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Marriage ceremony

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by ftwken, Aug 22, 2010.

  1. ftwken

    ftwken New Member

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    Can an ordained baptist deacon perform a marriage ceremony?
     
  2. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

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    Definitely not. Here are the requirements as they exist in Kentucky. All other states have similar requirements.
     
  3. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    In Canada, marriage falls under the jurisdiction of the province and any person licenced by the province may perform a wedding.

    The name of the person must be submitted by he secretary of the person's denomination or group to the province to be issued a licence. When that person leaves the province, he or she must return their licence and obtain a new one in each province. He, or she, is issued a number and this number must appear on the marriage certificate and registered with the province.

    Cheers,

    Jim

    By the way, we don't ordain deacons.
     
  4. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    In NY you must be an ordained minister or the (actual) leader of a concretion - ie pastor.

    Keep in mind each State has its own requirements. In fact if you preform a marriage out of your State, you will want to see if there are any other requirements.
     
  5. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    What man recognizes as a marriage, and what God recognizes as one are not necessarily the same. Man expects you to get a blood test, why, I don't know. You need a marriage certificate, and you need someone the state recognizes as someone who can perform weddings.

    So, what is God's idea of a marriage? Was there ever (before the government interfered with their laws) a marriage ceremony? Did blood tests need to be done? Was a marriage certificate even required?

    God brought Eve onto Adam, and they became one--pure and simple. However, the government always wants to complicate things.
     
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    opps concretion should be congregation

    I don't have a problem with the State requiring blood tests, waiting periods, ect - there are people out there who will keep some things secret - in this case, the govt is protecting me from someone else.
     
  7. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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    I've performed marriages in several states, including Kentucky. In most states, ordination and/or license is the requirement, but some also ask that a local pastor vouch for you in some form or fashion.

    Here is a site that lists the states and the requirements. I'd still check with each individual state before performing a marriage ceremony however, as the rules are changing rapidly these days.

    http://www.northernway.org/marriagelaws.html
     
  8. ftwken

    ftwken New Member

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    Thanks for your answers but I got more info. Couple is already married by justice of the peace. They just want me to perform the public ceremony.
     
  9. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    You may also be licensed. Hubby would have been able to perform a wedding before he was ordained but was licensed. However, his first wedding did happen to come after ordination (and the groom's was the first funeral he did as well two years later).
     
  10. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    It's probably an STD test in most states that require it (though very few do, I think). It also may be used to test for certain diseases.


    Remember that God's law given to Moses for the government of Israel highly regulated marriage. So the idea of marriage in the eyes of God and marriage in the eyes of the state is not really so far apart as some want to say. When people live under a government (whether the theocracy in Israel or some modern government), laws regulate the matter and those should be respected. Under God's law, if you violated the marriage laws, you could be subject to the death penalty by the state.

    Actually, government simplifies some things by guaranteeing certain rights to spouses in marriage. It protects both parties, which may be complicated, but is certainly necessary in a broken world.
     
  11. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    anyone can perform a funeral...I believe that is true in the USA also...I have done a few in the USA and not asked for any id

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
  12. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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    The blood test used to be almost universal, and it has nothing to do with STD. It was to test for compatibility in the case of pregnancy. Certain blood types do not mix well, and there are issues with the baby. Almost no one tests anymore, however.
     
  13. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    I was speaking of the current situation in which STD determination is one reason given. The disease issues is about pregnancy and children, as you mention.
     
  14. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Actually, this is untrue. Genetic testing is not done for marriage licenses because it would be WAY too costly. Instead, it was basic STD testing and you are correct that many places no longer require testing. Hubby and I were tested when we married 25 years ago and it absolutely was just STD testing.
     
  15. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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  16. Pastor Larry

    Pastor Larry <b>Moderator</b>
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    It is not genetic testing per se. It was blood typing, basically. And in years past, it was apparently done for pregnancy issues. Most today do it for STD. Montana's is apparently for rubella.
     
  17. gekko

    gekko New Member

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    like Jim said, canada is different.

    what we're having to do (yup, getting married this saturday! =P)
    see, we wanted my fiance's uncle to do the ceremony, which he still is, because he's a missionary in brazil and has done a couple other weddings i believe.

    but according to BC law, he cannot officiate because he is from Manitoba and not British Columbia.

    =( so now we have to get a Justice of the Peace to sign the certificate the day before, because that's the only day any JP was available.

    haha. so technically we'll be married this friday, according to the paper - but the whole wedding will be on saturday.
     
  18. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    I thought the blood test was required, or maybe it once was but no longer is.
     
  19. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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    It is state-by-state with some requiring it and some not. More not than so these days. I posted a link above with state information.

    I too have a wedding scheduled in Wisconsin in September (I live in Kentucky).

    I've done ceremonies all over the place -- sort of goes with the turf for me as a bi-vocational pastor who has family in two states and an off-road ministry that takes me all over the country.

    Here's one of the more interesting ones I've done. Location was "Top of the World Trail" in Moab, Utah. I met the couple via an Internet forum and we became friends. They always wanted a 4-wheel-drive wedding, and also wished to witness to the forum community (it was a national Ford Explorer group) and so they planned their wedding around an off-road event at Moab. With the blessings of their local pastor, we headed west and had an amazing event. Best part was their specific request that I share the biblical basis of marriage, which I was most pleased to do!

    I'm also pleased that the groom has since left his secular job and entered the ministry. He had graduated seminary, but after a rough spell in life had walked away from ministry. We had a number of long talks and he has since been restored and is doing a great job. Never know where Internet friendships can lead!

    [​IMG]

    Oh, BTW, the edge of the cliff behind me has a 3500 foot drop to the canyon floor below... "Nearer my God to thee..."

    Here is the bride and their Explorer on the rock where we did the ceremony:

    [​IMG]

    The "green fuzz" below on the canyon floor are pine trees over 100 feet tall!
     
    #19 glfredrick, Aug 24, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 24, 2010
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