Talk:Quaker wedding

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[edit] Text from RSoF article

The following text was removed from the Religious Society of Friends article, and probably should be worked in here:

Historically, sometimes Friends' marriages were not recognized by the civil authorities. On some occasions this was an attempt to isolate and persecute the "heretics", on other occasions it was in response to Quakers' refusal to identify clergy. Some Friends seek an "official" recognition of their marriage by augmenting their marriage in the manner of Friends, by appearing before a justice of the peace, for example. Some Friends "record" ministers with the civil authorities in order to sign the paperwork. In other places the marriage of Friends has come to look similar to that of other Protestant Christian groups.

--Ahc 03:04, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Britain YM practice

This article does not, in fact describe Britain YM practice. The role of the MM Registering Officer is not mentioned. Clearness Committees may be called but not usually, in my experience. It is inaccurate to say that a Meeting for Marriage is "the same as" an ordinary MfW. It has a programme and many people will be present, who have never been to a Quaker Meeting before. I will try to ort out some improvements, using Milligan, Edward H.(1994) Quaker marriage (Quaker tapestry booklets series). ISBN 0-9511581-6-3. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Vernon39 (talk • contribs) 00:22, 9 March 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Same sex marriages

I have removed the sentence "Many unprogrammed meetings are willing to perform same-sex marriages." This may be the case in the U.S.A. but may no be the case elsewhere (but how many?).

In Britain Yearly Meeting, "Celebrations of Commitment" are within the discipline but they are not described as "same-sex marriages", which would have significant legal implications.(See Quaker Faith & Practice (Britain YM version, 3rd Edn paragraphs 22.44-22.46) === Vernon White (talk) 07:08, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

It's the problem with weasel words, technically that statement is correct; many are willing to call the celebrations marriages. Last summer PYM approved a minute in support of gay marriage, which implies that at least 103 unprogrammed meetings are willing (which I would call many). It does seem like something should be said, but you're right, a better sentence or two should be used. --Ahc 15:57, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

It is a difficult question for many for sure. I would like to have this phrase re-inserted, but I'd be alright with "Some unprogrammed meetings are willing to perform same-sex marriages." Canadian Yearly Meeting is relatively small in the scheme of things, but here is our minute on the subject - http://www.quaker.ca/concerns/SameSexMarriageMinuteCYM.pdf —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mgifford (talk • contribs)

It's not an issue of programmed vs. unprogrammed, Britian is unprogrammed, and one of the first Friends meetings in the US to have a marriage was programmed (I believe). That said, given the importance of the issue in the US and other places around the world, something probably should be included. Anything should reference the Quaker views of homosexualiy article and it should in sync with that's written there. --Ahc 02:56, 4 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Roles

The article currently states

"Usually, there are no bridesmaids or other special roles in the wedding other than that of bride and groom."

. In Britain Yearly Meeting, Elders are appointed to care for the spiritual aspects of the ceremony and a Registering Officer ensures that the registration process meets the standards of the official Superintendent Registrar for the area. Quaker Faith & Practice (Britain YM) Chapter 16 spells out the details. == Vernon White (talk) 23:27, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The first American divorce

Someone had added

"Interestingly enough, the Quaker marriage also figures prominently in the history of divorce. The first divorce that took place in America occured when a woman left her protestant husband to run off and remarry herself to a Quaker man, something which would have been impossible in any other tradition in America at the time."

This is both improbable and without any date or names. I have added a <fact> template but suspect this is an unhelpful red herring in this encyclopedia article. ===Vernon White (talk) 19:36, 29 May 2007 (UTC)