Marriage & Wedding Policy

This policy applies to all members (see definition of member below) of the church who intend to get married. It is also applicable to non-members who wish to have their marriage sanctioned and blessed by the church.

The function of the church is not just to conduct weddings but more so to prepare and help the couples to build successful marriages and Christian homes. Couples have a responsibility to the church in the example they set in building a Christian home as much as the church has a responsibility in helping and encouraging them in their married lives. There ought to be mutual responsibility and accountability. To achieve the above goals, it is therefore necessary for the church to have requirements for the couples to fulfil when they want a church wedding.

Requirements:

1. The couple must inform the Eldership/Pastors through their cell leader about their intention to get married at least twelve (12) months before their intended month of wedding.
2. The date of the wedding should only be fixed after the couple has a personal meeting with a member of the Pastoral staff.
3. The booking of a church and the choice of their officiating pastor must only be done after consultation with the Pastoral staff.
4. The couple must NOT register with the Registrar of Marriage. Those who have been officially registered or those who have not been registered but have physically consummated their relationship will forfeit a church wedding.
5. Both the man and the woman must be baptized Christians and one of them must be a member of DUMC. However, if both of them are worshippers at DUMC then both must be members of DUMC.
6. The couple must attend all the premarital counselling classes and complete assignments before their wedding.
7. The couple must show seriousness and commitment in working on preparing for, as well as after marriage and not just the wedding.
8. The couple must belong and be regularly attending a cell.

All the requirements must be met before the church will give its consent to the wedding. The church is not obligated to give its consent in the event of a major concern regarding the preparedness of the couple for marriage. In such cases, a postponement of the wedding will be recommended.

Definition of being a member of DUMC

• Have applied to be officially accepted into the membership of the church by filling in an application form
• Is attending a Cell Group
• Have completed My New Life Class or Basic Doctrine 1
• Have attended a Baptism and Membership Encounter Weekend
• Baptised and officially been accepted into membership during a weekend celebration