Marriage, Sexuality, and Weddings
These statements are from West Mobile Bible Fellowship, Constitution and Bylaws, dated March 3, 2013, the church that holds my ordination credentials and requires my adherence.
Article III:4 – MARRIAGE AND SEXUALITY
“We believe that the term ‘marriage’ has only one meaning and that is marriage as sanctioned by God which joins one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture.
We believe that God intends sexual intimacy to only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other. We believe that God has commanded that no intimate sexual activity be engaged in outside of a marriage between a man and a woman.
We believe that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, pedophilia, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography, adultery, sex-change, or divergence from biblical design and biblical marriage, defined as “lawlessness” against God in 1 John 3:4. (Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1: 26-32; 1 Corinthians 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:9-11; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 21:7-8.)
We believe that in order to preserve the function and integrity of the church as the local Body of Christ, and to provide a biblical role model to the church fellowship and the community, it is imperative that all persons employed or ordained by our church in pastoral roles or in church leadership capacity or who serve as ministry volunteers, should abide by and agree to this Statement on Marriage and Sexuality and conduct themselves as such. Accordingly, this church, its property, and its ministers will not condone, oversee, host, facilitate, or officiate any marriage, vow renewal, wedding, or anniversary celebration ceremony except between relationships of one man and one woman.
We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and forsake their sin, seeking His mercy, forgiveness, and regeneration through Jesus Christ “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16) and experience that life “more abundantly” (John 10:10).”
We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity, in light of biblical doctrines and religious liberty. Hateful and harassing behavior directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture nor the doctrines of the church.”
Wedding Officiating Policy
“Because God has ordained marriage and defined it as the covenant relationship between a man, a woman, and Himself, we believe that the marriage ceremony, officiated as a wedding or vow renewal ceremony, is an act of Christian worship, and as such, West Mobile Bible Fellowship pastors, ministers, and elders shall only participate in weddings and solemnize marriages between one man and one woman, on church property or off church property, as an extension of church ministry and in accordance with the church mission, marriage policies, Statement of Faith, ordination credentials, and Church Constitution and By-Laws.”