So you’re thinking about getting married? That’s great! This is an exciting time in yourlives.
We at the Carlisle Brethren in 
along this journey.
But why choose to get married in a church when there are so many easier and more exciting options at your fingertips? You can just go downtown and have a judge take care of it with very little hassle. Elvis and Vegas are just a short flight away. (Wouldn’t that make for great wedding pictures?) You can take care of this legally without needing to involve the church or a pastor, so why the church?
Since you have asked and have shown interest, we at the Carlisle Brethren in
You have felt the butterflies tickle your stomachs, the tingles run up and down your spines, and you just know something more is at play here than in other relationships. This one is special, different. We agree. But we believe that what makes this relationship so special and different has to do with more than just physical attraction and relational harmony. We believe marriage also has a spiritual component, which is absolutely key, and without it, the relationship will not be all that God intended it to be.
God is the architect of marriage, and as such, he designed marriage to be more than just physical and relational. Something mysterious happens when a man and a woman become one yet remain individuals. It is a unique commitment and we want to be helpful as you take this next significant step on your journey.
So, what does God hope for and desire out of all of this?
God desires that….
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Both individuals be in a relationship with him through Jesus.
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Because the support that comes through being in a community with other people on the same journey is so essential to the success of marriage, the couple should be actively participating in the life of this church or another church body and be committed to continued participation even after their wedding.
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The couple should abstain from sexual relations prior to marriage. That expression of love was designed to be experienced within the type of commitment that only marriage can bring. If they have already been sexually active, they should commit to abstinence from the time of the initial interview until they are married.
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He will not only be a part of the wedding ceremony, but more importantly, he will be the center of the marriage as well.
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A healthy marriage will grow out of two healthy individuals. (By healthy we are referring to spiritual, emotional, and relational well-being.)
As a church, we want to be as helpful as possible to you both so that two healthy people are entering into a healthy relationship. We are here for you and want you and this marriage to succeed. Even before you say “I do,” we want to support you as a couple.
So, what does that look like in the life of this church?
Because of this commitment to your health…
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Couples should meet for a series of interviews with a pastor, including once within six months to a year following their wedding.
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Past relationships should be worked through to the point where sufficient healing can occur and the individual is ready for the current relationship. If an individual is divorced, he or she should be willing to discuss the circumstances of the divorce with a pastor.
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Couples should be living apart until they are married. (Marriage is a life-long commitment, and a live-in relationship does not help or support that level of commitment.)
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Couples must attend a premarital class prior to being married by a Pastor on staff at Carlisle BIC (check the latest class schedule)
Our desire at the Carlisle Brethren in
These are exciting times in your lives. If after reading these principles you believe we as a church can be helpful to you, we would love to be a part of this time in your lives. Just contact the church office (243-1863) to request an information sheet as well as to speak with a pastor. The pastor may not look much like Elvis, but we believe the wedding will be more memorable because of the significance of this important day and commitment will hold in your lives.