Wedding Policy

We, the people of Cooke’s - Portsmouth United Church welcome couples seeking the Holy Covenant of Christian marriage!  We offer you spacious and inviting facilities, together with capable and competent Christian leadership and support.  When you notify our Church Office Manager, Sharlene Coates, of your desire to be married at Cooke’s - Portsmouth United Church, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire which will be forwarded to our Minister, the Reverend Peter Bartlett.  Soon after we receive your request, either Peter or Sharlene will contact you in order to confirm your initial meeting time with Peter.

Weddings at Cooke’s - Portsmouth United Church normally require a minimum of three months notice, and no request will be approved without an initial interview.  Following the initial interview, and provided that our Minister has agreed to preside your wedding, you will meet on at least two more occasions with Peter to discuss faith issues, and to set the wedding service.  Although parents, family members, and friends may offer well-intentioned suggestions now and then, the Minister and Staff of Cooke’s - Portsmouth will consult solely with you unless there is cause and consent from you to do otherwise.

Before you are married at Cooke’s - Portsmouth United Church, we look forward to you joining us for worship at least three or four times before your wedding, although we appreciate, if you live away from Kingston, that you may regularly attend worship elsewhere, in which case Peter looks forward to hearing about your church worship experiences.  Following your wedding, you may anticipate appropriate expressions of continuing interest, support and encouragement from your new faith community.

Licence or Banns

The Marriage Act expressly states: “No marriage may be solemnized except under the authority of a licence ... or the publication of banns.”  Most couples will obtain the authority of licence from the issuer of licences at any Ontario municipal offices (City Hall, etc.) and must be dated not more than three months prior to the wedding.  We recommended that you acquire a licence sometime within 4-6 weeks before the wedding.  There is a provincial charge for this service and you will be required to show proof of age and identity (usually a birth certificate).  If divorced, you will be required to produce your decree absolute or a notarized copy of same.  You need to deliver your licence to the church office at least two weeks before the day of your wedding.  The Marriage Act also permits the solemnization of marriage under the authority of publication of banns (a licence issued by the church) subject to specific circumstances.  You may discuss your eligibility with the Officiating Minister, and when considering this option, you should note that under the Marriage Act, “Banns shall not be published where either of the parties to the intended marriage has been married and the marriage has been dissolved or annulled.”

Fees: (Facilities and Honoraria)

A reasonable donation is customary to support a Church’s Marriage Ministry which includes facility access and initial staff support.  Gifts of appreciation (honoraria) for the Minister, organist and others who will offer their time and support to your wedding preparations are customary as well.  Our fee schedule will be discussed with you during your initial interview.

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Baptism Policy - updated March 2009

Baptisms within the United Church of Canada are guided by sound Christian Principles that invite imaginative and faith-filled practices.  Baptismal practices may vary from one congregation to another, and are established by elected Church officials (the Session at Cooke’s - Portsmouth United Church) with guidance from the Minister. “All Are Welcome” to be baptized into Christ’s Church, but most baptisms involve infants and young children.

Upon the recommendation of the Minister, Session provides consent on behalf of the Congregation to perform the Sacrament of Baptism. Congregations, Sessions and United Church Ministry Personnel are compelled to “share the responsibility for the Christian upbringing of the child, with parents and/or guardians”.  Therefore, the role of “Godparents” in the United Church of Canada has traditionally been filled by the entire congregation whose members publicly commit to the on-going nurture and support of baptized infants and their families.

In accordance with United Church of Canada policy, the Session “should seek through the means of grace to bring the parents into full and active communion with the United Church”, and “should require a Sponsor to be provided who has been baptized” as well.  Profession of faith is an essential part of the Sacrament of Baptism.  Since infants are unable to profess faith for themselves, their parents or guardians profess on their behalf.  Therefore, when professing faith, parents/guardians and/or sponsors are called to live and grow in the fullness of their baptismal blessing.  Baptism isn’t only for the “moment”; it is for the “journey”. When parents and congregations live up to their baptismal vows, baptized infants will grow in wisdom and stature to arrive at a time where they will desire to “own their faith” and profess it for themselves.  Often referred to as Confirmation, Profession of Faith is recognized in the United Church of Canada as the moment of full and formal membership into the Church and a local congregation.  When we baptize our children, we have an obligation to journey with them; to attend worship regularly; to actively participate in our church community, and to live out our faith together along way.

We at Cooke’s - Portsmouth United Church look forward to sharing both the “moments” and the “journey” with all seeking to proclaim God’s existence and relevance in their lives…

All Are Welcome Here!