The testimony of the God-breathed Holy Scriptures is that the marriage covenant shall be reserved only for one biological man with one biological woman. The idea that marriage is a covenant only between one biological man and one biological woman has been the traditional definition of marriage for all of human history (“Traditional Definition of Marriage”). Because of the longstanding importance of the Traditional Definition of Marriage to humans and their relationships and communities, and, most importantly, the fact that God has ordained that marriage be between one biological man and one biological woman, as clearly conveyed in God’s inerrant Scriptures, including for example in Matthew 19:4-6 where in speaking about marriage Jesus referred to the fact that “he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,” the Church will base its applicable policies on this statement of faith.

Common-Law Marriage

In no case shall persons be accepted into membership and/or employment who are known to be living in a common-law state of matrimony.