SAMUEL'S CHURCH WEDDING POLICY

Samuel's Church wedding policy requires that couples seeking marriage in our church claim Jesus as their Savior and be committed to obeying His commands. Our reason for this is because we hold a high view of a church wedding. A couple can be married in many different places (a person's home, a park, or the office of the Justice of the Peace), but when a couple requests a church wedding, it means they want to add in the spiritual realm of honoring God. This means a church wedding is more than just a nice setting for a marriage ceremony. It is a spiritual service to God, like a worship service, and to have a church wedding without a commitment to Jesus as Savior or without obedience to His clear commands is really to play a game. It is like asking for a military wedding without having any commitment to the military. It simply would not mean anything. In the same way, we believe that asking for a church wedding while having no commitment to Jesus and obeying Him is improper.  Our policy is to reserve church weddings for those who are committed to Jesus and want to draw Him into their marriage.

Steps for Application for Marriage

1. Any couple seeking marriage in our church must first fill out a Marriage Application Form. 

2. The Pastor reviews the completed form, and if necessary, meets with the couple to discuss any unclear matters in the areas of their present relationship with God or any past divorce and remarriage.*

3. The Church Council meets to decide whether to grant the couple's request to be married in the church. 

4. Once permission has been granted from the Council, the couple must agree to attend to four pre-marital counseling sessions with the pastor and to regularly attend the worship services of Samuel's Church until the time they get married (unless special permission is granted by the Council).

5. The Pastor arranges time for the pre-marital counseling sessions:

1. First meeting: A pre-marital questionnaire is taken, and discussion is held on the completed Wedding Checklist, and on the necessity for sexual purity before marriage. 
2. Second meeting: Discussion is held on the first four marriage videos that the couple viewed for homework and on the results from the questionnaire. 
3. Third meeting: Discussion is held on the second four marriage videos that the couple viewed for homework and on the results from the questionnaire.
4. Fourth meeting:  Discussion is held on the third four marriage videos that the couple viewed for homework and on the results from the questionnaire.

6. When two or more ministers are involved in a wedding, their statement(s) of faith will be reviewed by the Council to make sure they coincide with Samuel's Church Statement of Faith.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

* See the church policy position on divorce and remarriage.