Marriage Policy

The marriage policy of Bethel Lutheran Church of Claremont, North Carolina, a member congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is and always has been consistent with the Synod's beliefs and teachings on marriage which are based upon the Scriptures. We believe that marriage is a sacred union of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24) and that God gave marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and His Bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:31-33). The official position of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, as set forth in 1998 Resolution 3-21 ("To Affirm the Sanctity of Marriage and to Reject Same-Sex Unions"), is that homosexual unions come under the categorical prohibition in the Old and New Testaments (Leviticus 18:22,24; 20:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10) as contrary to the Creator's design (Romans 1:26-27). These positions and teachings can be found on the LCMS website (www.lcms.org), along with other statements, papers, and reports on the subject of homosexuality and same-sex civil unions and "marriage." Our pastors will not officiate over any marriages inconsistent with these beliefs and teachings that the Bethel congregation subscribes to.