HOLY UNIONS

Holy Unions are commitment ceremonies offered to same-sex couples that are a spiritual and communal celebration of a life-time commitment to another person. At this time in our nation's history, holy unions afford the parties involved no legal benefits. We hope and pray that one day soon, this grave injustice will change. Whether or not the government recognizes our unions does not in any way diminish the holiness of such events.

Therefore, we require the following of couples seeking to have a holy union:

1) We ask that couples contact our church office a minimum of six months prior to their desired ceremony date. However, we do our best to accommodate those who give us less notice.

2) If you choose to hold your ceremony in our worship space all reservations for that space must be secured through the MCCGSL office. Rental fees for space will be given to you by our office staff. There is no alcohol allowed anywhere on the premises of our worship space. There is not a full service kitchen available to couples within the church either.

3) We require that couples be in a relationship for a minimum of a year prior to their holy union. At the ministers discretion, we make exceptions for couples who have a special circumstance.

4) If either party has been legally married, we require a divorce certificate prior to conducting a holy union. If either party has had a prior holy union, the previous union must be officially dissolved prior to the ceremony being conducted.

5) The couple will meet with a pastor for a minimum of three times prior to the ceremony and may schedule additional appointments at their discretion, and will also assist the couple in selecting a presiding pastor from our pastoral staff. 

6) Members of our congregation are assumed to already be supporting the ministry of our clergy staff through tithes and offerings so there is no fee but it is appropriate to provide an honorarium to the presiding pastor.

7) Non-members will pay $150 as well as additional fees for travel and/or other services offered beyond the ceremony itself. These fees are due at the final appointment prior to the ceremony and made payable to Metropolitan Community  Church of Greater St. Louis. 

8) The pastoral staff has a right to refuse to conduct a holy union ceremony.

9) The pastoral staff has a right to recommend professional counseling as a pre-requisite to conducting the Holy Union.

10) The same procedures and fees apply to heterosexual marriages conducted by our pastoral staff.

Contact our staff about a holy union/wedding!