Marriage Guidelines
Basic Principles

It is our desire that your marriage be the happiest relationship possible, and that it be all God intended it to be.

God created man and woman and from the beginning intended that they be joined in marriage so that each might give what the other lacked alone. Since God designed the marriage relationship, it makes sense that He knows best how to build a happy marriage.

As we read His Word, we are able to discern basic principles which must be understood and applied if we hope to experience joy and fulfillment in marriage. Ignoring these principles will result in frustration and possible failure in the marriage relationship.

Because we are committed to building strong marriages, we want to share the following guidelines. Our purpose is not to condemn or reject anyone, but to comply with God’s principles for marriage.

1. We advise you to come into our marriage preparation process as soon as you are thinking seriously of being married or well before you set a wedding date.
2. We encourage a minimum of four months of marital preparation.
3. Couples who desire to be married at Manchester Christian Church are to meet with a marriage mentor.
4. Couples being married at Manchester Christian must have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ as Leader and Forgiver and must be committed to establishing a Christian home.
5. Divorced persons may be considered for marriage at Manchester Christian Church should they meet one of these Biblical criteria...
   a. former spouse is deceased (Romans 7:2, I Corinthians 7:39)
   b. divorce accompanied sexual unfaithfulness (Matthew 19:3-9)
   c. former spouse initiated divorce and has remarried (Romans 7:3)
   
   If a divorced person answers negatively in all cases, a meeting with a panel of elders may be arranged if desired by the couple to consider their individual case.
   
   No remarriages after divorce of a spouse will be performed until at least one year has passed from the time the divorce is finalized.
   
   
6. In case of premarital pregnancy, the marriage may or may not be performed depending on the maturity of the persons involved and other considerations.
7. Engaged couples who are planning a wedding ceremony with us must remain celibate and not live together during the entire planning process.
8. Couples who are cohabitating* and are unable to establish separate residences will be asked to marry immediately. The couple might consider having a more formal wedding ceremony for family and friends if it is held within six months of the marriage. This ceremony would be subject to all MCC Wedding Policies.
9. No minister on the MCC staff will marry a couple if another minister of the church has refused to perform the ceremony based on spiritual reasons.
10. We do not marry couples if either person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs (other than those prescribed by a doctor) before or during the rehearsal and/or wedding. Any member of the wedding party who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted to participate in the wedding.

*Although cohabitation is a widespread practice, numerous studies have shown it to be a destructive influence on the stability and sustainability of marriages. Sexual intimacy and cohabitation are blessings reserved for couples who have declared and sealed their life-long commitment through marriage. We invite you to discuss your particular situation with one of our Pastors who can help you decide how best to proceed.

Weddings at MCC, click here (pdf)