{"id":42629,"date":"2018-08-03T04:00:22","date_gmt":"2018-08-03T09:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/?p=42629"},"modified":"2025-09-18T01:47:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T06:47:30","slug":"a-divorce-liturgy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2018\/08\/03\/a-divorce-liturgy\/","title":{"rendered":"A Divorce Liturgy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cWe need a divorce liturgy.\u201d That is the request the editorial team heard over and over as we prepared to revise the Book of Common Worship of the Presbyterian Church (USA). As co-editor of the new edition (released in May 2018), I was surprised at how often we heard this request as we went around the country conducting listening sessions.<\/p>\n

Whenever the idea came up in conversation, someone would balk. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to bless divorce,\u201d they would say, while others insisted that a liturgy would not connote the blessing of the church but would be an act of pastoral care.<\/p>\n

Since I was the one primarily responsible for editing the marriage section of the Book of Common Worship, the decision about whether to include a divorce liturgy fell to me. After several false starts, I concluded that the best we could do was to include a prayer for people going through a divorce. As time went on, however, I couldn\u2019t shake the feeling that just one prayer buried in this big book was not enough. People had expressed a need for a liturgy, and we needed to figure out how to provide one.<\/p>\n

At the eleventh hour, it dawned on me that what we needed was something akin to a service of healing and wholeness. Once that insight emerged, the shape and content became clear. The liturgy is to be held in a chapel, home, or other intimate setting. It is brief and may involve a couple, a presider, and family members or friends. As the rubrics read, \u201ca couple whose marriage is ending may wish to release one another from their vows and ask God for forgiveness, healing, and guidance.\u201d The rite could be adapted for use with only one spouse. Whether your divorce is settled in or out of court, your spousal support lawyer<\/a> will look out for your best interests.<\/p>\n

The structure of the service is simple. The presider begins with words of greeting followed by opening sentences of scripture that express the comfort and strength of God. This moves into a prayer that gives thanks \u201cthat even when we cannot keep covenant with one another, you keep covenant with us\u201d and asks for the strengthening of the Spirit \u201cthat we may honor one another, and you, in all we say and do.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the wake of a divorce, where emotions run deep and truths can become blurred by legal jargon and personal grief, it\u2019s not uncommon for questions to linger long after the papers are signed. This is where hiring a private detective Myrtle Beach SC<\/a> residents trust can offer clarity. Whether it’s concerns over concealed assets, child custody matters, or infidelity that led to the separation in the first place, a seasoned investigator can provide discreet yet thorough support.<\/p>\n

Divorce isn\u2019t just a legal dissolution\u2014it\u2019s an emotional and spiritual unraveling. And just as the liturgy creates a sacred space for closure and grace, so too does the pursuit of truth help bring peace of mind.<\/p>\n

When abuse is involved, the stakes in a divorce escalate dramatically. Child custody decisions become far more than a matter of schedules and visitation\u2014they hinge on safety, protection, and the long-term well-being of the child. Courts take allegations of abuse seriously, but proving them requires careful documentation, credible witnesses, and strategic legal guidance. This is where Genesis in Scottsdale<\/a> can play a pivotal role, guiding parents through the legal maze while prioritizing the child\u2019s security and rights.<\/p>\n

Navigating custody in these circumstances is emotionally taxing, and missteps can have lasting consequences. A knowledgeable attorney ensures that evidence is presented effectively, timelines are met, and the parent seeking protection maintains credibility throughout the process. The goal is not only to secure custody but also to establish a safe and supportive environment for the child.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the intersection of divorce, abuse, and custody demands both compassion and expertise. With the right legal support, parents can safeguard their children\u2019s futures, assert their own rights, and begin the difficult work of rebuilding life after trauma\u2014confident that they are not facing the challenge alone.<\/p>\n

A time of confession and pardon may follow, using words commonly heard and spoken in the Lord\u2019s Day liturgy. This is to underscore that while divorce inevitably involves human brokenness and sin, this sin is no different from any other. Even this brokenness is covered by the grace of God.<\/p>\n

At this point, a couple may opt to return their rings to one another, saying these or similar words:
\nN., I return this ring to you,
\nwith gratitude for the blessings of our marriage\u2026
\n[children of the marriage may be named],
\nsorrow for that which is broken between us\u2026
\nand hope for the future into which God will lead us.<\/p>\n

The presider than prays for the Spirit to be at work in the lives of those affected:
\nWhere hearts are broken, grant your healing.
\nWhere trust is eroded, restore good faith.
\nWhere bitterness has taken root, plant seeds of forgiveness.
\nDo not let anger destroy us,
\nbut teach us to love as you have loved us,
\neven after marriage ends.<\/p>\n

The prayer continues, asking God to uphold and strengthen those involved, and to renew their hope in God\u2019s new creation, where peace will reign and all people will be reconciled to God and to one another. The service ends with a familiar charge and blessing that takes on additional meaning in the context of this liturgy:
\nGo out into the world in peace;
\nhave courage;
\nhold on to what is good;
\nreturn no one evil for evil;
\nstrengthen the fainthearted;
\nsupport the weak, and help the suffering;
\nhonor all people;
\nlove and serve the Lord,
\nrejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
\nThanks be to God.<\/p>\n

The Lord bless you and keep you.
\nThe Lord be kind and gracious to you.
\nThe Lord look upon you with favor
\nand give you peace.
\nAmen.<\/p>\n

Will such a liturgy be used? It is hard to say. A couple may not be able to come together to enact such a liturgy because of acrimony, inertia, embarrassment, emotional strain, or other circumstance.<\/p>\n

Even if the rite is rarely used, however, its presence in the Book of Common Worship is significant. The prayers reflect humanity\u2019s need for divine grace and urge us to forgive one another in all things. The service is profoundly eschatological and soteriological, in that human failing is seen against the backdrop of the promise of redemption and God\u2019s limitless grace. Indeed, even when we cannot keep covenant with one another, God remains faithful to us. It is our prayer that this service may be a source of healing and expression of mercy for all who take part.<\/p>\n

All quotations are taken from the Book of Common Worship, Westminster John Knox Press, 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Will such a liturgy be used? 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