SDA church outlines new marriage rule for pastors

Only ordained Seventh-day Adventist pastors will be allowed to conduct marriage ceremonies for its members, according to the church’s fresh guidelines.

This follows Attorney-General Prof Githu Muigai’s declaration that all marriage certificate books be recalled to pave way for fresh licensing of officiating ministers and clergy in line with the new Marriage Act 2014.

In a sermon during the ordination of three pastors at Tente SDA Church in Nyamira, Eastern Kenya SDA Union president, Jonathan Maangi, said for one to be ordained, they must have served as a trained pastor for at least 10 years and pass an a pre-ordination interview.

He said ordained pastors are also legible to baptise followers, ordain church elders and deacons among other key responsibilities. Mr Maangi said that ordination of pastors is a key event on the SDA calendar.

The church opposes polygamous marriages and it prohibits ministers who are not ordained from conducting marriages.