The Gomoa East Dep. District Minister of the African Faith Tabernacle Church, Rev. Kofi Ngurumesi Esuon has warned pastors and parents who compel their children to engage in lavish marriage ceremonies in the name of “Wedding” and Engagement” to desist from the practice, as according to him, all these are borrowed culture from the Western world.
He said such ceremonies come with huge cost which later becomes a burden on the married couple, often leading to break-up of the marriage.
Rev. Ngurumesi who gave the advice in an interview with Ghananews.com also warned pastors who have no experience in marriage to desist from counseling would-be couples and officiating marriage ceremonies.
According to him, marriage should be contracted by the family and not the church and has therefore advice would-be couples to first seek the consent of their families first and stop rushing to introduce their partner to their Pastor before introducing them to their parents.
He said when the partner is introduced to the parents, they will do thorough background checks of the family of the partner and when satisfied, they will then agree to contract the marriage.
In another development, the Oteprow Zonal Elder of the Christ Apostolic Church Int. Prince TawiahFosu described marriage as the first sancred union instituted by God, and therefore should not be broken under any circumstance.
But he expressed regret why majorityof marriages nowadays hit the rock before its first annivessary, and attributed this tothe practice where would-be couple rather date themselves for a long time before introducing themselves to their parents.
He said because of the absence of thorough background checks by the families of the couple, the marriage is bound to hit the rock in case of any minor misunderstanding between the couple.
He also blamed some pastors for the break-up of marriages, as according to him, some pastors assume to themselves the role of the parents of the couple to the extent of even given date for the marriage, a situation he describe as unacceptable.
According to him, the only major role that the Pastor can play in the marriage is to bless it, after it has officially been accepted and contracted by the families of both couple.
Meanwhile, the Swedru District Area Head of the Musama Disco Christo Church, Rev. Benyi-Eshunon his part blamed the situation on bad character and poor upbringing of the youth by some parents.
He also advised pastors not to push members of their congregation into marriage, as according to him, that union is meant for matured people who are ready to live their own and personal life.
He again blamed some parents, especially mothers for giving their children, particularly girls ushered into marriage ill-advice, often asking them to go in for materials gains at the expense the man, and this he said in most cases lead to break0-up of the marriage when that desire is not met.
He has therefore warned such mothers to desist from the practice.
By; Robert Ayanfl