Romance Academy

The Romance Academy is a five month project of peer-led sex education facilitated by trained youth workers and suitable for a parish setting. Although it originated in Harrow, UK, it is already running successfully in some youth groups in Ireland.

The project supports and mentors twelve young people as they challenge themselves and their community cultures with an exploration of the sexual abstinence lifestyle. At the heart of the Academy is the belief that sex should be saved for loving and faithful relationships, ideally marriage. It also recognises that as well as understanding the mechanics of managing relationships and sex, young people benefit from exploring what it means to relate as a man to a woman (or vice versa!). The very basics of relationships are explored.

Through a series of group meetings and structured, practical education activities, the project focuses on building community within the group and on self-discovery. Unlike traditional PSHE lessons, however, it is most definitely not a taught programme.

Training is available for prospective leaders. Please click here for more information about running the programme or becoming a supporter.

Pocket Prayers For Marriage

Compiled by: Andrew and Pippa Body

Price: £5.99

ISBN: 9780715140185

Publisher: Church House Publishing

An inspiring and unique collection, this book combines both old and new, bringing together familiar and more unusual prayers for all the challenges and joys of married life. It's an ideal resource for bride and groom as well as husband and wife.

The prayers in the book are grouped into themes including:

• Preparing to be married
• The wedding day
• The early years
• Times of change
• Times of conflict
• Special times
• Partings
• Further marriage
• Prayers for every day
• Wedding day
  

Andrew and Pippa Body have been married for thirty-five years and have four children. Andrew is an ordained minister and works as a counsellor for Relate.

Baby-Proofing Your Marriage

Authors: Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O'Neill and Julia Stone

Price: £10.99

ISBN: 978-0007243631

Publisher: Collins

This funny, compassionate, opinionated guide addresses how the early parenting years impact marriage, using real-life stories from both men and women to tell the whole truth.

It discusses in detail couples' frustrations over the division of labour, changing roles and expectations, sex (or lack thereof), and dealing with parents and in-laws.

With real quotes from real people, and the authors own combined experiences, it offers a positive, humorous and solution-oriented approach.

Sex God

Author: Rob Bell

Price: £7.99

ISBN: 9780310274155

Publisher: Zondervan

Sex God is about relationships revealed in a way that elevates the human condition and offers hope to those whose relationships are wounded.

This book joyfully ties, and then tightens, the knot between God and humankind.

God and sex go together. You can't separate the two, says Rob Bell, because this physical world is intimately linked to deeper spiritual realities. And so, in order to make sense of sexuality, at some point you have to talk about God. With beauty and unusual insight, Sex God explores this connection.

Bell addresses lust, respect, denial, acceptance, and more. His love for God the Bible is clear, as is his ability to ask probing questions and offer answers that make readers think deeply about their own lives. He does a fine job using the Bible and real life to show that our physical relationships are really about spiritual relationships.

Marriage: Restoring Our Vision

Author: David J Robertson

Price: £7.99

ISBN: 1841014028

Publisher: BRF (Bible Reading Fellowship)

This book aims to restore our vision of God's purpose for marriage, shedding light on our inherited cultural values and our contemporary Christian assumptions.

Linking with the vows in the Marriage Service, it examines biblical principles and challenges current practice. The author also unpacks difficult issues such as cohabitation, divorce and remarriage.

Entertaining, thought provoking and stimulating, this book can be read by an individual, or used with groups as a basis for a Bible study or teaching series. The ideas and images used will communicate clearly to young and old, whether single, married or divorced.

For all those wanting to think about the subject, it will help them to discover God's pattern for married life.

Mr and Mrs: the marriage report

Most of us believe marriage is for life, and that adultery is wrong — and yet 22% of men in their first marriage admit to an affair, and about 40% of British marriages end in divorce. A shocking new survey uncovers the truth about wedlock in the 21st century.

Deirdre Fernand reports in The Times, January 2007.

View online here

A Guide for Churches to The Gender Recognition Act (UK)

Authors: Evangelical Alliance

Price: £5.00
Available from: Evangelical Alliance

A booklet advising clergy on how to deal with new legislation that could see transsexual couples ask to be married in church.

The guide can be purchased over the phone:

Tel: 020 7207 2100

The Highway Code for Marriage

Authors: Michael & Hilary Perrott
Price: £6.99
ISBN: 1-8534 5331-5

Publisher: CWR Publishing

Are you about to get married? Thinking of giving up on your marriage? Want to make your marriage even better? Hilary and Michael Perrott have poured all their wisdom and experience into a book that will help you build, or rebuild, a sure foundation for your marriage.

With its user-friendly format, The Highway Code for Marriage is a book you can dip into or use as a study guide together. It will help you get down to the nitty-gritty of your marriage relationship with topics that include forgiveness; avoiding an affair; ten steps to good sex; encouraging one another; respecting gender differences … and much more.

Juggling ministry and marriage

Marriages are under more pressure than ever before and clergy marriages are no exception. Several Church of Ireland clergy reflect on the art of Juggling Ministry and Marriage. (Download in rich text format).

Connect2

Authors: Care for the Family
Price: £29.99
Available from: Care for the Family

A course to help couples in the first five years of their marriage.

This unique five-session course can be run in your local community or church to support and encourage couples in the early stages of their marriage. The course sessions cover:

• Love for a lifetime
• Communications and differences
• Resolving conflict
• Great Expectations
• Intimacy, romance and sex

Connect2 uses simple exercises, group discussion and communication tools to provide insight into how relationships work.

All the materials you need to run the course are included:

• Presenters manual
• Handout masters
• Powerpoint and OHP presentations

An ideal course for anyone who wants to see couples Connect together.

Debate

Should we in the Church talk about "marriage" rather than "Christian Marriage"? The Very Reverend Michael Burrows, Dean of Cork, Canon Jonathan Barry and Mr Dermot O'Callaghan debate the issue. Please click here to download the full debate in rich text format. The contents reflect personal understandings of the Anglican position.

Reflections on Christian Marriage

by Ted Woods, former Chairman of The Church of Ireland Marriage Council.

Click here to download in rich text format

Men in Relationships

by Claire Missen, Marriage Counsellor

Click here to download in rich text format

The Marriage Course

A series of eight sessions designed to help any married couple strengthen their relationship.

The course is resourced by Holy Trinity Brompton and can easily be run by a parish with some willing volunteers.

The evening starts with a candlelit dinner followed by a talk. Many venues will use a video for this rather than give the talk themselves. Couples have plenty of opportunity to discuss the material and are given a little homework for next time! There is no group work involved at any stage.

The Marriage Course is very practical and will help equip couples with the tools needed to build a healthy marriage that lasts a lifetime.

For more information click here.