Covenant Marriage

[katdances]

Jason and I have decided to enter a covenant marriage. Has anybody got information on this? The church where we will be married doesn't have any experience with them, even though the Covenant Marriage Act was passed in 1997. I guess they're not too popular among Louisiana Methodists! Kathryne, Christine, anyone else... do you have any specific

Comments

[katd]

oh yeah, topics at the Engagement Seminar include:

Christian Marriage, Communication, Conflict Resolution, In-Laws, Parenting, Finances, and Sexuality.

Once you get a Covenant Marriage it is a lot harder to get divorced. That is unless your significant other leaves out information in the inventory and counseling session. For example, the fact that he cheated on you while you were dating, he does drugs or has a alcohol problem they did not tell you about, he slept with a minor even if charges were not pressed, etc. As I said these inventories are pretty personal, and not divulging everything in the inventory or counseling can later be grounds for anullment.

The idea is that the two of you know absolutely everything about the other before you decide to go through with the marriage. They want to make sure that you are not going to have a reason for divorce.

I know it sounds like a lot to go through, but I hear that it's great.

[katdances]

Thanks for the info! That's a LOT more than what's required by the Covenant Marriage Act. I wonder if our minister will want to stick with the legal requirements or will want us to participate in all of that too. Jason and I have already discussed our respective past quite thoroughly... and the law only sets out that an engaged couple has to receive "counseling" without any stipulation as to the length of time. I've read what Katherine Spaht has written (the author of the law) and she specifically says that the type of counseling was not stipulated so that the option was open to all Louisiana citizens... not just those who are devout.

[katd]

Well, that's just what First Presbyterian, First Baptist, and First United Methodist require for you to get married at their church.

[katdances]

I'm glad Broadmoor doesn't have that requirement. To me, the commitment is stronger if it's made voluntarily. Jason and I truly want to enter a covenant marriage, out of love... not out of force.