Several people responded to the Q&A published in the July 2003 issue of United News about United Church of God ministers performing marriages between a believer and an unbeliever. We uphold the teaching of the apostle Paul that we should not be "unequally yoked together" (2 Corinthians 6:14).

It is United’s policy that a minister of UCG should not be performing marriages between a believer and an unbeliever. If a minister believes he has an exception (for example, a young person who has grown up in the Church, but is not yet baptized), he is to discuss the situation with his regional pastor for advice before he officiates at such a wedding. Exceptions are rare, but they do come up. This policy also prevents an individual from "shopping around," which was another concern of some respondents.

We encourage those interested in this subject to read the full study paper, "Marrying Outside the Faith," which is on our Web site at www.ucg.org/papers.