Redemption Hill Bible Church Wedding Policy
We believe that a wedding ceremony is one of the most significant moments in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ. As a congregation, we take seriously our part in supporting a couple who desires to be married at Redemption Hill Bible Church (RHBC). We provide the following guidelines to ensure the wedding ceremony honors the Lord in worship and celebration. We desire to build and strengthen lasting Christian marriages from the very beginning. We ask each couple to carefully examine this policy statement and consult with the pastor or wedding coordinator about any questions on this policy.
SCHEDULING A WEDDING
A couple must first meet with the pastor for an initial interview before any date can be placed on the church calendar. The pastor must agree to conduct the wedding ceremony before approaching the church board with the request, which they will approve or deny.
Our intent is to approve weddings for a couple when the bride or groom or either of their parents are members of (or regularly attend) our church. Weddings for couples who are not a part of our church family may be approved only under extenuating circumstances in which the pastor and church board agree.
If the couple desires to ask another pastor to assist in or conduct the wedding ceremony, that request must be approved by the church board.
As soon as the wedding is approved, it is the couple’s obligation to contact the RHBC wedding coordinator as soon as possible to discuss wedding details.
PREMARITAL COUNSELING SESSIONS
After the initial request/interview, enough time must be allowed before for the couple to meet with the pastor for a minimum of seven (7) premarital counseling sessions. The pastor may use various materials, such as books and videos, that he considers helpful to marriage preparation. The couple may be asked to pay for some of these materials.
These premarital counseling sessions are mandatory, and the couple is expected to demonstrate a commitment to their marriage preparation by attending all scheduled sessions and completing all required material. Failure to do so will likely mean the wedding will not be conducted either at RHBC, or by the pastor. Marriage is a serious commitment, and we expect each couple to treat it with the appropriate respect.
WEDDING CEREMONY
A couple’s choice of music can be highly personalized, but it should reflect the sacred marriage covenant represented in the wedding celebration. All musical selections must be submitted to the wedding coordinator far enough in advance of the wedding to allow for a proper review by the pastor as well as RHBC musicians and/or vocalists. If the couple desires to use musicians and/or vocalists from outside the church, they must first be approved by the pastor and wedding coordinator.
**The couple must contact the RHBC wedding coordinator for direction, even if they desire to use another wedding coordinator at the ceremony. If a reception is to be held at the church, the RHBC coordinator retains the right to be involved in the planning process and ensure proper use of church facilities.
RHBC BUILDING
The couple is responsible for the set up and clean up of the church building for all wedding-related activities, such as the rehearsal, wedding ceremony, and reception. Set up and decorating should begin no sooner than two days before the wedding. Decorations should be appropriate for a church sanctuary and are the responsibility of the wedding party. After the wedding, the building must be cleaned and prepared for the next scheduled activity. If the wedding is on a Saturday, for example, all traces of the wedding should be properly removed prior to Sunday morning worship. The couple is responsible for securing and paying for any services required from the RHBC janitor.
The couple is responsible for contacting a church-approved sound technician from RHBC to assist during the rehearsal and wedding ceremony.
No smoking is permitted in or near the building, and no alcoholic beverages are permitted on the church property.
HONORARIUMS AND GIFTS
RHBC does not charge or request an honorarium from members or regular attenders (as defined by the elder board) for the use of the building. However, it is right and customary to compensate those individuals involved in the wedding. While every wedding is different, the following guidelines should help couples plan appropriate honorariums to express thanks to the people involved in their wedding:
Pastor $250**
Wedding coordinator $250**
Musician $150
Sound technician $150**
Janitor $200**
Church Building (non-attenders) $500
The couple (with the wedding coordinator) are required to ensure all the above positions are filled well in advance of the wedding date.
Personal gifts or honorariums are appropriate for soloists, with guidance by the wedding coordinator.
If the reception is held at RHBC, you should plan on asking friends to assist with serving. If a RHBC ministry serves, it is appropriate to give a gift to that ministry in the range of $300 to $350.
COMMITMENTS OF MARRIAGE
We believe that a couple desiring to be married at RHBC should clearly express personal faith in Jesus Christ. Based upon that foremost commitment, the couple is asked to remain sexually pure by refraining from sexual activity until their wedding day. If a couple has been sexually involved, they will be asked to cease this activity until after the wedding. If a couple has been living together, they will be asked to establish separate residences until after the wedding.
RHBC retains the right to refuse involvement in any manner that is inconsistent with biblical prescripts for marriage. If the wedding party does not wish to adhere to these guidelines, we will ask them to conduct the ceremony at a different venue.
It is our belief that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman. Therefore, no same-sex weddings will be approved or authorized to take place anywhere on church property.
