Marriage Presentation
Jackie Harper
April 25th, 2009
Agenda
„
„
„
„
„
„
„
Introduction
Earliest Memory of Marriage
Biblical Marriages and Families
Marriage through History (a brief
overview)
i )
Qualities of Marriage
The United Church of Canada
Canada’ss
Commitment to Marriage
Questions
Introduction
Definitions:
„ Polygamy
yg y
– Having more than one spouse at a time.
„
Monogamy
– The p
practice of remaining
g faithful,,
sexually, to one person at a time. Also
refers to having one spouse at a time.
Earliest Memory
y of
Marriage
Think of your earliest memory of
marriage
g …
Biblical Marriages
g and
Families
„
Remember your
favourite biblical
character – name
anything you know
about their
marriage and/or
family
„
Forms of marriage
in the biblical story
–
–
–
–
–
–
Monogamy
Polygamy
C
Concubines
bi
Levirate
Interfaith
InterInter-racial…
Marriage
g through
g History
y
(a brief overview)
Roman World
„ Only freed people could marry
„ Consent to each other constituted
marriage
Marriage
g through
g History
y
(a brief overview)
Early Christian World
„ Jesus challenge of divorce practices
„ Calling marriage to be grounded in love
„ Church had very little involvement in marriage
till middle ages
„ Focus of marriage still on consent of the
partners
„ Early church did not define marriage or
prescribe it’s celebration, rather it assumed its
existence and its legal recognition in the society
of the time and place
Marriage
g through
g History
y
(a brief overview)
10th Century
„ 950 CE reference to blessing of a
marriage
Marriage
g through
g History
y
(a brief overview)
Middle Ages
„ Church wanting more control of sexual
conduct
„ Marriage becomes a sacrament (though
Augustine
g
notes the sacramental nature
of
f marriage
i
much
h earlier)
li )
„ What constitutes marriage is a public
ceremony,
ceremony banns issued,
issued couple consents
„ The religious ceremony was meant to be
public – granting status
Marriage
g through
g History
y
(a brief overview)
Reformation
„ Church increases control over
marriage and divorce
„ Public ceremony in a church – clergy
officiate (the clergy act at the
behest of the state)
„ 1753 British Marriage Act
Marriage
g through
g History
y
(a brief overview)
Canadian History
„ 1793 – Anglican clergy given right to
officiate
ffi i t att marriages
i
„ 1829 – Congregationalist clergy given
right to officiate at marriages
„ 1857 – ordained ministers given right to
officiate
ff
at m
marriages
g
„ 2006 – same
same--sex marriage is included in
the marriage legislation
Qualities of Marriage
Name 10 qualities of marriage you feel
are essential for a healthy
y lifelifegiving marriage …
The UCC
Commitment to Marriage
„
„
„
„
Intent that marriage is a lifelife-long commitment
Providing resources to help prepare couples for
marriage: Passion and Freedom
Freedom, Celebrate God’s
God s
Presence, Together in Faith …
Understanding that marriage is a worship
service the body
service,
b d responsible
resp nsible for
f r the
worshipping life of the congregation has
responsibility for marriage policies
The
h UCC asked
k d the
h government to recognize
same--sex marriage in the marriage legislation
same
The UCC
Commitment to Marriage
The congregation may …
„ Set marriage
g policies
p
„ Provide marriage preparation
programs
p
g
„ Celebrate services of marriage
„ Provide on
on--going support to couples
„ Offer marriage enrichment
programs/ opportunities
Questions
Closing Litany
adapted from Joy is our Banquet by Keri K. Wehlander
One: Ever creating God, Lover of diversity,
in the beginning … there was variety
blues and red,
red yellows and greens;
firs and aspens, oaks and birches;
ravens and swallows,, finches and herons;;
lakes and oceans, ponds and rivers;
mountains and mesas and valleys and plains;
cougars and
d zebras
b
and
d squirrels
i l and
d sheep;
h
dandelions, daffodils, orchids and roses.
All: And, indeed, it was very good!
One: Ever creating God, Lover of diversity,
from the beginning, we in your image
have also come in many varieties
different shapes, colours and genders.
g
of
All: And at times we have created categories
“acceptable” and “unacceptable” people.
One: Ever creating God, Lover of diversity
teach us to honour that which we are.
Enable us to love in your image.
All: Remind us of the extravagance of your grace.
Help us to remember that all people have equal worth in your
sight.
That we are all created in the image of God
God.
That you accept the uniqueness and beauty of every
individual.
You love us as we are while you yearn for us to be more.
You invite us to extend this kind of love to those who
challenge our compassion and our patience.
One: Ever creating God, Lover of diversity
may we believe that in your love there is room
enough for everyone.
everyone
All: May we trust in your love for us
May we honour creation’s diversity
May we live as people united in your love and care
for all of your creation.
May we journey together in peace
today and all our days. Amen.