Celebrating Christian Marriage

Adrian Thatcher is Professor of Applied Theology and Director of the Centre for Theology and Philosophy at the College of St. Mark and St. John, Plymouth.

"An excellent resource book and introduction to many of thee issues that concern us in our own constituency." --Theological Book Review Feed the Minds

• Section 1 - Marriage at the start of the new millenium: the world situation of families - marriage reformation as a cultural work, Don Browning; marriage, and the second demographic transition in Europe - a review, Duncan Dormor. Section 2 - Beginning marriage: the case for betrothal, Reg Harcus; living together before marriage - the theological and pastoral opportunities, Adrian Thatcher; a holistic, parish-based marriage-ministry, Philip Newman. Section 3 - Love and marriage: water into wine, and Eros into Agape - marriage in the Orthodox Church, Stavros S. Fotiou; marriage and the Church: theological reflections on an underrated relationship, Thomas Knieps-Port le Roi; sacred love - religion, marriage and l'Amour fou, Philip A. Mellor. Section 4 - The marriage relationship: the marriage education movement - a theological analysis, John Wall; factors which contribute to marital difficulties, Jack Dominion; the so-called male mid-life crisis and marriage, George Lotter; lifetime as a virtue - changes in marriage over time, Aldegonde Brenninkmeijer-Werhahn; marriage - haven or hell? - twin souls and broken bones, Lisa Isherwood. Section 5 - Children and marriage: obligation or option? marriage, voluntary childlessness and the Church, Helen Stanton; welcome the pied piper, Jon Davies. Section 6 - Single-sex marriage: is lesbian or gay marriage an oxymoron? a critical review of the contemporary debate, Elizabeth Stuart; single sex marriage? a rite for blessing friendship in traditional Christianity, Alan Bray. Section 7 - Ending marriage - Roman Catholic perspectives: marriage nullity in the Catholic Church - not every wedding produces a marriage, Paul Robbins; theology and reality - impasse or new horizons?, Cathy Molloy; faithful and free - marriage in the Catholic Church, Timothy J. Buckley; marriage, divorce, and personal commitments, Margaret A. Farley; Section 8 - Ending marriage - Anglican perspectives: marriage, marriage after divorce, and the Church of England - seeking coherent teaching and consistent practice, Michael Scott-Joynt; contract or communion? a dilemma for the Church of England, Timothy J. Woods; the Christian claims of the English law of marriage, C.C.A. Pearce; mystical union - Legal and theological perspectives on marriage, Jacqueline Humphreys and Simon J. Taylor; idolatry and pragmatism: the sanctity of marriage and the Mothers' Union 1876-1976, Cordelia Moyse; why was Jesus a pastor to the divorced? the social background to Mark 10 and Matthew 19, Greg Forster.