United Christian Faith Ministries Officiating Marriages

Government Issues
A marriage as seen through the eyes of the Government is a CIVIL CONTRACT between two persons. The Government issues a marriage license granting to a couple permission to enter in this contract, of which the Government is also a Party of that contract.

In doing so, the Government has enacted certain laws and requirements governing marriage contracts. Further the Government decides who is qualified and authorized to represent the Government in administering these contracts.

In many if not most governmental jurisdictions Judges, Justice of the Peace, and Clergy are authorized to officiate or solemnize marriage contracts on behalf of the government as outlined by the laws of the jurisdiction where the marriage is to take place. To officiate a marriage members of the Clergy must register with and be authorized by the State to solemnize a marriage. This also requires that you to know and follow the laws enacted in the jurisdiction where the marriage is to be performed.

The State for the most part, grants permission to members of the Clergy to act on behalf, as a recognized representative of the State to administer
this civil contract we call marriage.

Most states require members of the Clergy to register their professional credentials with either the Clerk of Probate or District Court, however this may vary from state to state, and be well aware that each state may enact varying laws governing the civil contract of marriage. This is vitally important for the Clergy to KNOW! The laws regarding marriage will vary from state to state and you are personally liable to know these laws to legally administer the state marriage contract. After approving individual ministers to act on behalf of the government they most likely will issue some kind of a certificate that grants you permission to conduct a marriage on behalf of the state.

I highly encourage Ministers who officiate numerous marriages to carry an Insurance Liability Policy! Additionally Ministers are encouraged to keep a journal of the marriages they officiate and keep a file copy of the signed marriage license.

- Secure from the couple a legal and valid marriage license MAKE SURE IT'S NOT EXPIRED!
- Have the required number of witnesses (excluding Officiant and the Married couple) to sign the document.
- Do NOT let the marriage license leave your hands! Do not solemnize a marriage without having possession of the marriage license first!
- After the marriage ceremony, make sure everything is filled out correctly, and that the required witnesses have signed the document.
- Return the marriage license to the correct governmental agency, within the specified time limit.

What we have learned so far:
1.) In the eyes of the Government, Marriages are a CIVIL CONTRACT.
2.) The Government who is an interested party of a marriage and therefore grants clergy permission to solemnize civil marriage contracts.
3.) The Government qualifies who is authorized administer Marriage (Civil Contracts) on behalf of the Government.
4.) Before performing a marriage you must FIRST be authorized by the government.
5.) Marriage officiants are solely and legally responsible for their actions in administering marriage contracts.
6.) Marriage officiants are representing the state, and are liable for their actions, or omissions.
7.) Most states require the Marriage Officiant to register with either the Clerk or Probate or District Court.
8.) Failing to follow the law could land a member of the clergy in deep legal trouble.
9.) Marriage officiants should carry Personal Liability Insurance policy.
10.) Before Solemnizing a Marriage Contract secure the legal and valid Marriage License.
11.) Make sure there are the required number of witnesses to sign the Marriage License.
12.) Sign and return the Marriage License to the appropriate issuing agency within the specified time limit.
13.) Keep a Officiant Journal, and photocopies of the marriage license on file.

UCFM ISSUE'S
The United Christian Faith Ministries (UCFM) authorizes those Christian Ministers who have been ordained of the UCFM and are in good standing to perform Marriages, acting independently as Ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ, as long as the minister follows all the required laws governing marriages as issued by the governing jurisdiction where the marriage is to take place.

- The UCFM is not responsible for any unauthorized or other illegal acts, whether they are intentional or otherwise, and is to be held harmless from the administration of marriage contracts.

- Furthermore the UCFM does not authorize UCFM ordained Ministers to Solemnize Same Sex Marriages.

Ministers who do not accept that the state governs over them as Servants of God, and who believe it is wrong to be an instrument of the state by mixing the Spiritual and State together in one package to administer the sacredness of Marriage, should allow a government officiant such as the Justice of the Peace to administer the Civil marriage contract, thus meeting the government requirements of legality.

