ability, a request to perform the wedding ceremony for a couple
provides a minister a platform to say to all, “This is what I believe!”
The minister can also teach the local church biblical principles about marriage
through weekly preaching and teaching. Ministers who frequently preach on
marriage are able to help their congregations and communities grasp God’s priority
for this relationship. This is also an effective evangelism tool in the community, as
non-Christians desire successful marriages just as much as believers.
To the Couple
When a minister agrees to perform a wedding ceremony, it should be with the
understanding that it is an honor to share in this significant moment in the lives