"Friends receive into active membership those whose faith in Christ as a personal Savior is manifest in their lives and who are in unity with the teachings of Christian truth as held by Friends." (Faith and Practice, Part II, Chapter I.)
On the basis of the above statement, accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior, declaring it to be my purpose to devote my life to His service and to follow His teachings, agreeing to observe the rules and practices of Friends, and to be loyal to the interests of this meeting, I do hereby make application for membership in
__________________________________________Monthly Meeting of Friends.
___________________________________________ Date________________
signed
Approved by the Meeting on Ministry and Counsel and recommended to the
Monthly Meeting.
______________________________________, Clerk Date________________
signed
(One Monthly Meeting to Another)
To________________________________________Monthly Meeting of Friends:
Dear Friends:
This is to certify that ________________________________ is a member of this
meeting. Upon due inquiry, no obstruction appears to the granting of
____________________'s request for a certificate to your meeting.
We therefore commend __________________________________
to your Christian care. Please acknowledge h______ reception by returning to our clerk the annexed statement, properly filled and signed.
In love, we are your Friends,
By direction and on behalf of ________________________________________
Monthly Meeting of Friends, held at ___________________________________,
State of __________________________day of month, __________, 20____.
_________________________________________________,Clerk
Address
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Acknowledgement
To______________________________________ Monthly Meeting of Friends:
We have received the removal certificate issued by you the __________day of
________month, ________ and have accepted _________________________
_____________________________ into membership with us.
In behalf of ________________________________ Monthly Meeting of Friends, held at __________________________________________________________ ,___________ day of __________ month, __________.
_______________________________________________________________, Clerk
To _____________________________________________________ Church:
____________________________ and _______________________________,
member(s) of ____________________________________ Monthly Meeting of
Friends, having expressed the desire to unite in membership with the above named Church, this letter of dismissal is granted in favor of said Church, and he or she is (they are) commended to your Christian fellowship. Upon receipt of official acknowledgment of the acceptance of this letter, the membership with Friends will cease.
By direction of _____________________________________ Monthly Meeting,
held at _______________________________, State of _________________ day of ___________ month, _____.
___________________________________________________________________, Clerk
Address
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Acknowledgement
To ______________________________________ Monthly Meeting of Friends:
We have received the letter issued by you the ______day of _________month,
__________ and have accepted _____________________________________ into membership with us.
In behalf of ___________________________________________ church, held at
________________________________________________________________________________ day of __________ month, __________.
signed
_____________________________________________________________________
I affirm that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
(Certificate of Ministerial Standing)
(For One Year)
This certifies that _________________________________________________, of _______________________________________________, is an approved candidate for the ministry, subject to the rules provided by Western Yearly Meeting of Friends; that he or she is now engaged in study for the ministry; that he or she is employed as a pastor in regular service for a congregation under the supervision of the Board on Christian Ministries and Evangelism of Western Yearly Meeting; that, as such, he or she is granted during the term covered by this certificate all the privileges of a minister of the Gospel, including the right to officiate in marriage ceremonies.
This extends from _________ to __________.
Western Yearly Meeting of Friends has received a recommendation from the
Board on Christian Ministries and Evangelism based upon a satisfactory minute
from _____________________________________ Monthly Meeting and the favorable judgment of the Committee on Training and Recording of Ministers to the effect that ___________________________________________________, of ___________________________________________ Monthly Meeting and _______________Area Meeting has completed suitable preparation for recording as a minister of the Gospel.
Western Yearly Meeting in session, being in accord with the recommendation, now officially records____________________________________________ a minister and liberates him or her for such services and responsibilities as are usually accorded to ministers among Friends.
(Signed)__________________________________________, Clerk
_________________________________________________, Recording Clerk
(Within the Meeting)
At a suitable time in the meeting, the parties shall stand and, taking each other by the right hand, shall declare-the man first:
"In the presence of the Lord and before these friends, I take thee, D-- E--, to be my wife, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband as long as we both shall live."
The woman in like manner:
"In the presence of the Lord and before these friends, I take thee, A-- B--, to be my husband, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto thee a loving and faithful wife as long as we both shall live."
Whereas, A-- B--, of ___________________County of ____________, State of ____________, son of C-- B--, and E--, his wife, and D-- E--, of _________________________________, County of ____________, State
of ____________, daughter of H-- E-- and K--, his wife, of _______________________________, having declared their intentions of marriage with each other to the _______________ Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends of _______________, held at ____________, State of _________, on the _______, day ____
of the month of the year two thousand and ____________________,
and, nothing being found to obstruct, they were set at liberty by that meeting to accomplish their intentions.
