Pastors Divided on Performing Weddings

A new survey of 1,000 randomly selected American Protestant pastors by LifeWay Research, conducted in October 2010, shows pastors have widely differing standards for when they will and will not perform wedding ceremonies. Views were varied depending on those who classified themselves as mainline or evangelical.
In response to the questions:
“When asked to do so, will you perform a marriage ceremony for a couple whom you know is living together?”

• 68 percent of mainline pastors and 57 percent of evangelicals say “yes.”
• 24 percent of mainline pastors and 34 percent of evangelicals say “no.”

“When asked to do so, will you perform a marriage ceremony if the man or woman has been divorced?”

• 41 percent of mainline pastors and 29 percent of evangelicals say, “Yes, regardless of the reason.”
• 55 percent of mainline and 65 percent of evangelical pastors answered, “Yes, depending on the reason.”
• Only two percent of mainline pastors and five percent of evangelical pastors answered, “No.”

A minister’s level of education also reveals differences in a pastor's willingness to perform marriage ceremonies for couples who are living together or divorced.
To view the article, go to LifeWay.com.