Sanctity of Marriage Week

September 1st – 7th, 2003

A nation-wide “Sanctity of Marriage Week” shall be proclaimed from September 1st – 7th, as a celebration of and a call to defend the sacred institution of Marriage. The Saturday and Sunday times of gathering will then be followed (if local organizers can be found) with “ Marriage Rallies”, to be held on Sunday September 7th, 3:00 PM local time, at local Member of Parliament’s constituency office(s).

The importance of family and marriage will fit well with the ‘season’ of the return to school for our children. It will also precede the return to Ottawa of Canada’s Members of Parliament as they consider their ^[1] options with respect to the issue of marriage. During the month of August, each assembly will begin to announce in advance the importance of the upcoming events, Covenant Marriage Week, including the date and location of the Family and Marriage Rallies.

On Saturday, September the 6th and Sunday September 7th, every assembly of faith including Synagogues and Churches shall be urged to celebrate marriage as God ordained and designed; a lifelong, voluntary covenant relationship of one man and one woman. Celebrants will be reminded that traditional marriage is the basis of the family and is an essential institution for the stability and equilibrium of society. Scripture readings and teaching shall appropriately address the doctrine and biblical design of marriage according to each assembly’s tradition.

Celebrants will also be reminded that as Canadian citizens they have a right and responsibility to speak in defence of their convictions. They shall accordingly be invited to a “Family and Marriage Rally” to be held on September 7th, 2003 at about 3:00 PM local time in front of each Member of Parliament’s constituency office(s).

Additionally, all assemblies of worship will be urged to distribute a ^[2] Family Action Bulletin’ that will provide basic information on the marriage issue and suggestions for contacting their respective MPs as well as the provincial representatives on the issue of ‘Marriage’ as between one man and one woman.

The Sunday September 7 afternoon rallies will only take place if local organizers take up the responsibility to organize such rallies. Organizers are requested to register their event with Canada Family Action Coalition a means of ensuring that efforts are not duplicated and that the rallies are organized in accordance to the guidelines as outlined in this proposal.

These rallies must be a positive event for the entire family and a clear message to the MP that the unilateral and reckless redefining of marriage by non-elected judges simply cannot and will not be accepted by the citizens of this great nation. MPs will be invited as guests and shall be urged to defend the supremacy of Parliament and legally and/or constitutionally restore the one-man, one-woman definition or marriage.

[1] A Motion will be introduced in September to support the definition of marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman. All MPs must be urged to support this motion and defeat the proposed Justice Member’s Bill that accepts a flawed lower court ruling that forced marriage to be redefined as between “any two persons”.

[2] Family Action Bulletins will be provided by various organizations including the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, Focus on the Family, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Canada, Real Woman of Canada, or Canada Family Action Coalition. Each assembly is urged to find the one that suits them.