Proactive Marriage Counseling: A Look at the WELS Approach to Marriage Enrichment

Abstract

Marriage is foundational to society and the Church. In a world in which marriage is not only losing its meaning but also its value, it is important that the church continuesto help God’s people keep Christ’s love at the center of their marriage. Throughout the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, pastors are experimenting with ways of bringing God’s principles of marriage and Christian service into the day to day lives of the couples in their congregations. This paper will examine the resources and programs used to bring the timeless truths concerning marriage to the modern Christian. It will weigh potential options for pastors who serve in unique contexts and present the strengths and weaknesses of those possibilities. This thesis serves as an encouragement to, in some way,take a proactive approach to marriage counseling.