God's Blessing Without Major Hurdles - Catholic-Protestant co-operate on pop-up weddings

Pop-Up Wedding in Gera: God's Blessing Without Major Hurdles

When Pastor Stefan Körner welcomes the first couples on May 17th at Gera's St. Salvator Church, a very special day will begin: It will be the first pop-up wedding in the city – a blessing ceremony open to everyone, without complicated requirements or lengthy registration processes. What is a low-threshold access to a church wedding for some is cause for criticism for others.

"Before every single wedding – which lasts about 20 minutes – we take time to talk with the couple," explains Pastor Stefan Körner. 

Together with Anna Hentschel from the Catholic parish, he organizes the pop-up weddings.

The process? Flexible. The centerpiece of the ceremony is a spontaneously chosen wedding verse from the Bible, selected on a tablet. Musical accompaniment for the vows is traditional, either with organ music or, more modernly, via Bluetooth.

It doesn't matter whether someone is newly in love or has been together for years. Church affiliation or sexual orientation are also irrelevant on this day.

There's also flexibility in the choice of location: the wedding can take place in the church, under the plane trees, or under a wedding arch on the grounds. 14 couples have already registered - more are welcome.

"It doesn't matter whether someone is newly in love or has been together for years. Church affiliation or sexual orientation are also irrelevant on this day," says Körner. The only thing that matters is the desire for God's blessing.

Open: What is a pop-up wedding?

Why a pop-up wedding at all?

The couples' reasons are varied. "They are grateful that they now have this opportunity through the church. In the past, they experienced the church as an institution with many requirements," says Körner.

Many don't want to get married at a civil ceremony or in church, but still want to show commitment. A recent encounter particularly gave Körner food for thought: An older couple said: "How wonderful that this exists now. Before, we wouldn't have dared to ask the church."

The fact that the project was able to be realized is primarily thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers. In addition to Pastor Stefan Körner and Anna Hentschel, Julia Zienau and Mia Schüller are also involved.

Zienau runs a Protestant daycare center full-time. Schüller is a student and dreams of working as a wedding planner later in life. Numerous other volunteers are also supporting the project – from the setup team to musicians and photographers.

But not everyone views this opening of the church positively. There are conservative voices asking "whether we aren't robbing marriage of its seriousness and dignity with this format," says Körner. The blessing of queer or unmarried couples, in particular, is met with incomprehension in some quarters.

"These voices exist. And they are not only present in the church, but are not diminishing with the growing support for right-wing extremist positions among broad sections of the population." For Körner, the position is clear: "Faith spaces are safe spaces. God's blessing is there for everyone."

Church in Transition

The pop-up format is intended as an experiment – ​​also to demonstrate the new openness of the churches. Similar projects in other cities show how well such offerings are being received. "The church walls become more permeable. The blessing is not our church property, reserved only for initiates or members," says Körner.

Still space for a spontaneous wedding

There is still space for weddings in Gera on 17 May. Anyone who would like to come spontaneously is invited to register. There are no conditions attached to the blessing - it is an offer. "I'm very excited to see how it materialises," says Körner.

Above all, he is pleased with the positive response so far: "The church is seen as people-friendly and approachable. It could hardly be better for a pastor."

Source