|
Canon I.18.2(e) requires that Couples seeking Marriage in the Episcopal Church be instructed as to the nature, meaning, and purpose of Holy Matrimony by the Member of the Clergy, or that they have both received such instruction from persons known by the Member of the Clergy to be competent and responsible. Premarital Counseling at the Church of the Transfiguration normally consists of three to five meetings with the Officiant or another clergyperson. The sessions last approximately two hours each.
During the first session, the Counselor (normally the Officiant) gathers basic information from the Couple about the anticipated Marriage and reviews with the Couple the process of preparing for Marriage. The Counselor administers a standardized Inventory developed by Life Innovations, Inc. (A check for $35 made payable to Life Innovations, Inc. is due at the first session. Other gifts and fees apply.) The Inventory takes about 30 minutes to complete, and a follow-up session is scheduled for at least two weeks later, to allow for the Inventory to be mailed and processed. Subsequent sessions focus on the results of the Inventory. The Inventory data is confidential. The Inventory is not a test to determine suitability for Marriage, but rather is a diagnostic tool designed to help the Counselor focus objectively on critical relationship issues. Later sessions focus on ceremonial planning. Couples are required to sign a Declaration of Intention at least 30 days prior to the Marriage as part of the Premarital Counseling process. Premarital Counseling can be conducted by a trained counselor outside the Church of the Transfiguration at the discretion of the Officiant. Normally, such counseling is conducted by an Episcopal priest. The Officiant or the Bishop may require additional counseling by a certified therapist, which is particularly likely if either party has been married before. IMPORTANT: The clergy are not required to perform Marriages, and may decline to do so for any reason, including the outcome of Premarital Counseling. |
