Our understanding of marriage is founded on the biblical account of the creation of man and woman. Genesis 1 and 2 state that God created woman in response to man’s need for companionship as well as for a partner to carry out the mandate given by God in Gen. 1:28; “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” Thus marriage was established for the purposes of companionship, partnership in the task of procreation and fur fulfilling a stewardly responsibility for the earth. It is the relationship upon which human society is founded and it is a biological psychological economic and social union.

The union of a man and a woman is the only physical relationship which can beget children and the covenantal nature of marriage provides a stable and caring environment for the raising of children by a parent of each sex. The uniting of man and woman is distinguished from other types of social interaction and is described in scripture as becoming “one flesh”.

We would define marriage as a (1) publicly recognized covenanting together for life, (2) between a woman and a man who live together in a relationship, (3) characterized by troth and (4) fidelity, and for the purpose of (5) lifelong companionship, mutual interdependence and responsibility for each other, and potential procreation. (6) it is a symbolic of God’s relationship to his people and Jesus Christ’s relationship to his church.

1. Publicly Recognized

The public recognition of marriage gives it an important social status. Marriage takes on a public purpose as the cornerstone of the family unit, which in turn is foundational to society. Public recognition implies not only social status, but also social responsibility.

2. Between a man and a woman

In marriage a man and a woman are united together and become one flesh. Male and female, together being made in the image of God, while different are yet complementary. IT is the only union which has the possibility of procreation, the continuance of the species.

3. Characterized by Troth

Troth is a commitment to love and nurture an intimate and mutually supportive relationship characterized by mutual submissiveness and other-centred love.

4. Exclusive

The partners in a marriage relationship commit themselves to maintain the marriage for life. The marriage relationship is between a man and a woman which is exclusive in the emotional and physical intimacy it fosters. It should be characterized by fidelity.

5. Lifelong

Marriage is a type of covenant, that is, a publicly recognised pledge between a woman and a man to fulfil a lifelong commitment for the purposes of companionship and, potentially, partnership in procreation.

6. Symbolic of Christ’s Relationship to the Church

Marriage is a uniting of dissimilar entities, is symbolic of spiritual unity, and forms an example of co-humanity. The Apostle Paul refers to it as a great mystery (Eph. 5.32) which symbolizes the relationship between Christ and the body of Christ, the Church.

It is also the prime relationship within which children are begotten and nurtured. It is the cornerstone of the family.

(From the Evangelical Fellowship of Canda statement on Marriage and Family – used with permission.)