Congratulations and best wishes on your impending wedding.  Marriage is God’s idea!  It is part of His creative purpose for human kind.  The Old Testament begins and ends with a strong teaching about marriage.  Genesis 1:26-31 contains the creative narration, including specific directives for men and women in the marriage relationship.  Genesis 2:20-25 adds the concepts of relationship and commitment.  This is strongly reaffirmed in Malachi 2:13-16, where marriage is referred to as a “covenant” to which faithful commitment is required.

Jesus taught about fidelity and commitment in marriage, as recorded in Matthew 19 and Mark 10.  The most complete New Testament teaching concerning both the physical and personal relationships in marriage is to be found in I Corinithians 7 and Ephesians 5:21-23.  Finally, 1 Peter 3:7 contains a sober admonition as to the spiritual responsibilities in marriage.

A proper understanding of these Biblical principles is essential as a foundation for Christian marriage.  They will be a part of the required premarital counseling, should you be married at Randall.

In keeping with the Biblical principles just discussed and in consideration of their responsibilities as spiritual leaders of the church, the Deacons and the Pastor of Randall Baptist Church have established policies concerning weddings held on church premises.

The Deacons’ policy states that weddings may be conducted on church premises in which any of the church’s pastors would officiate or co-officiate, but that no wedding may be conducted in which the Senior Pastor would not, for doctrinal reasons, officiate or co-officiate.  In so stating, the Deacons assign to the Senior Pastor the responsibility of approving weddings to be held at the church.

In the event that you would like to bring in an outside pastor to officiate your wedding, that person would be required to uphold these same Biblical principles and to assist you and your future spouse in preparation for marriage with counseling similar to what a member of Randall’s pastoral staff would provide.  Therefore, the use of an officiant from outside Randall’s staff must receive the consent of the Senior Pastor.

If you are interested in meeting with the Senior Pastor to discuss being married at Randall, please call the church office at 634-9800 or send an email to office@randallchurch.org.