Rhema ministerial association Australia Spirit of Faith 2017

Marriage celebrants Your role as a Marriage Celebrant

Marriage act 1961 Applies to all people marrying in Australia Marriage involving foreign nationals should check their own country’s legislation to ensure the Australian marriage is valid. The Marriage Act defines marriage as ‘the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others, voluntarily entered into for life’. This could change…

A celebrant under RMAA Rhema Family Churches Australia is a ‘recognised denomination’.

A celebrant under RMAA Proclamation of a religious body or organisation as a recognised denomination is for the purposes of solemnising marriages in accordance with the Marriage Act only and does not confer any other status.

A celebrant under RMAA Ministers of religion of recognised denominations who are authorised to solemnise marriages may solemnise marriages according to any form and ceremony recognised as sufficient for the purpose by the religious body or organisation of which he or she is a minister.

Procedure for solemnising marriage • Notice of the intended marriage (1 month 1day before intended marriage) • The following information must be received - evidence of date and place of birth. - evidence of identity (Passport, Birth Certificate, Drivers Licence, etc) - evidence of the termination of any previous marriage, where relevant

Procedure for solemnising marriage Must ensure: • each party has made a declaration as to his or her belief that there is no legal impediment to the marriage (green book) • the authorised celebrant is satisfied that the marriage will be valid, including that each party has given real consent.

Marriage Counselling The authorised celebrant must also ensure that information about marriage education and counselling is made available to the parties to the marriage. Not required for the couple, but celebrant must offer it. Rhema Family Church uses “Prepare Enrich” program. Questionnaire undertaken Results given to celebrant Resources and worksheets for addressing issues

before the ceremony Review checklist regarding Notice of Intention to Marry (on the RMAA website) Sign the ‘green book’ (no impediment form) Select the rites, vows and order of service (options for this are on the RMAA website) Ensure the couple have selected witnesses Prepare the documents for signing

before the ceremony Select the Order of Service that best suits the couple Three options available on the website Couple may write their own ceremony but must have included: 1. Admonishment regarding the sanctity of marriage 2. Vows – what they promise 3. Proclamation and blessing Each option on the website has these Give the couple the “Happily Ever After” brochure

At the ceremony Ensure there are 2 witnesses over the age of 18yrs If you are a minister of religion, use a ceremony approved by your religious organisation. You must be satisfied that a proposed marriage will be valid at all times before the conclusion of the ceremony. All three marriage certificates must be signed by you, the parties and the two witnesses For more information go to the RMAA website

After the ceremony Complete the last page of the NOIM by recording the date and place of marriage and rites used, sign and record your celebrant number. Within 14 days, send the official certificate of marriage, (green book) and NOIM (together with any supporting documents) to the registry of births, deaths and marriages (BDM) in the state or territory where the marriage took place. Keep records in a secure place for at least six years.

12.9 ARE AUTHORISED CELEBRANTS OBLIGED TO SOLEMNISE ANY MARRIAGE? Section 47 of the Marriage Act provides that a minister of religion who is an authorised celebrant is not obliged to solemnise any marriage. An authorised celebrant with concerns about whether to solemnise a marriage is entitled not to proceed. HOWEVER: In considering this question authorised celebrants should be aware of their obligations under anti-discrimination laws.

Privacy It is important that personal information is treated sensitively. Before a celebrant passes on any personal information he or she should first obtain the party’s permission. There are certain exceptional circumstances where this would not apply, such as reporting a suspected forced marriage to the police. A celebrant will not be breaching privacy by asking for personal information from parties to an intended marriage in order to satisfy himself or herself that the marriage can be validly solemnised.