What can cause a minister to refuse to marry a couple? Is this legal? whats next if it happens?

Question

my finacee and i are planning a wedding and heard that this occasionally happens to couples...also note we will be getting married most likely in a methodist church.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It doesn't happen often but yes it can happen. You would likely just have to find another church if having a church wedding was very important to you.

Answer 2

If a minister doesn't think the couple is going to stay together, he can refuse.
If the church doesn't allow weddings for non-church members, he can refuse.
If one of the couple has been previously married, he can refuse.
If he doesn't like the look of things, he can refuse.
No minister can be forced to marry a couple.

Answer 3

Yes it is legal because it is a PRIVILEGE not a right to get married in a church. The only reason the minister would turn you away is if: 1) this is your 2nd marriage, 2) you have children out of wedlock already 3) you are gay or 4) you or your fiance are not that religion or one of you two says you dont believe in god or so forth.

My friend wanted to get married in a catholic church and everything was all set and then her stupid fiance told the priest that he doesnt believe in GOD! So the priest said no way would he or any other priest marry them in the church. She now has to get a JP.

Answer 4

it depends on the minister and the religion. Some want pre-marital counceling and if the couple refuses then they will not do it. Others do the counceling themselves and if they see a problem that the couple does not see as a problem then the minister says he can't do the ceremony. Usually it is something very big like disagreeing over how children will be raised in the religion or things like that.

yes it is legal, you can't force a minister to marry you.

It is a very rare occurance that the minister does not do the ceremony. If that happens then you find a minister that thinks that the problem you and the last minister had is not a problem or use a non-denominational one.

When you pick the church you will be informed of what is expected of you both as a couple to be wed in that religion and church. If you both can meet those requirements then as long as nothing crazy is said or done (like not showing up for the required counceling) then you 2 should be ok.

Answer 5

In the wedding speach "does anyone have just reason to object to the union of these two......."

If the minister has ANY reason to object - he/she will not perform the wedding - as can anyone else present a valid reason before the minister says "man and wife". The minister will listen and decide if the reason is valid.

Answer 6

Yes they can...I have never heard of someone actually doing it, but its not illegal for them to say no....If by some weird chance this happens, there is always someone else out there that will say yes....

Answer 7

Each denomination has specific things that they believe...if you do not believe the same things, sometimes the pastor of that church will not marry you. For example, if neither of you were catholic, you could not get married in a catholic church without going through various other processes first. Some ministers will refuse to marry you if you've had sex before you've been married, but really there aren't many who do that...and if yours requires premarital counseling, BE HONEST, don't lie if you aren't virgins, it'll ruin a lot of the aim of the counseling. Congrats :)

Answer 8

You have chosen a good church (Methodist), they are known for their welcoming of all people. If however as most of the other answers have stated, the minister has refused you for what ever reason, they can do this legaly. If this does happen, do not give up! There are plenty of ministers who do not share the same principles of faith. I do many many weddings where my couple had been rejected by their home church. One of the main reasons is: they are living together already. Many Wedding Officiates, or Chaplains can give a beautiful ceremony, in an setting of your choice.

Answer 9

go to a different church if he does, and if he does then is that justice in the "eyes of God", to judge and be judged>?

Answer 10

If a minister is willing to let you use the church he will probably be willing to perform the ceremony. Many ministers will not perform the ceremony of a couple who are not members of the church or who do not have the same religion or is they are not religious at all. Look in your local yellow pages and online for wedding chapels or wedding officiants. Most of the wedding chapels have a minister on site that performs the marriages and does not have these religious requirement. If you are able to use a Methodist Church then an officiant can still be hired to perform the wedding. Congratulations.

Answer 11

Yes, a minister can refuse to marry a couple. What happens next? You move on. You find another officiant or find another officiant and wedding site.

Answer 12

A minister or rabbi can refuse to marry a couple for any of these reasons . .

The Marriage License is not valid
There is no Marriage License
Questionable state or country residency requirements
The couple did not comply with the "prewedding" rules and regulations of that church or house of worship
Misrepresentation of marital status (still legally married to another person)
Both people did not attend premarital counseling
Incompatibility
Couple are living together
Couple had a child out of wedlock
One or both parties are unemployed
Cannot perform wedding ceremonies during certain "religious" time periods (Lent)
Request that the clergyman do something "illegal" (put a different date on the Marriage Certificate)
Couple makes unreasonable or unrealistic demands of the officiant (wants a ceremony performed at 3AM)
Couple is rude or discourteous to the clergyman or officials of that church
One or both of these people have questionable character or values or morals, they are not "an asset" to the community

And it does not make any difference it if is a Methodist Church or a Catholic Church or a College Chapel

Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant

Answer 13

A minister, priest, pastor... has every right to refuse to marry a couple, because of a variety of circumstances - ranging from them not being a parish member, to whether or not the couple is practicing the faith, the couple is not mature enough for marriage - there are lots of reasons.

Answer 14

Guess I havent actually been to a wedding where this happened, but in planning our wedding our priest let us know that before the wedding is not a time for toasting---if he smells any alchohol on any of the wedding party he will not marry us. That was the same rules the pastor had for my friends wedding as well, not sure what denomination he was.

So, wait till the reception or at least for the limo ride to indulge in any beverages :)

Answer 15

it probably is legal. some churches just have their own policies. I guess if people don't agree with them then they can always go to a justice of peace. I'm sure there are people who have their license to marry people and aren't a minister. Some churches won't marry a couple if they are living together. or having sex. It just goes against their beliefs and they don't want to marry a couple. My dad has his license and he does 2 or 3 counseling sessions with them which is really helpful. He usually always marries a couple but if they are having sex he asks them to wait 2 weeks before their wedding just to make things more anticipated. That's really the only thing he asks them to do. but who knows if they really do. the only couple he didn't marry was someone from india that wanted their wedding done with their religious rituals which my dad wouldn't do. hope you can find the right minister.

Answer 16

The minister has the right for whatever reason to refuse to marry a couple. If this happens, hire another officiant.

Source(s):

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