Adventures in Marriage Officiation - Part 2 of 5

It is a blessing to be a part of services of Christian marriage. Each one is an adventure. Here is a story from a service earlier in the year...

One couple set up a meeting with me two weeks before the ceremony was to take place. They had my contact information and knew that they needed to set up a meeting for several months prior. They had also waited until the last two weeks to complete the pre-marital counseling that is a requirement. This usually takes place in a seven week class, but can be arranged in a private session with the psychologist who teaches the class. The couple did not seem to be taking their preparation for marriage very seriously.

I seriously thought about saying that I would not be able to officiate at their marriage - lack of preparation, not taking preparation seriously and several concerns in the times that I did meet with them. I did do the wedding. While I was driving back home after the ceremony, I had a revelation and realized why I was a part of the ceremony.

I believe in prevenient grace. God is at work is at work in one's life even before they are aware of it. By officiating at services of Christian marriage when one or both of the couple is non or nominally religious, I may be a part of their journey toward becoming deeply committed Christians. As a United Methodist pastor, I should do all of the non-religious weddings possible.