Wedding Policy
Our statement of faith, the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, expresses our fundamental Biblical conviction that Christian marriage is defined as “the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime” (Section XVIII of Baptist Faith and Message 2000).
We believe that Scripture teaches that sexual intimacy should only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other and that a man and woman should not engage in intimate sexual activity outside of marriage. We believe that Scripture also teaches that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, incest, or pornography is sinful and offensive to God. We believe that according to God’s good design gender identity is determined by one’s biological sex at birth and not by one’s self-perception or self-identification. We believe that a professing believer should not marry an unbeliever.
However, we believe that Scripture requires that every person should be shown compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity. We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
As a local church, we believe that wedding ceremonies on church property are spiritual acts of worship of the God who created this divine institution. As such, weddings on church property shall be officiated by one or more ordained ministers of the gospel (see Section VI of Baptist Faith and Message 2000). The church may decline to make its facilities or ministers available for any wedding if it is determined that one or both of the parties are not biblically qualified to marry. Such determinations will be made by the pastor, deacons, and any church committee designated by the church for this purpose.
No minister or employee of the church shall officiate at any marriage ceremony unless such marriage is consistent with this policy.
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16, 39; 2 Corinthians 6:14; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.
To download the Wedding Policy and Form, click here (PDF).
