For those of you that don’t know, both Gavin and I are Christian Scientists. So what, you ask, we’re friends with you, and your religious affiliation doesn’t matter. I agree, religious affiliation doesn’t matter (although it is nice to find a nice CS boy to get married to –all of you @ Prin know what I’m talking about *wink*).
In this case religious affiliation presents a Unique Opportunity. As the Big Purple “Vogue Book of Etiquette” (Simon & Schuster, 1969) points out: “There is really no such thing as a Christian Scientist wedding, because Readers in the church are not ordained and therefore may not perform marriages. Members may be married by any ordained Protestant minister or civil authority, and in any Protestant church that will receive them.” Thank you Big Purple Vogue Book of Etiquette.
Of course the fact the Church doesn’t perform Weddings isn’t news, most Christian Scientists I’ve met have married Non-CS and married in their spouses’ church, and the CS-CS weddings have been performed by a JP. This in mind, I’ve already spoken with a Minister who has agreed to perform the ceremony, it is just a matter of finding a location.
Most other Churches have some sort of Hall near the sanctuary for Youth Group meetings, Wedding Receptions, and other Such Events. Many of them have little kitchens, and other such things to accommodate these festivities, however, because the Church does not perform ceremonies (or have Youth Groups), there really is no need for a reception area.
I’m not complaining. Christian Science also doesn’t have Jesus hanging crucified behind the Readers, or wine and wafers, or doughnuts and coffee, or ornately stained glass windows showing the life, death and resurrection, or little chubby naked babies painted on the ceiling (forgive me, I toured one too many Baroque churches during my quarters in Europe). In a way I understand MBE’s logic, she does point out the only reason for marriage is (paraphrased) to raise kids in a legally and morally correct manner (S&H 56:7). It doesn’t need to be a BIG DEAL, we’re not getting eternally bonded in the Inner Sanctuary or whatever, and after having read about her lack of success with husbands, I could see why she wasn’t anxious to have the Church marrying people.
As I embark on the series of Unique Opportunities instead of viewing Mary Baker Eddy’s decision not to have the CS Church marry people as a set back, I am almost grateful that I am not bound by religious tradition to have my ceremony in a church (or my reception next door).
Translation: “Suffer it to be so now.” -Jesus
