Divorce Ceremony

By: Reverend F. Lee Ring

Minister: Life sometimes takes us upon different paths.  Many of these courses can be charted together. There now is a fork in the road where this couple must take different directions in order to continue their individual journeys. After their journey through marriage with its joys, dreams, effort, and pain, _____ and ______ have decided that they no longer wish to continue as husband and wife. They still wish to be friends; to respect and to care about each other. They are now and will continue to be responsible parents of their children.

Man:  I confess to God and to you, ______, that I have hurt you and caused you pain, and that I have not been able to fulfill my marriage promise to you. I ask your forgiveness and the forgiveness of God.

Woman: _____, I forgive you. May God also forgive you.

I confess to God and to you, _____, that I have hurt you and caused you pain, and that I have not been able to fulfill my marriage promise to you. I ask your forgiveness and the forgiveness of God.
 

Man: ______, I forgive you. May God also forgive you.

Readings and homily may be introduced as appropriate.

Man: ______, I release you from your promise and vow to be loyal to me as my wife. I will continue to respect and care for you as a person, [and] to be your friend [and to be a responsible parent to our children]. You are now a free person and may marry again if you wish. May you find peace and happiness.

Woman: _____, I release you from your promise and vow to be loyal to me as my husband. I will continue to respect and care for you as a person, [and] to be your friend [and to be a responsible parent to our children]. You are now a free person and may marry again if you wish. May you find peace and happiness.

The man and woman may bid farewell to one another in an appropriate way.

Minister: It is to peace that God has called you and may you both live in peace inside of yourself

_____ and ______, we your families and friends, [as well as the law], now recognize that your marriage is ended and that you are separate and independent people.  May your memories that you hold in your heart be of your fond moments together.


May God bless your separate lives and homes.
 

We pray for all people in relationship that they may honor, respect each other, and treat one another with dignity. Where marriages are happy may there be renewal and enrichment for the common life. Where marriages are in turmoil and bondage may there be comfort and support. Where marriages have waned of love may there be resolution with the least of conflict and misunderstanding.
 

We pray for _____ and ______ at this time of their parting. May they willingly accept those parts of their lives when they lived as husband and wife, and may they remember gratefully the good times together. May they continue to honor and respect one another in their separate and independent lives and may they find appropriate peace and happiness in their new venture into the future.

People come into our lives for a reason and for a season.  May we all remember this and may every living soul, forgetting none, be at peace. Amen.
 

....and to you my friends, go in peace.