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An Order for Holy Union
adapted from
The Book of Common Prayer 1979
Blessing of a
Holy Union, this Order may be used.
Normally, the
celebrant is a priest or bishop. Where permitted by civil law, and when no
priest or bishop is available, a deacon may function as celebrant, but does
not pronounce the nuptial blessing.
The laws of the
State and the policy of the bishop having been complied with, the couple,
together with their witnesses, families, and friends assemble in the church
or in some other convenient place.
1. The teaching
of the Church concerning same gender unions, as is currently declared in the
formularies and canons of this Church, for example, General Convention
Resolutions D039 (2000) and C051 (2003), and the policy of the Bishop of
California.
2. The intention
of the couple to enter into holy union, and their free consent, is publicly
ascertained.
3. One or more
Readings, one of which is always from Holy Scripture, may precede the exchange
of vows. If there is to be a Communion, a Reading from the Gospel is always
included.
4. The vows of
couple are exchanged, using the following form:
In the Name of God, I, N., take you, N., to be my spouse (or
partner, or some
equivalent term),
to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for
worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.
5. The Celebrant
declares the union of the couple, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit.
6. Prayers are
offered for the couple, for their life together, for the Christian community,
and for the world.
7. A priest or
bishop pronounces a solemn blessing upon the couple.
8. If there is no
Communion, the service concludes with the Peace, the partners first greeting
each other. The Peace may be exchanged throughout the assembly.
9. If there is to
be a Communion, the service continues with the Peace and the Offertory. The Holy
Eucharist may be celebrated according to the custom of the congregation in which
the service takes place.
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