Oh, then I can see that’s being a problem for the pastor.
Maybe other posters are right about there being more to the story. For instance, if the church building is a desirable historic venue, the congregation should be within their rights to say, “We only hold weddings for church members.” However, an earlier article I read said the couple attended the church.
Attending a Baptist church does not make you a member. You either have to be baptized in that church or join by letter from another church that states you have been saved and baptized by their church OR you can join by a statement of faith which states you have been saved and baptized. Just attending for 50 years does not make you a member.
I honestly do not know if our church constitution allows only for members to get married in the church or not and I honestly do not remember a single couple getting married in our church that were not members.
The church constitution rules though if it states members only then it is members only. Our Pastor may perform a wedding at another church or at a secular place that rents out for weddings and receptions.
I hear bits and pieces of church saga from some of GF’s family that attend the neighborhood Baptist Church. I’d bet a month’s paycheck that the elders board there would be hiring a new pastor if the current one crossed into any cultural territory that broke tradition.