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The Rhodesia Herald, February 29, 1972

SECOND marriages are frequently stable, happy and “magnificently blessed by God”, says a major church report on marriage released in South Africa yesterday.

The report, by the Anglican (Church of the Province) Commission on Marriage, puts forward proposals which could revolutionise church regulations about the remarriage of divorced people.

It was released at a Press Conference in Johannesburg by the Bishop of Grahamstown and chairman of the commission, the Rt. Rev Bill Burnett.

The report says that while Holy Scripture makes it clear that marriages should not be dissolved irresponsibly, the Commission believes that a marriage may be dissolved and that the church should recognise this.

The Commission’s report has been received by the Provincial Standing Committee and is now offered to the Church for discussion before submission to the next provincial synod.

It says that to regard marriage as absolutely insoluble and to bar from the Holy Communion those who have failed to live up to God’s purposes for them in marriage is contrary to the grace of God.

The proposed new canon on holy matrimony will permit a minister to solemnise the marriage of a divorced person whose previous partner is still living provided he has obtained the prior authority of the Bishop.

The requirements to be met before the Bishop’s approval is given include:

That there is no hope of re-establishing a true marriage relationship between the partners of any previous marriage.

That the person to be married has done everything reasonably possible to effect a reconciliation, perceives the reasons for the breakdown of the previous marriage and is genuinely forgiving and repentant.

That the couple desiring to marry understand the Church’s teaching concerning the marriage, truly intend enter into such and have a good prospect of achieving a permanent and stable union.

That if the children of a prior marriage are to live with the applicants, there is a reasonable prospect that the family relationship will be satisfactory.

That such proper provision as is in the power of the applicant has been made for the care, spiritual welfare, maintenance, education and of the advancement of minor disabled and otherwise dependent.

That the applicant is prepared to fulfil all remaining responsibilities, both moral and legal, in respect of any former marriage. – Iana.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• According to the bible, God’s plan for a married couple is to stay married as long as both spouses are alive (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:6). The only specific allowance for remarriage after a divorce is for adultery (Matthew 19:9), but even this is debatable among Christians.
• However, some churches have over the years been flexible in allowing their members to divorce for reasons other than infidelity through a process called annulment.
• While most people who remarry see it as a chance for a new life, studies have shown that there are more divorces in second marriages than first marriages.