The Bible is our final authority, and it is our desire to follow biblical standards in preparing for marriage. The pastor, therefore, under the guidance of the church board must reserve the right to deny a wedding request by the application of these standards.
(These guidelines were adopted by the Board of our previous name, Delano Evangelical Free Church, on October 15, 2019, and remain in effect under RHBC).
SCHEDULING A WEDDING
A couple must first meet with the pastor for an initial interview before any date can be placed on the church calendar. The pastor must agree to conduct the wedding ceremony before approaching the church board with the request, which they will approve or deny.
Our intent is to approve weddings for a couple when the bride or groom or either of their parents are members of (or regularly attend) our church. Weddings for couples who are not a part of our church family may be approved only under extenuating circumstances in which the pastor and church board agree.
If the couple desires to ask another pastor to assist in or conduct the wedding ceremony, that request must be approved by the church board.
As soon as the wedding is approved, it is the couple’s obligation to contact the RHBC wedding coordinator as soon as possible to discuss wedding details.
PREMARITAL COUNSELING SESSIONS
After the initial request/interview, enough time must be allowed before for the couple to meet with the pastor for a minimum of seven (7) premarital counseling sessions. The pastor may use various materials, such as books and videos, that he considers helpful to marriage preparation. The couple may be asked to pay for some of these materials.
These premarital counseling sessions are mandatory, and the couple is expected to demonstrate a commitment to their marriage preparation by attending all scheduled sessions and completing all required material. Failure to do so will likely mean the wedding will not be conducted either at RHBC, or by the pastor. Marriage is a serious commitment, and we expect each couple to treat it with the appropriate respect.
WEDDING CEREMONY
A couple’s choice of music can be highly personalized, but it should reflect the sacred marriage covenant represented in the wedding celebration. All musical selections must be submitted to the wedding coordinator far enough in advance of the wedding to allow for a proper review by the pastor as well as RHBC musicians and/or vocalists. If the couple desires to use musicians and/or vocalists from outside the church, they must first be approved by the pastor and wedding coordinator.
**The couple must contact the RHBC wedding coordinator for direction, even if they desire to use another wedding coordinator at the ceremony. If a reception is to be held at the church, the RHBC coordinator retains the right to be involved in the planning process and ensure proper use of church facilities.
RHBC BUILDING
The couple is responsible for the set up and clean up of the church building for all wedding-related activities, such as the rehearsal, wedding ceremony, and reception. Set up and decorating should begin no sooner than two days before the wedding. Decorations should be appropriate for a church sanctuary and are the responsibility of the wedding party. After the wedding, the building must be cleaned and prepared for the next scheduled activity. If the wedding is on a Saturday, for example, all traces of the wedding should be properly removed prior to Sunday morning worship. The couple is responsible for securing and paying for any services required from the RHBC janitor.
The couple is responsible for contacting a church-approved sound technician from RHBC to assist during the rehearsal and wedding ceremony.
No smoking is permitted in or near the building, and no alcoholic beverages are permitted on the church property.
HONORARIUMS AND GIFTS
RHBC does not charge or request an honorarium from members or regular attenders (as defined by the elder board) for the use of the building. However, it is right and customary to compensate those individuals involved in the wedding. While every wedding is different, the following guidelines should help couples plan appropriate honorariums to express thanks to the people involved in their wedding:
Pastor $250**
Wedding coordinator $250**
Musician $150
Sound technician $150**
Janitor $200**
Church Building (non-attenders) $500
The couple (with the wedding coordinator) are required to ensure all the above positions are filled well in advance of the wedding date.
Personal gifts or honorariums are appropriate for soloists, with guidance by the wedding coordinator.
If the reception is held at RHBC, you should plan on asking friends to assist with serving. If a RHBC ministry serves, it is appropriate to give a gift to that ministry in the range of $300 to $350.
COMMITMENTS OF MARRIAGE
We believe that a couple desiring to be married at RHBC should clearly express personal faith in Jesus Christ. Based upon that foremost commitment, the couple is asked to remain sexually pure by refraining from sexual activity until their wedding day. If a couple has been sexually involved, they will be asked to cease this activity until after the wedding. If a couple has been living together, they will be asked to establish separate residences until after the wedding.
RHBC retains the right to refuse involvement in any manner that is inconsistent with biblical prescripts for marriage. If the wedding party does not wish to adhere to these guidelines, we will ask them to conduct the ceremony at a different venue.
It is our belief that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman. Therefore, no same-sex weddings will be approved or authorized to take place anywhere on church property.
The Bible is our final authority, and it is our desire to follow biblical standards in preparing for marriage. The pastor, therefore, under the guidance of the church board must reserve the right to deny a wedding request by the application of these standards.
(These guidelines were adopted by the Board of our previous name, Delano Evangelical Free Church, on October 15, 2019, and remain in effect under RHBC).