Malachi 2:14-16 clearly indicates God is not in favor of divorce. When He instituted marriage, He intended for it to be a permanent relationship. Therefore, God's best standard is that there be no divorce. It grieves Him and the Body of Christ when a couple decides to divorce. However, while divorce falls short of God's standard, it is, no greater sin than another. It, like all sin, is forgiven at the cross of Calvary through Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice.

In the Old Testament, God Permitted men to divorce their wives because He recognized men's hardness of hearts. God imposed regulations on divorce and remarriage to protect the divorced woman (Matthew 19:7-8; Mark 10:2-5; Deuteronomy 24:1-4).

In the New Testament, divorce is permitted (not required) for believers on the following grounds:

Fornication ( Matthew 5:32, 19:9 ) Desertion by a non Christian (I Cor. 7:l5) Hardness of heart (Mark 10:4-5)

The Body of Christ is a gathering of forgiven sinners partaking of the grace and healing of God. We are not perfect people with perfect pasts. We are of the band of those who have been shown grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Because of this, we are to be agents of mercy and forgiveness and not judgment. We seek to uphold God's standards of conduct with compassion and sensitivity rather than with legalism and insensitivity. Each situation of divorce is distinctive unto itself and must be approached with understanding and integrity.

We affirm that reconciliation with ones former spouse should be the highest, priority. However when reconciliation is impossible, we believe that one is free (not required) to remarry if their divorce was for the following reasons:

When the marriage and divorce occurred prior to salvation and former spouse now married or is still a non-believer (I Cor. 7:7-9, 39). When one spouse was guilty of sexual immorality and was unwilling to repent and live faithfully with the other spouse (Matt. 5,31-32; 19:3-12). If both are Christians and while separated or divorced for non-biblical grounds, the other spouse committed adultery or remarried (Matt. 5:31-32; 19:3-12). When one of the spouses was a non-Christian and willfully and permanently deserted the spouse who is a Christian (I. Cor. 7:12-16). When one spouse had a hard heart which was manifested by subjecting the other spouse or children to continual emotional, physical, and/or psychological abuse and refused to get counseling (Mark 10:4-5; Eph. 5:25-29, 6,4; I. Tim. 5:8).

Only those who are divorced on biblical grounds or whose ex-mate subsequently provided biblical grounds (though fornication, remarriage, or, permanent desertion) may remarry. Otherwise they must remain single or be reconciled with their former spouse (I. Cor. 7:10-11).

No ordained minister of Calvary Chapel will perform a marriage for those whose divorce was on non-biblical grounds, since if the divorced person(s) remarry they commit adultery and the minister will sin himself through giving official sanction to the sin of adultery when performing the ceremony.

If a person is now remarried and the divorce was not for one of the above five reasons, then they should ask God's forgiveness for committing adultery and remain faithful to the spouse to whom they are now married. If they do so and are truly repentant then they should be fully welcomed into the body and may be considered for any ministry including positions of leadership such as house-church shepherd, deacon, and elder.