Protestant marriage or not?

[LilHomemaker]

Can anyone tell me if two protestant people who engage in a “Commitment for Life” ceremony are considered married as far as Christian marriage is concerned or are they really just living together? I don’t know where else to ask this and I have a family member who recently had a Commitment for life ceremony.

 

[BettyBoop416]

What’s a Commitment for Life ceremony? Never heard of that.

Do they have a marriage license issued by the state? If yes, they are legally married. Validly or sacramentally married by Catholic standards? Depends.

They don’t have a marriage license? Not married according to either the state or the Church.

 

[robwar]

Can anyone tell me if two protestant people who engage in a “Commitment for Life” ceremony are considered married as far as Christian marriage is concerned or are they really just living together? I don’t know where else to ask this and I have a family member who recently had a Commitment for life ceremony.

never heard of this, what Protestant group was this in and were the people opposite or the same sex? The only thing I could think of is that this “ceremony” is done because they were the same sex and couldn’t not “at least yet” get legally married and this is what is cooked up to bypass the law but have some sort of “marriage” or “commitment” ceremony done,

 

[Starrsmother]

WOW! We need an apologist to answer this one! I’ve never heard of such a thing either-- except between same sex couples–which, of course, is never a marriage under any circumstances anyway.

 

[JonNC]

Can anyone tell me if two protestant people who engage in a “Commitment for Life” ceremony are considered married as far as Christian marriage is concerned or are they really just living together? I don’t know where else to ask this and I have a family member who recently had a Commitment for life ceremony.

I’ve not heard of this. Marriage is marriage. 1 man, 1 woman, instituted by God Himself.
What communion is your family member a part of?
Jon

 

[Pug]

Are they elderly, on various sorts of monies and checks that would stop if they married? That is the closest thing I’ve heard of like it, so the checks don’t stop, and so monies aren’t pooled. I don’t consider the couple I know like this to be married. But theirs wasn’t in any church and is not recognized by the state.

 

[LilHomemaker]

They are not a same sex couple and the ceremony was in a Methodist church. No legal papers were filed. Yes they are elderly.

 

[1ke]

They are not a same sex couple and the ceremony was in a Methodist church. No legal papers were filed. Yes they are elderly.

That is not a marriage. Do not be fooled by the fact it was in a church. A nonCatholic minister is a lay person, when he/she witnesses a marriage it is simply as the civil authority. So no legal marriage, no marriage.

A valid marriage would be a legal marriage. If the couple lives in a common law state and holds themselves out as married they may be married legally, but not as a result of this “ceremony”.