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Summary
- In the United States the states decide who may legally conduct a marriage; the Southern Baptist Convention advises checking with the county clerk.
- Texas authorizes ordained ministers and officers of a religious organization whom it authorizes to conduct marriages (Family Code section 2.202); Florida also authorizes notaries public (section 741.07).
- Each Baptist church is self-governing and decides whether its deacons may lead weddings and whether to ordain them.
- 1 Timothy 3:12 asks that deacons be “the husband of one wife”; Baptist churches read it differently, and there is no single Baptist position on divorced deacons.
- A Catholic deacon can witness a marriage when delegated by the pastor or bishop (canons 1108 and 1111), but only a priest can celebrate a Nuptial Mass.
- A married man can become a Catholic permanent deacon at 35 with his wife’s consent, but an ordained deacon cannot marry (canons 1031 and 1087).
Bibliography (Click to show)
- Scripture quotations from the English Standard Version: Acts 6:3–4; 1 Timothy 3:8, 11–12. Greek text of 1 Timothy 3:12 from the SBL Greek New Testament. Reference: Matthew 19:9.
- Southern Baptist Convention, “Frequently Asked Questions” (ordination; divorced pastors and deacons; performing weddings). https://www.sbc.net/about/what-we-do/faq/
- The Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Article VI, “The Church” (amended 2023). https://bfm.sbc.net/bfm2000/
- “Baptists’ Two Ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper,” Baptist Distinctives. https://www.baptistdistinctives.org/resources/articles/two-ordinances-baptism-and-the-lords-supper/index.html
- Texas Family Code, section 2.202, “Persons Authorized to Conduct Ceremony.” https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._fam._code_section_2.202
- Florida Statutes, section 741.07, “Persons authorized to solemnize matrimony.” http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0741/Sections/0741.07.html
- Code of Canon Law, canons 900, 1031, 1037, 1087, 1108, 1111, 1118. https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib4-cann998-1165_en.html
- Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, response on canon 277 and permanent deacons (4 March 2011), citing the circular letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments of 6 June 1997. https://www.canonlaw.info/PDF-Coccopalmerio.pdf
