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Considerations and Directions to the Clergy Regarding Marriage As Your Considerations and Directions to the Clergy Regarding Marriage As your Bishop, I want to challenge you to reach out and engage people with God’s way of life—and especially now by celebrating marriage as God envisions it. To do so at this moment in our life together, I have worked with my Assisting Bishop, Frank Lyons, to develop these considerations and directions, which follow. Considerations The recent Supreme Court Decision regarding same-sex unions once again brings into focus the two ways: life or death. Following God’s way leads to life. Following our own selfish desires can lead only to death. While there is still time we must engage the culture and proclaim the way of life. Did you know that 85% of marriages in the United States occur within a religious context? Many people are searching for that religious context. Will we be ready to greet them with God’s claim for their lives? Do we challenge folks about their view of marriage? Society has changed its definition of “marriage” for the worse and has received Supreme Court recognition. But we the Church continue to proclaim God’s ordered prescription for humanity and the Grace of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Both ADOTS and the Anglican Church in North America are quite clear about our position on Holy Matrimony. Please review the ACNA College of Bishops Statement and resources. Now is the time. Biblical teaching, studies and sermons on Marriage to instruct and prepare all our people, young and old, is a must. It is important to review the following directions with our consistories and our congregations. It is also important to have sufficient time for counseling couples. Do not be rushed by circumstances. Set your personal and congregational guidelines, publish them, review them regularly and stick to them. Please reread the Marriage Canons in the ACNA and ADOTS Constitutions and the ADOTS Bishop’s Customary on Marriage, all available on our website at the clergy resources page. While our Chancellors and legal advisors work out details for all of us on the implications of the Supreme Court decision, I am asking all our clergy who are either licensed or canonically resident in ADOTS to abide by the following directions until we receive further guidance. Directions 1. ADOTS clergy are not allowed to perform same-sex unions, bless same-sex unions, or officiate at any kind of related event. 2. Any buildings, facilities or rented space of an ADOTS congregation may not be used for a same-sex wedding or the blessing of same-sex civil unions. Page 1 of 2 3. Clergy are not allowed to marry a man and woman in Holy Matrimony unless they have a valid marriage license (Title Two, Canon 7, Section 3:4). The ceremony is recorded in the Register. 4. ADOTS clergy are strongly encouraged to sign marriage licenses as an agent of the State as we teach and proclaim the biblical understanding of the rite. This is considered part of our priestly duty. If there is a conscientious objection to this pastoral strategy an exemption will be considered only by consultation with the Ordinary. 5. If a clergy person performs the “Blessing of a Civil Marriage”, the man and the woman must also conform to our marriage norms as spelled out by the Canons. This can only be performed after the civil marriage and with a copy of the marriage certificate in hand. 6. ADOTS clergy may not perform weddings “for hire” or as a business to the general public. 7. Weddings held in buildings, facilities, or rented space by an ADOTS congregation must be for members of the congregation or their immediate family. This requirement should be considered for congregational by-laws. 8. ADOTS clergy who are asked to perform marriages for friends or family who are not members of the congregation may officiate at said weddings as long as the Marriage Canons of the Church are followed and recorded in a Church Register. 9. At the introductory session with any couple to begin their pre-marital counseling, ADOTS clergy should be prepared to review the biblical definition of marriage and have the couple sign the Declaration of Intention as found in the Customary. This should be retained in their file and a copy given to the couple. 10. A reminder that any remarriage of a divorced person needs the bishop’s approval for the clergy person to do the wedding. The bishop is not granting permission for the marriage to go forward, but for the clergy to perform the ceremony. The form is available in the Marriage Customary and on the website. Your Brother in Christ, The Most Reverend Doctor Foley Beach Archbishop and Primate, Anglican Church in North America Bishop, Anglican Diocese of the South June 2016 Page 2 of 2 .
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