Adventist Couples Commit To Being Exclusive To Each Other During Special Ceremony

More than 800 pastoral couples renew their vows in the Dominican Republic.

September 14, 2024 | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division

The bride was ready and waiting, but the groom was late.  More than 1,700 guests waited for the ceremony to begin. “This is probably one of the first in the history of weddings where the groom is late,” said Pedro Iglesias, family ministries director of the Inter-American Division (IAD), as he addressed the pastoral delegation during the territory-wide ministerial association retreat held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Sep. 11, 2024.  After the groom arrived, the wedding march was played, and the bride and groom marched down the long corridor to the stage.

“This is a very significant ceremony because we have come here to renew our vows, to highlight that commitment,” said Iglesias. More than 800 couples dressed in mostly white sat next to each other in the large convention center ready to take part in the special symbolic ceremony. The groom, Pastor Joan Vicente, and his bride Joanny, a pastoral couple from the Southeast Dominican Conference, who have been married for eight years stood on stage in front of Pastor Iglesias.

“It’s very exciting for my wife Cecilia and I to see a bride and groom,” said Iglesias. The wedding proceeding was meant to remind pastoral couples on the commitment they made to each other when they got married, explained Iglesias.

As vows were read, Iglesias said that there was one word he wanted to resonate in everyone’s mind: Exclusivity.

“Exclusivity means you will not commit adultery. It has to do with faithfulness in sexuality,” he said. Exclusivity is living each day only for you. My body is yours and no one else’s, he went on. “The Enemy knows this and knows how vulnerable we are as pastors and makes us vulnerable is love and as pastors we are to love our sheep, but the enemy takes advantage to tempt us as pastors,” said Iglesias. That temptation does not come from lack of unity, or lack of availability, but inviting us to not be exclusive, he emphasized.

“The enemy presents us with subtle exclusivity violations that may not seem sinful in themselves but can lead to situations that end with a violation of that promise,” added Iglesias. “There are things that we cannot share with others. There are probably names in our contacts on our phones that should not be there.” Be aware of the subtle ways of the enemy, said Iglesias.

The secret for exclusivity to be permanent in a marriage, he said, is the same that God requires when He said to not have gods before Him. “Our God should inspire exclusivity among spouses. The invitation is to put on the shield of faith to avoid the attacks of the enemy,” said Iglesias.  He went on to point out what Ellen G. White, co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, said about remaining pure, which is to think of the presence of the Lord next to you when temptation comes your way, much like the experience of Joseph in Egypt when he was tempted Potiphar’s wife and fled.”

Iglesias shared that he and his wife know five pastors who fled like Joseph when temptation came to them. “Today they are successful pastors,” said Iglesias. “The only goal that the church requires to be at zero is for none of the pastors in your conference, in your union to leave the ministry because of lack of exclusivity.”

He urged pastors to honor one of the most important promises they made when they got married.

Each pastor and their spouse read a special vow renewal card, signed it, and prayed together during the special ceremony.

Pastor Raymond Douglas and wife Carla, who shepherd seven churches totaling 400 members in the North East Jamaica Conference, were among the pastoral couples who renewed their vows in Punta Cana. It’s not the first time they renewed their vows during their 18 years of marriage but a special one that has marked their lives at the end of the ministerial retreat.

“Life is very busy for us,” said Pastor Douglas. “There are roughly 40 kilometers distance between churches so it can get tough ministering to the congregations,” he said. They have three children and try to allow space for family time, he said. “We make sure to listen to each other and be intentional about making time for each other as a couple and as a family as much as we can,” said Carla.

The vow-renewal ceremony was the sealing ceremony that concluded the IAD’s second ministerial retreat and one that was meant to send a clear message to pastors and their spouses on their marriage commitment, church leaders said.

It’s important to recite vows to one another, said Iglesias. “When you verbalize the vows to each other, it has a powerful effect,” he said. The recommendation the Iglesias and Cecilia share is for vows to be renewed for pastoral couples and couples at every church at least once a year, “Much like communion is scheduled in our churches at the end of each quarter, so vow renewal ceremonies should be held once a year,” Iglesias said.

To view photos of the vow renewal ceremony at IAD Ministerial Retreat in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, click HERE