The Vision
is to create a network of local pastors and Marriage
Champions that will help restore the institution of
marriage through education...experience...and engaging
culture.
The Purpose is to prepare couples for marriage
and to provide on-going opportunities for marriage enrichment
and restoration with hopes to significantly reducing
the divorce rate (62.4%) in Palm Beach County.
The Priority as clergy
is to promote lasting marriages under God and to establish
spiritually healthy families. By signing the Palm Beach
County Healthy Marriage Initiative, we agree to provide
county wide standards for marriage, helping to reduce
the divorce rate and offer support to the marriages and
families in our community.
By participating in this initiative, churches
agree to a minimum of the following when it comes to marriage
and the family:
- Promote a healthy and biblical model
of marriage.
- Require a minimum of 4 months of preparation.
- Promotes sexual abstinence outside
of marriage.
- Present the evidence of the negative
impact of cohabitation on marriage.
- Require a minimum of 4 premarital sessions,
utilizing both the scriptures and a premarital inventory;
and at least two post-marital counseling sessions within
the first year of marriage.
- Enrich existing marriages with an annual
event in the local church using videos, marital inventories,
or outside speakers.
- Train "back from the brink”
couples whose own marriages once nearly failed to mentor
those in current crisis.
- Reconcile the separated or abandoned
with a course, "Marriage 911"
- Enlist, train, and equip a support
system of mature married couples to serve as Marriage
Mentors to engaged couples, newlyweds, and those experiencing
marital difficulties.
- Create Stepfamily Support Groups to
provide a place of prayer, encouragement and hope to
stepfamilies.
- Partner with other congregations and
organizations to share resources and create a positive
climate in which marriages can thrive.
Click
here to see a list of church that have signed the initiative.
For more information,
contact:
SonCoast Community Church - 561.997.6109
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