The Meaning of Marriage in our Community
We are delighted that you are considering St. John’s as a place to celebrate your wedding. Our sanctuary is a sacred place that invokes the blessings and love of the Holy Spirit. We are a progressive Christian community, affirming of individuals and families of all shapes and sizes, with a strong tradition of a biblical commitment to justice and peace. Our motivation and identity are birthed and sustained primarily through meeting the presence of God in worship.
We believe that marriage is a gift God has given to humankind for the well being of family. Marriage is also a civil contract between a couple. The presiding minister usually plays a dual role of civil servant and Spirit facilitator. For Christians, marriage is a spiritual commitment of life-long love between two people, blessed by God and witnessed by family and the congregation.
While some couples choose to use our facility, others also enlist one of our ministers in officiating. If one of our ministers is officiating, there are certain things couples should be aware of. First and foremost, the spiritual role is primary for the ministers of St. John’s. This means we will perform weddings in accordance with the theology of our faith community regardless of whether it is recognized by the State. Here at St. John’s we believe God affirms the commitment of love between two people regardless of gender. All couples are held to the same standard.
If a couple is to be married by one of our ministers, at least one of the two to be married must be a member of the Presbyterian church (you are welcome to join St. John’s if you are not already a member of another church). In addition, the couple must attend premarital counseling. All relationships have both positive and negative aspects and we are all in need of God’s grace. The counseling will enable the minister to point out some of those areas in the relationship that may need growth and grace. The minister makes a subjective decision about whether this is a viable “healthy-enough” relationship that God desires to bless. It is rare, but due to unresolved issues or relationships that seem to solidify dysfunction, the minister may choose to not perform the wedding. Again, we want people to succeed in their love commitments, so we will be rooting for you.
The space here at St. John’s gives testimony to the commitment and love of the members of St. John’s to their relationship with the Spirit of all life and the community of Christians we call the Church. Our space is intended for use by those who acknowledge the Divine Spirit of life through faith. Within this community, we pray for God’s blessing upon your life and marriage, and leave with you an open invitation to join us in worship.
We pray that each of our relationships may embody love and integrity, shown through the relationship God has with human beings. Perhaps most of all, we affirm the grace and forgiveness offered by God that empowers us to love one another despite our imperfections and fallibility.