Relationships and Families Flashcards
What is the purpose of a Christian family?
Allows loving and respectful relationships to be formed
Provides a place for the nurture and disciplining of children
Allows children to be brought up with Christian values
To be a stable unit
What is fidelity?
A married couple being faithful and committed to one another
What does the Church of England teach about the importance of marriage?
In a marriage, a couple learns to love one another. Marriage is a commitment to ‘live and grow in love’ as shown in the Bible. A marriage should reflect Christ’s love for the church. Through marriage other relationships are developed and love is extended. People learn patience and forgiveness, which they can offer to society.
What are the three blessings of marriage, according to the Church of England?
The creation and nurture of children (procreation)
The correct place for sexual relations
Help and comfort during all aspects of life
What is the cord of three strands?
A Christian belief that marriage binds together the man, the woman, and God. His presence makes it stronger, allowing he relationship to be lifelong.
What does the Catholic Church teach about marriage?
It creates a unique and unbreakable bond that cannot be dissolved. It expresses Christ’s love and commitment to his people, so it reveals God’s unconditional love. It is a sacrament, bringing God’s grace to the couple, helping them to be faithful and to be good parents. Christ’s presence helps to strengthen the bond. Couples should place themselves in God’s care, following Bible teachings.
What is required for a sacramental Catholic marriage?
There must be a man and a woman who are both baptised. If one person is not baptised, special permission is required from the bishop (disparity of cult). A non-Christian cannot receive the sacraments in a Catholic Church. A Catholic marrying a non-Christian means the marriage will not be a sacrament, but a bishop may allow a priest to witness the marriage.
What is a disparity of cult?
Where a Catholic marries a person who has not been married. Special permission is required from the bishop for the marriage to go ahead.
What is nuptial mass?
It happens at weddings in the Catholic Church. The couple both take part in receiving the sacrament, sometimes bringing the bread and wine to the altar. It helps direct the couple’s thoughts to God.
What is required for a marriage in the Church of England?
Any heterosexual couple can marry in the Church, even if they are not baptised or Christian. The Church can carry out mixed-faith marriages.
What happens in a Church of England wedding?
The vicar may offer a couple a marriage preparation course beforehand.
Vows and prayers are made to God, bringing blessings to the couple.
Couples can choose Bible readings and hymns and are involved in planning the wedding.
A Eucharist may take afterwards.
What happens in non-conformist church weddings?
The bride and groom may have much more freedom to plan their wedding service. They can write their own vows, giving more emphasis on the couple saying things to God.
What happens in a Quaker wedding?
There is no minister to lead the proceedings, as only God can join the couple together. The couple will sit in silent worship with the congregation until they feel it is the right time to say their vows. They stand and say them. They then sign the Quaker marriage certificate and sit down again. A friend or relative will read it out, then silent worship is resumed. Anyone may stand and speak as they feel led to by God. At the end everyone signs the certificate as witness. The union is being made between the couple and God.
What is the LOVE acronym for marriage?
Lifelong commitment
Obedience to God
Vows made to one another
Extending the family
What are civil partnerships?
A legal partnership between two people, giving the couple largely the same legal rights as marriage. The signing of the legal documents does not need to happen in public but a couple may choose to have a ceremony. It became legal for same-sex couple to get a civil partnership in 2005.
What is the Catholic and Church of England response to civil partnerships?
They are against them and do not perform them, as they say that marriage is the only correct place for sexual relations. Performing a civil partnership would suggest that homosexual sex is as acceptable as married heterosexual sex, which is against their teaching. It would also undermine their teaching that children are best raised by their biological mother and father. They should not be blessed. CofE vicars are allowed to have civil partnerships but must remain celibate. Some members of the CofE disagree.
What are other Christian responses to civil partnerships?
They should be acceptable to the Church, as they provide companionship, unity and stability in the same way as heterosexual marriages. People should be equal and faithful lifelong marriages are important, so same-sex couples should have the same freedom to marry.
When did same-sex civil partnerships and marriages become legal?
Civil partnerships: 2005
Marriages: 2014
What does the Church of England say about same-sex marriages?
Ministers are not allowed to carry out same-sex marriages. Blessings for married same-sex couples are not allowed and vicars cannot enter same-sex marriages. Members of the CofE can enter into same-sex marriages, but cannot marry at the Church, ad marriage should be between a man and a woman, with one of its purposes as procreation. Homophobia is condemned.