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The purpose of this study was to analyze the attitudes and practices of Southern Baptist pastors in four Midwestern states toward premarital education. The researcher utilized a multi-stage sampling procedure to randomly select 1070 churches in Missouri, Tennessee, Illinois, and Kentucky. A research tool was created to record demographic information about the research participants and also to record the attitudes and practices of the sample toward premarital education. A content analysis was conducted which identified the top 11 recommendations from the literature base for premarital education curricular content areas. The curricular content components reportedly present in the practices of the sample were compared against the curricular content areas in the literature base. Finally, the researcher investigated the relationship between the presence of certain curricular content components of present in the practices of the sample and certain demographic characteristics of the sample.

Many couples have been encouraged or even required by their pastors or by the state to engage in premarital counseling (Calvert & Bridges, 2006; Schumm et al., 2010; Williams, 2007). The majority of premarital counseling is provided within church settings and is provided by the clergy or lay ministers of the church (Schumm et al., 2010; Stahmann, 2000). Although pastors can provide education and spiritual guidance, they may not be adequately trained or comfortable with providing the clinical interventions that some premarital couples may need. The authors propose an Adlerian model for therapists to use when providing premarital counseling with religious couples. In addition, they provide a brief overview of existing popular assessments and inventories for premarital counseling, and they present a case study involving a male-female, Christian couple.

This study examined the effects of premarital counseling on newlywed communication. It was predicted that individuals who had participated in premarital counseling would have lower levels of demand/withdrawal communication and higher levels of spousal support. The effects of the format of the counseling were also examined. Individuals who had been married less than two years completed a survey measuring their marital satisfaction, levels of demand/withdraw, and perceived spousal support. Social learning theory was used as a theoretical lens. Results suggested that participating in premarital counseling has no affect on newlywed communication. Newlyweds who had been exposed to a group format during their counseling had higher marital satisfaction than those who had just participated in a one-on-one format with a counselor.

A sample of 127 members of the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP) responded to a questionnaire regarding their beliefs, practices and training in premarital counseling (PMC). This study was a replication of a previous study of 226 clergy premarital counselors from four Protestant denominations by Jones, E.F., & Stahmann, R.F. (1994). The results of this study were compared with the results of the Jones & Stahmann study. Findings suggest that AMCAP members were less likely than Protestant clergy to believe that PMC should be required of all couples before marriage. AMCAP members and Protestant clergy both rated Enrichment, Testimony/Evangelism, and Education as the three most important topics/roles they focus on when providing PMC. No difference was found between AMCAP members and Protestant clergy in the number of first marriage couples seen for PMC during a 12 month period. AMCAP members saw an average of one couple more than Protestant clergy for PMC with remarriages during a 12 month period. AMCAP members reported the use of group formats and assigned reading materials more frequently than Protestant clergy. Protestant clergy reported the use of individual couple formats and tests or assessments more frequently than AMCAP members. There was no difference in the amount of training between AMCAP members and Protestant clergy with nearly 40% of both samples practicing PMC with no specific training in PMC.

Making a successful Christian marriage is a major challenge that faces the Seventh Day Adventist church (SDA Church) of Malawi. The colonial government of Nyasaland (Malawi) created weak marriages, promoting high divorce rates by its own practices during its era, which have remained to this day. The failure of secular marriages endangers the success of SDA Christian marriages. Little has been done by the Church to educate its members concerning successful Christian marriage. This study focuses on educating the church to deal with the problems that cause marriage failure in the SDA Church. The Malawi government is another tool that the church could use to address marriage failure. I have used the Bible, and scientific research methods to suggest workable solutions for Christian marriage. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)

Making a successful Christian marriage is a major challenge that faces the Seventh Day Adventist church (SDA Church) of Malawi. The colonial government of Nyasaland (Malawi) created weak marriages, promoting high divorce rates by its own practices during its era, which have remained to this day. The failure of secular marriages endangers the success of SDA Christian marriages. Little has been done by the Church to educate its members concerning successful Christian marriage. This study focuses on educating the church to deal with the problems that cause marriage failure in the SDA Church. The Malawi government is another tool that the church could use to address marriage failure. I have used the Bible, and scientific research methods to suggest workable solutions for Christian marriage. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Practical Theology)