Then afterward the Servant representative of God who is not governed by the state, could administer a completely separate and distinct Christian Ceremony that BLESSES and SEALS the couple solely to GOD. It is in the Spiritual realm that the real and sacred Spiritual HOLY MATRIMONY of the Kingdom of God is administered solely by a representative of God, and not by a representative of the state!

This ceremony is a BLESSING of the family and SEALING the couple being bonded as one to the Sovereign Triune God, to live as a Christian family under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

For those who are already married under the civil government, but who are not blessed and sealed seperately are missing a great blessing for their marriage and family! I encourage all ministers as representatives of Jesus Christ to seal these marriages and family by the breathe of God as a covering of the Holy Matrimony administered by a represenative of Jesus Christ.

Let this ceremony be a celebration of the Love of Christ, and conducted as led by the Holy Spirit - not as a civil government contract.

NOTE: This ceremony (Spiritial Cermony) is not a actual legal marriage in the eyes of civil governments. For legal (civil governments) a marriage is only recognized by the state when the state administers and grants a license for the civil contract! Thus, we recommend to allow the state to seperately perform the civil contract, and then later the minister of God administers the Spiritual ceremony of the Kingdom of God.

Opening

Minister States: Dearly Beloved and Privileged Guests: We are gathered here today before God to join together this man and woman in Holy Matrimony, being first ordained of God signifying the union that exists between Christ and his Church and is therefore not to be entered into lightly and with much consideration.

If anyone can show just cause why this man and woman may not be lawfully joined together, let them now speak or forever hold their peace.

Vows

Minister says to the Groom. Do you _Groom's Name_take _Bride's Name_to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in heath, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others to keep yourself unto her, so long as you both may live? The Groom responds, "I Will"

Say to the Bride. Do you _Bride's Name_take _Groom's Name to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in heath, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others to keep yourself unto him, so long as you both may live? The Bride responds, "I Will"

Minster asks: "Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
Answer by the Father of the Bride, "Her Mother and I do."

Exchange of the Rings

The Groom

The Minister receives the wedding bands and holds them in his hand.
The Groom takes hold of the left hand of the Bride with his right hand.
The Minister blesses the Bride's ring by stating; "Bless, O Lord, this ring, that he who gives it and she who wears it may abide in Thy peace, and continue in Thy favor, unto life's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
The ring is then given to the Groom as he holds the left hand of the Bride.
The Minister states to the Groom, repeat after me:

I _your name_ take you __Bride's name_ to be my wedded wife,

to have and hold from this day forward,
for better or for worse,
for richer or for poorer,
in sickness and health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part,
according to God's holy ordinance,
of which I do pledge my love.

The Minister instructs the Groom to place the Brides ring on the fourth finger of her left hand and holding the ring in this position to repeat; "With this ring I thee wed, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen"
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The Bride

The Bride takes hold of the left hand of the Groom with her right hand.
The Minister blesses the Groom's ring by stating; "Bless, O Lord, this ring, that she who gives it and he who wears it may abide in Thy peace, and continue in Thy favor, unto life's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
The ring is then given to the Bride as she holds the left hand of the Groom.
The Minister states to the Bride, repeat after me:
I _your name_ take you __Groom's name_ to be my wedded husband,

to have and hold from this day forward,
for better or for worse,
for richer or for poorer,
in sickness and health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part,
according to God's holy ordinance,
of which I do pledge my love.

The Minister instructs the Bride to place the Groom's ring on the fourth finger of his left hand and holding the ring in this position to repeat; "With this ring I thee wed, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen"
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Minister Prayer

Declaration of Marriage

Minister states; As much as you have each pledged your commitment of love and devotion, I now pronounce you husband and wife, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

[Groom's name]__________________, You may kiss your bride!
By the authority vested in me by the State of ___________ I pronounce you husband and wife.
"What God has joined together, let nobody put asunder."