Church launches marriage course open to all

| 13/01/2014

(CNS): The Elmslie Memorial United Church launched a marriage counselling programme on Monday, which it says is open to all couples regardless of whether or not they attend the United or any other church. In its fourth year, the 'Marriage Enrichment Series: Let’s Stay Together' will run from February to April. Church officials said there will be eight Monday night sessions of straight talk about marriage, which will take place over a free dinner at Margarittaville, a neutral venue that, the church said,widens the appeal to include church and non-church people. Based on the Alpha Marriage Course produced by Holy Trinity Brompton in the UK, the course, nevertheless, is based on Christian principles of marriage.

“The programme is full of practical advice for all marriages and many couples who are not church goers have enjoyed and benefited from the course,” church officials saidin a release on Monday following the official launch of the programme. The church said the course is in response to concerns in the community over the health of marriages here. They said that it can help couples enrich their relationship, strengthen a very strong marriage or help one that is having challenges.

Topics covered by the course include Building Strong Foundations, The Art of Communication, Resolving Conflict, The Power of Forgiveness, The Impact of Family – Past and Present, Good Sex, and Love in Action.

Cayman has a relatively high divorce rate and the law surrounding marriage and divorce are currently under review to examine, among other issues, the introduction of no fault divorce.

Currently, regardless of the circumstances in marriages, no one in Cayman can achieve a divorce without blaming one of the parties for adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion. Couples must also wait two years, even when a marriage has clearly broken down, contrasting with other jurisdictions where couples are granted divorces after twelve months apart and no faults necessarily being cited.

Lengthy time separations are believed by experts to merely prolong divorce rather than prevent it and research indicates that no fault can prevent acrimony.

However, when the Law Reform Commission announced its plans to review the local matrimonial laws, the Cayman Ministers Association, which represents local churches, was quick to file its objections to plans to make divorce less complex and acrimonious by removing the blame requirement, as they said it would increase the divorce rate.

'Lets Stay Together' begins on 17 February from 7 to 9pm each Monday evening. The major sponsors include Margarittaville, Jeffery DaCosta and Radio Cayman and participants are required to pay a one off fee of $50 to cover materials. For registration and for further information please call 949-7923 or email elmslie@candw.ky
 

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  1. NORREDIAN says:

    "Repeal that law about insulting the modesty of a woman. That's sexist." HELL [CENSORED] YES!

  2. Anonymous says:

    That which emanates from a crazy place is most likely to be crazy in my book.

  3. Anonymous says:

    This should also be for people who want to get married!!

  4. Anonymous says:

    It is a good course. I don't go to church, but it is a valuable course to do with your partner and encourages the two of you to communicate more.

  5. Just Askin' says:

    "Open to all couples…." So I can come along with my gay partner? 

    • Anonymous says:

      "Married" couples. And there is no such thing as "gay marriage". At least not in Cayman.  

      • Anonymous says:

        But what about gay couples married outside Cayman and living in Cayman?

        • Anonymous says:

          Like I said, in Cayman there is no such thing as "gay marriage". Not solemnised or recognised. An abomination of a holy institution.

  6. Anonymous says:

    Christian beliefs put the man before the woman. Many troubled marriages here are caused by unfaithfull husbands.

    Thanks to the Cayman Ministers Association these women still have no rights.

    I find it disgusting . . . .

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Huh? Women have lots of rights including some they shouldn't have like alimony. Whatever happened to equality?

      • Anonymous says:

        If the couple decided the mother stays home for the children, then I think alimony is fair.

         

        • Anonymous says:

          Yeah, that's when she was your wife. There were things I used to get when I was married too, should I get post-conjugal visits since we were divorced just because I used to?  Ridiculous. And another thing. Repeal that law about insulting the modesty of a woman. That's sexist.  

    • Anonymous says:

      What is disgusting is trying to blame Christianity for unfaithful husbands and divorces when it doesn't approve of either. 

      • Anonymous says:

        Eve was created as a playmate for Adam.  If you believe that, you have the basic reason why men feel and act superior towards women.

        Which causes the trouble and prevents a solution.

         

        • Anonymous says:

          "Playmate" is your word, not the bible's. She was created as his companion.  Genesis 2:18 "It is not good for the man to be alone, so I will create a companion for him, a perfectly suited partner". (The Voice). Nothing wrong with that.

        • Anonymous says:

          That's pretty desperate. Nothing to do with anything.  Man is naturally the leader regardless of religion. All over the planet. Always has been. Anything else is a perversion of nature. But that doesn't make him an abuser. Show me a household where the woman rules the man and I will show you a dysfunctional household where the children go potty.  And spare me the howls about 'cave man'.