CommuNIqué - Newsletter of the Bahá'í Community in Northern Ireland
Issue 143 - 4 Jamál 166 BE - 1 May 2009 CE

 

BAHÁ’Í MARRIAGE PROCEDURES IN NORTHERN IRELAND

 

By now Spiritual Assembly secretaries will have received the new, revised version of the document called Bahá’í Marriage in Northern Ireland issued by the Bahá’í Council. This document pertains to specific responsibilities and procedures to be observed in Northern Ireland, both legal and Bahá’í, and should not be confused with Guidance Notes to Local Spiritual Assemblies issued by the National Assembly which are of a more general nature for the whole of the UK.

The Bahá’ís of Northern Ireland, like their Scottish counterparts, have succeeded in having their marriages recognised as legal, and it is of great importance that everyone becomes familiar with the contents of this new document. It would provide an excellent deepening. The three Marriage Officers for Northern Ireland have officiated at many marriages, since legal recognition was granted, and each marriage has presented its unique set of circumstances, which this document clarifies.

The main point is that when a couple wish to marry they must approach their Spiritual Assembly, who should know how to proceed. (Those residing outside a Local Spiritual Assembly jurisdiction approach the National Spiritual Assembly, which will appoint a Spiritual Assembly, or an individual to represent them and oversee the proceedings.) Appropriate Marriage Certificates will be sent by the National Assembly when requested to do so.

The Bahá’í Marriage in Northern Ireland document is divided into distinct sections for ease of reference:

  • Requirements according to the Law of the Land
  • Requirements according to Bahá’í Law
  • Responsibilities of the Bahá’í Marriage Officer
  • Responsibilities of the Local Spiritual Assembly
  • Responsibilities of the Couple
  • The Marriage Notice
  • The Marriage Schedule
  • Solemnisation of Marriage
  • The Bahá’í Marriage Certificates
  • The Civil Marriage Entry
  • Guidance on marriages to be followed by a second ceremony
  • Use of an interpreter
  • Fees
  • Appendix A Forbidden degrees of relationship
  • Appendix B Sample programme for Bahá’í Marriage Ceremony
  • Statutory marriage declarationBahá’í marriage declaration
  • Completion Marriage
  • ScheduleSigning of Bahá’í Marriage Certificates

The Bahá’í Marriage officers, Mrs Pat Irvine, Mrs Hazel Holmund, and Mr Eddie Whiteside can be contacted at any time, if further clarification is required.

Eddie Whiteside, Chief Marriage Officer

 

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