New Resource: Inclusive Marriage Services

Inclusive Marriage Services: A Wedding Sourcebook edited by Kimberly Bracken Long and David Maxwell, is exactly what the title promises, a book full of both complete wedding services and additional liturgical material for weddings.

The material in this book sounds familiar and traditionally Christian, but what’s different is exactly what the title offers: the language is not gendered and a variety of services are offered.

Inclusive Marriage Services includes complete services for those who are marrying for the first time, for those who have already shared a long term relationship, for those with children, and for couples where one is not Christian. Beyond that, complete services are adapted from the Church of Scotland, Uniting Network of Australia, United Church of Canada, United Church of Christ, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) along with two services for reaffirmation of vows.

And that’s only Part One of the book. Part Two includes a variety of alternate material for every aspect of a wedding service, and Part Three includes practical advice for a variety of couples and situations, including LGBT couples, couples with children, music suggestions, sermon ideas, and even walking down the aisle.

Want to know more about this resource? Check out this in-depth review by Disciples Pastor Bob Cornwall.

You can purchase the book here.

And don’t forget to check out GLAD’s other wedding resources and this article from Crossbeams: Does Your Congregation Have a Wedding Policy?.