Baker City Marriage and Family Agreement

Marriage Preparation Covenant of the
Baker Ministerial Association

Whereas the Baker Ministerial Association is interested in and committed to helping create, establish, and maintain healthy families; and to discourage cohabitation and the problems that arise where there are no commitments, guidelines or covenants of marriage, and

Whereas a sacred, lasting and reliable covenant commitment is important for vital and lasting companionship and

Whereas we believe that monogamous marriage and the family is an arrangement created by God as a blessing to provide joy and protection; to establish the basis of the community's well being, to render crucial companionship in good times and bad; to provide the essential environment to nurture and raise stable healthy children, and support during old age; and

Whereas the growth and development of children in healthy, dependable relationships creates healthier more productive children emotionally spiritually, socially, economically and educationally

Whereas divorce has become so accepted yet has negative effect upon families, emotional trauma to individuals, enormous costs to individuals, community, and churches; and destabilizes society as a whole; and

Whereas, we believe that our churches and community need to know our commitment to the sacredness of marriage and family;

Therefore be it resolved that we, the undersigned make a solemn covenant with God, each other and the community to use every effort individually and jointly to require all couples for whom we perform weddings to participate in effective premarital training programs consisting of at least four sessions.

Here are suggested ways individual pastors can carry out this covenant:

1. Use the preparation period to encourage the spiritual formation of the couple.
2. Request your church to establish policies and procedures which will support and strengthen marriages and families; to provide help for families seeking to resolve marital problems, and discourage divorce.
3. Involve premarital couples in marriage preparation events
4. Encourage the training of mentoring couples to assist young couples during the crucial first years of marriage
5. Provide skill development in family relationships
6. Sponsor and/or provide marriage enrichment programs.
7. Teach all, especially children and youth, the importance and sacredness of marriage
8. Cooperate with other community agencies in efforts we believe will strengthen the solidarity of marriage and the health of families
9. To pray for youth as they begin to day that they will be thoughtful in choosing a life-time mate; and for couples who are of marital age to develop skills for successful marriages