The Baker Wedding Handbook, updated: Resources for Pastors

Author: Dr. Paul E. Engle
Located in: Charlotte, NC
Submitted: May 18, 2017

    Tell us a little about yourself.  I’m an ordained minister having served in pastoral ministry in churches in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, and Michigan. So I’m very familiar with planning and conducting weddings in a variety of circumstances. I’ve also had the opportunity to teach as a visiting instructor in the practical theology department of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, as well as in the doctor of ministry programs of New Geneva Theological Seminary, Knox Theological Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Dallas Theological Seminary. I also teach church leaders in the Philippines, Romania, Uganda, Cuba, and East Asia. My education background includes earned degrees from Houghton College, Wheaton College Graduate School, and Westminster Theological Seminary. Along the way I’ve written eight books including The Baker Funeral Handbook. More important than all these factors are the fact that I am married, have performed the weddings for my two daughters, and enjoy my five grandchildren.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  Why have I written this book? I wrote and edited this collection of wedding resources strongly believing in the importance of Christian marriage not only because of its impact on the future of the family, but also for the well-being of the church and of society in our nation. I’m well aware that requests to perform weddings are a regular part of the life of a pastor. People shifting across denominational lines means that pastors need to be aware of customs from various denominations, not just their own. Rather than having to purchase a number of separate denominational manuals, The Baker Wedding Handbook provides in one volume ready access to updated ceremonies from 14 denominations. I’d also like to save time for church leaders by giving them other resources including a unity sand ceremony, a unity candle ceremony, a section on writing vows, plus listings of music and scripture to use in ceremonies. As a pastor and professor I have written with an understanding of what it’s like to be a pastor and with a desire to encourage and equip my peers with a practical and helpful resource.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  • Ceremonies from 14 denominations • Suggestions for special services: renewal of vows, blessings of a civil union, marrying individuals with children form previous relationships, and a cross-denominational ceremony. • Suggestions for wedding prayers. • Listings of appropriate Scriptures to read in weddings • Listings of music that can be used in weddings • Reproducible planning charts: Request for a wedding; Ceremony planning sheet; processional and recessional diagrams.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  Undoubtedly I’ve been influenced by the ceremonies I have planned and officiated at, by the ceremonies I’ve attended, by the students I’ve taught, and by extensive time I’ve spent researching the wedding resources produced by a cross-section of denominations and traditions. The denominations I have included in the book include the following: • American Baptist • Southern Baptist • Christian and Missionary Alliance • Christian Church • Episcopal • Evangelical Covenant Church • Evangelical Free Church of America • Lutheran • Free Methodist Church of North America • The Wesleyan Church • Nondenominational service • Presbyterian Church in America • Christian Reformed Church • Reformed Church in America I have also included wedding meditations provided by D. Stuart Briscoe, Bryan Chapell, John Guest, and David W. Wiersbe.

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