Neogillist
Puritan Board Freshman
My best friend actually got engaged last Spring, and asked me to be one of his groom-men at his wedding ceremony in July. My friend attends a PCA church, and he received proper supervision from his elders during his courtship.
Now recently I learnt from him that he got married a few weeks ago already, and the religious ceremony will still be held in July as was planned. He basically had the pastor come into his new appartment the day that he and his fiancee moved in, and they got the official documents signed there, he told me.
I was personally a bit shocked with this type approach, so I looked up the PCA church order to see if the pastor had followed the proper "protocol", and I could not really see anything wrong with the information at hand, although from another PCA member of the same congregation, it seems that the date of that "informal" marriage was not announced before hand as is supposed to.
Living in Canada, where the government now recognizes "Gay-marriages" it is in my perception that a marriage solemnization is no more than a mere certificate to the eyes of the state. In view of this, it is my in my opinion that the church should no longer consider a marriage "official" or "solemnized" until the marriage vows have been pronouced before the church congregation under the minister's supervision. This is usually the way it is done, with the civil paper work signed during the marriage ceremony.
I did not let my friend know of my personal disappointment, and I am not planning to talk about it with him, since it is none of my business anyway. I was just wondering what you guys think of this matter. Whether I happen to be out of my mind, or if really the PCA church order should be changed in view of the laws in Canada that have been perverted. Do you think that his pastor acted wisely? Why or why not.
Now recently I learnt from him that he got married a few weeks ago already, and the religious ceremony will still be held in July as was planned. He basically had the pastor come into his new appartment the day that he and his fiancee moved in, and they got the official documents signed there, he told me.
I was personally a bit shocked with this type approach, so I looked up the PCA church order to see if the pastor had followed the proper "protocol", and I could not really see anything wrong with the information at hand, although from another PCA member of the same congregation, it seems that the date of that "informal" marriage was not announced before hand as is supposed to.
Living in Canada, where the government now recognizes "Gay-marriages" it is in my perception that a marriage solemnization is no more than a mere certificate to the eyes of the state. In view of this, it is my in my opinion that the church should no longer consider a marriage "official" or "solemnized" until the marriage vows have been pronouced before the church congregation under the minister's supervision. This is usually the way it is done, with the civil paper work signed during the marriage ceremony.
I did not let my friend know of my personal disappointment, and I am not planning to talk about it with him, since it is none of my business anyway. I was just wondering what you guys think of this matter. Whether I happen to be out of my mind, or if really the PCA church order should be changed in view of the laws in Canada that have been perverted. Do you think that his pastor acted wisely? Why or why not.