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Mary Doma and Netilie Marozva Lifestyle Reporters
All Christian authorities and bodies view marriage as a God-ordained union which should be between one man and one woman for life. But as churches proliferate the religion of the new couple has become fertile ground for the houses of religion to tussle for supremacy.

The war seems to start at the very moment when union is supposed to be symbolised; the wedding ceremony. The bone of contention is whose pastor will officiate at the ceremony, in other words whose religion will prevail?

At best an uneasy peace is maintained by dividing the roles between the warring churches where one pastor might present the opening prayer, preside over the vows and blessings while the competitor presides over the cake cutting, preaches the sermon and blesses the presents.

A reverend from a traditional established church says that it is unfortunate that the peace and love that all church leaders preach is not to be found at this important event as everyone tries to advertise their church brand, instead of just giving glory unto God.

“I once officiated a wedding where we were two church leaders from different denominations. The bride’s family refused to attend the wedding until the ceremony was conducted by their pastor at their church. This is a strict church that does not tolerate most of the things that most other churches see no evil in.

“The groom’s father was so angry that he demanded the lobola money back if the wedding was not conducted at their church, because he felt that the woman should submit to the husband,” the reverend recounted.

He said a couple and the family should sort out religious matters before and not at the wedding as this is not some trifling matter, but a core base for the marriage.

“It has become the norm for couples to go to separate churches and this does not augur well for the marriage. But in the event that they have agreed on that, then all is well. But it should be clear as to how the wedding ceremony will go. To start a marriage with squabbles on your wedding day seems to me like a bad omen for the whole union,” he opined.

He said it is this habit of people putting all effort on weddings with little thought of the marriage that should last the rest of their lives which is leading to flashy weddings followed by speedy and messy divorces.

We went on the streets to find out what people think and have experienced at weddings and here is what some had to say:

“I’ve been to many weddings with more than one marriage officer. Usually the one of them does a welcome and a prayer. Then one does vows and ring exchange and then the first one does the sermon, closing prayer and announcements,” said Pepukai Chisango who does not see any problems.

“Two pastors is totally do-able, happens all the time. Ranges from literally co-officiating to one of the pastors only giving a blessing,” concurred Denis Mushonga who says this is now a normal custom.

However, some people were surprised by the fact that these scenario actually happen in Zimbabwe where a wedding has two pastors or more.

“I have never seen a wedding with two pastors doing the ceremony. Maybe this is a new trend that I am yet to see.” Eunice Mutetwa.

Whichever way it goes, as long as peace prevails and the wedding goes off without a hitch, then maybe it really does not matter whose pastor it is.