MARRIAGE LICENCE POLICY for RETAINED/RETIRED
MINISTRY PERSONNEL IN BAY OF QUINTE CONFERENCE

Permanent Licences to Conduct Weddings

Those within Bay of Quinte Conference who are eligible to hold permanent licences to conduct weddings are:

a) Ministry Personnel on the rolls of Presbyteries and covenanted in a pastoral charge or Presbytery-recognized ministry;

b) Retired/Retained Ministry Personnel on the rolls of Presbyteries who are deemed by their respective Presbyteries to be fulfilling an approved pastoral function;

c) Ministers of other denominations who are serving as ordained or diaconal supply within a Presbytery when under Presbytery appointment, and when a licence is requested on their behalf by the appointing Presbytery in accordance with Section 342(i) of The Manual.

A list of those eligible to perform marriages shall be updated annually and reported to the
Government of Ontario by the Executive Secretary.

Assumptions regarding Ministry Personnel who have permanent licences within Ontario who are
conducting “off-site” weddings:

a) Ministry Personnel will use the register of the congregation/Presbytery-recognized ministry where they are serving;

          or

b) Will have the permission of the closest Pastoral Charge to use its marriage register.

Temporary Licences to Conduct Weddings

Those eligible to hold a temporary licence to conduct a wedding within the
bounds of Bay of Quinte Conference are:

a) Ministry Personnel from within Bay of Quinte Conference who are in good standing;

b) Ministry Personnel from other Conferences within The United Church of Canada who are in good standing and reside outside Ontario or do not hold a current marriage licence in Ontario, and

c) Ministry Personnel of denominations recognized by the Canadian Council of Churches and/or the World Council of Churches, and are in good standing within their denominations.

Procedures to be followed for Ministry Personnel from other denominations:

a) Ministry Personnel shall provide a letter to the Executive Secretary substantiating good standing within their respective denomination;

b) Ministry Personnel shall supply a letter of support from the Ministry Personnel serving the congregation in which the wedding is taking place;

c) For “off site”, non-church site weddings, Ministry Personnel shall provide a letter of support from a congregation whose marriage register is being used to register the wedding;

d) All marriages shall be registered in a marriage register kept by a congregation or Presbytery-recognized ministry; and

e) Personal registers held by Ministry Personnel may be used at the discretion of the Ministry Personnel in addition to c or d, above.

Procedures to be followed for United Church Ministry Personnel from outside
Ontario or Ministry Personnel within Ontario who do not have a permanent licence:

a) the Executive Secretary shall ensure that the Ministry Personnel is in good standing within The United Church of Canada;

b) Ministry Personnel shall supply a letter of support from the Ministry Personnel serving the congregation in which the wedding is taking place;

c) For “off site”, non-church site weddings, Ministry Personnel shall provide a letter of support from a congregation whose marriage register is being used to register the wedding;

d) All marriages shall be registered in a marriage register kept by a congregation or Presbytery-recognized ministry; and

e) Personal registers held by Ministry Personnel may be used at the discretion of the Ministry Personnel in addition to c or d, above.

Application to Obtain/Retain a Marriage Licence Registration Number (non PDF format)

Application to Obtain/Retain a Marriage Licence Registration Number ( PDF format)