Together in Christ

During 1995 and 1996, the Commission on Faith and Witness surveyed the theologies of marriage of its members, who represent a wide ecumenical spectrum. The survey revealed significant differences in how the Protestant, Evangelical, Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches understand Christian marriage and in their
pastoral response to interchurch and interfaith marriage, marriage breakdown and other issues. These differences are rooted in the churches’ doctrinal traditions and in their understandings of the relationship between faith and culture. Pushing beyond the differences, however, members of the Commission recognized common elements of a theology of Christian marriage that was affirmed by all of the traditions represented.