I see a good path to agreement in an effort to restore the religious nature of marriage. To separate it from the secular realm and return to appreciating its sanctity.
Other than the definition of marriage in which they all agree, the one thing they must do is to only recognize marriages that fit this definition.
That is, if a couple enter any of those churches, no matter the denomination, and claim to be married, that marriage must be certified as a “real” marriage, by the rules. If it does not conform, then they must be “remarried” by that church, but only if they *can* be married.
This would be the minimum requirements, and denominations could add on to these requirements. The same rules apply to divorce. If it is permitted, it must be done by the church, or it will not be recognized.
Unfortunately, they don't all agree. Very few groups outside orthodoxy steadfastly hold to the sacrament of marriage -- the entire state churches in Western and northern europe accept gay marriage and in the USA we have the ECUSA, PCUSA, ELCA etc.
well, for Catholics and Orthodox and Lutherans, marriage is a sacrament.
well, for Catholics and Orthodox and Lutherans, marriage is a sacrament.
It has to be considered more than a contract between woman and man but a union of woman, man WITH God.
A civil union can be between man & woman, man and man or man and tree, whatever, that's gubmint, but the sacrament of marriage is holy