Now these are to certify to whom it may concern, that for the accomplishment
of their marriage, this ______day of the ______month of the year two thousand
________________, they, the said A-- B-- and D-- E--, appeared in an appointed meeting held at _____________________________under the oversight of the _________________________________Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends in the presence of a committee thereof appointed for that purpose, and A-- B--, taking D-- E-- by the hand, declared that he took her to be his wife, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto her a loving and faithful husband as long as they both should live; and then D-- E-- did in like manner declare that she took him, A-- B--,to be her husband, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto him a loving and faithful wife as long as they both should live. And in further confirmation thereof, they, the said A-- B-- and D-- E-- [B--, she, according to the custom of marriage, adopting the surname of her husband], did then and there to these presents set their hands.
A-- B--
D-- E-- [B--]
And we, having been present at the solemnization of the said marriage, did as
witnesses thereto, set our hands.
(Signatures of witnesses)
We, the undersigned, hereby certify that we are acquainted with
____________________________ of ____________________________who desires to be married according to the custom of Friends, and that, in our judgment, there is no valid objection to the proposed marriage.
Signed this __________day of _________month, 20___.
Members in leadership of __________Monthly Meeting of Friends
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
(Minister Participating)
Introductory
MINISTER: "Marriage, in its deepest meaning, is an inward experience-the voluntary union of personalities effected in the mutual self-giving of hearts that truly love, implicitly trust, and courageously accept each other in good faith. Such marriage is honored and blessed of God as the fulfillment of His supreme design for man and woman, who, alone of all creation, bear His divine image. The state sanctions and the church adorns marriage as the ideal relationship in human society. The wisdom of the ages bears testimony to the beneficent values which this honorable estate yields in the happiness and well-being of mankind."
(If the "giving of the bride" is desired)
MINISTER: "Who, among the kinsfolk (or friends) of the bride-to-be, shares her great joy and presents her to the man of her choice with the benediction of her family?"
THE FATHER, BROTHER, OR OTHER PERSON WILL ANSWER: "I do."
TO THE CONTRACTING PARTIES: "Marriage involves at once the highest privileges and the greatest responsibilities of life. Its achievement of happiness and success is dependent upon the mutual love, the unfailing patience, and the absolute fidelity of one to the other. You will, from henceforth, live a blended life, each seeking and promoting the joy, the comfort, the health, and the enrichment of the other, all of which will divide your sorrows and multiply your satisfactions."
The Vows of Marriage
MINISTER: "If you have carefully considered the sacredness of the obligations assumed when lives are wed, and are well assured that you are prepared to enter into this covenant, binding yourselves each to the other in holy sanctuary of the home as long as you both shall live, will you please face each other, clasp your right hands, and repeat these vows, which have brought joy to so many others:"
(Each repeat from memory, if possible; if not, then follow the minister.)
THE MAN: "In the presence of the Lord, and before these friends, I take thee, D-- E--, to be my wife, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto thee a loving and faithful husband, as long as we both shall live."
THE WOMAN: "In the presence of the Lord, and before these friends, I take thee, A-- B--, to be my husband, promising, with divine assistance, to be unto thee a loving and faithful wife, as long as we both shall live."
(Unclasp hands and face the minister.)
(If a ring is [rings are] to be given and received)
MINISTER: "What do you offer as a token of your pledge of love and loyalty?"
(The groom or attendant places the ring or both rings in the minister's hand, or upon his book, saying simply) "This ring."
TO THE MAN: "Do you, A-- B--, offer this ring as a token that you will keep this covenant and perform these vows?" He answers, "I do."
TO THE WOMAN: "Do you, D-- E--, accept this ring as a token that you will keep this covenant and perform these vows?" She answers, "I do."
(In case of a double ring service)
TO BOTH PARTIES: "Do you, A-- B--, and you, D-- E--, give and receive these rings as a pledge that you will keep this covenant and perform these vows?"
TOGETHER, THEY ANSWER: "We do."
MINISTER: "Let this ring (these rings) ever be to you a symbol of the preciousness, the purity, and the permanence of true wedded love."
Recognition
MINISTER: "In recognition of that real marriage between you, accomplished in the uniting of your hearts by mutual love and confidence, and in conformity to the laws of this state, by whose sanctions these visible expressions of your pledged fidelity have been given and received, as a minister acknowledged by the church, Ido now recognize you as husband and wife. Those whom God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
Prayer by the Minister
The Benediction
MINISTER: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen."
Alternate Vows
(If more formal vows than those in the foregoing ceremony are desired, the following is suggested:)
TO THE MAN: "A-- B--, will you take D-- E--, whose hand you hold, choosing her alone from all the world, to be your wedded wife? Will you love her and comfort her, support and cherish her in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity, and, forsaking all others, remain faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"
HE ANSWERS: "I will."
TO THE WOMAN: "D-- E--, will you take A-- B--, whose hand you hold, to be your wedded husband? Will you love him and comfort him in sickness and in health, in sunshine and in storm, and forsaking all others, remain faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"
SHE ANSWERS: "I will."