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Wedding Policy | Wedding Form I Checklist for Couples Marrying Outside ROM
PRELUDE
A Christian wedding is always a time of great joy and celebration. As a church we want to do all we can to make the wedding day a memorable one for our members who are getting married. Nevertheless, those marrying must bear in mind that building a Christian home is infinitely more important than having a fairy-tale wedding day. The primary purpose of going through a Christian wedding is not only to seek God’s blessings on the marriage, but also to acknowledge that the Christian community has a special interest and responsibility in ensuring the success of the union. If some of the policies and guidelines appear restrictive, it is because we wish to convey the seriousness of marriage and our commitment to facilitate only such marriages which we as a community feel reasonably confident will result in lasting Christian homes.
Accordingly, with immediate effect, the church shall no longer conduct wedding ceremonies for couples who choose to have their marriages solemnized at the Registry of Marriages, subject to the exception mentioned in paragraph 11.
ELIGIBILITY
These policies and guidelines are applicable to all couples who wish to have their weddings blessed by the Church. There will naturally be occasions when we have to make certain exceptions based on the particular circumstances of each case. We also understand that there are couples who are already in the midst of planning their weddings and we will, so far as possible, be flexible in applying these guidelines to their situation in the interim period.
Couples giving notice of their desire to have their marriages blessed by the Church must satisfy the following requirements:
1. Both parties must be formal members of Brighton Community Church who have been faithfully upholding the Membership Covenant for at least the last 6 months prior to giving notice to the Church.
Those who are waiting for the next membership enrollment may inform the Church accordingly and if they begin observing the Membership Covenant even though they have not yet formally become members, the 6-month period will start running from that time.
2. Both parties must have been actively involved in a Cell Group of Brighton Community Church for at least 6 months prior to giving notice to the Church.
3. Neither party should have a living ex-spouse. Exceptions:
(1) When the previous marriage has been terminated on the basis of the ex-spouse’s adultery; or
(2) When the ex-spouse being an unbeliever has chosen to put an end to the previous marriage.
REQUIREMENTS
At the point of giving notice, both parties must sign a written undertaking to comply with the following:
4. Both parties shall complete at their expense all premarital counselling and preparation programmes as prescribed by the Church.
5. Both parties shall satisfactorily complete the prescribed sessions for marriage preparation conducted by the Church’s Inner Healing and Deliverance Department.
6. Both parties shall continue to faithfully uphold the Membership Covenant and be actively involved in their Cell Group(s) until the time of the wedding.
7. Prior to the solemnization of the marriage, the couple shall strictly continue to live and behave as separate individuals, and shall not engage in any conduct which suggests otherwise:
e.g. living together, staying over at each other’s homes, travelling overseas unaccompanied or engaging in intimate physical contact.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Brighton Community Church reserves the right not to proceed with the wedding ceremony at any point in time if, in its sole opinion:
1. The couple has not satisfactorily complied with the above requirements;
2. In the course of counseling, there is a serious doubt of the couples’ compatibility or ability to fulfill their respective roles in building a Christian home; and/or
The Church shall not be responsible for any damage, loss, inconvenience or embarrassment which may result to the couple by reason of such decision.
PROCEDURE
8. Notice of intention to get married must be given in the prescribed form at least 6 months in advance to the Church Administrator, Korene Liu (korene@brighton.org.sg) before any other preparatory steps are taken for the wedding, including but not limited to the following: fixing of wedding date, booking for wedding dinner, applying to the Registry of Marriages etc.
9. Booking of dates for the wedding ceremony will be subject to the exigencies of the Church’s ministry and programs. In particular, members should take note of the following: (1) No wedding ceremony will be conducted on Sundays, Friday nights, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; and (2) Couples intending to marry are encouraged to have their wedding ceremonies on Saturday mornings as many Church members are involved in various ministries on Saturday afternoons and the ministry heads may not be able to excuse them.
10. If the couple intends to use one of the Church’s prescribed premises (please check with Korene where these are from time to time) for the wedding ceremony, the Church will facilitate the booking of the premises at the couples’ expense.
11. The couple can choose to have their marriage solemnized at the Registry of Marriages instead of the actual wedding ceremony itself provided it is carried out not earlier than 1 day before or 1 day after the wedding ceremony conducted by the church. Whichever mode is chosen, the couple will have to personally take responsibility themselves for diligently and promptly fulfilling all requirements specified by the Registry of Marriages.
12. For purposes of the wedding ceremony, the Church will appoint at its discretion the necessary personnel (worship leader, musicians, sound and light technician and officiating minister but not interpreters, singers and ushers) and arrangement for the equipment (sound, lighting, musical) for the ceremony. A flat fee of $150.00 will be levied for ceremonies conducted at Singapore Post Centre Auditorium and $250 for ceremonies conducted elsewhere.
13. The couple is to arrange for their own decorations, gifts, bulletins, song sheets, food catering etc (if so desired) and are to adhere strictly to all rules and regulations governing the use of the premises used .
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