BFM Memo: Information on Upcoming Marriage Blessing Ceremony on June 27

Thank you for all your great work and sincere investment for our Heavenly Parent, True Parents and Blessed Families.

During her last visit to the U.S., while speaking at the Manhattan Center, True Mother shared, “Accordingly, all of us are living together with True Parents at the same time and we’re working for the sake of world peace, trying to realize one family under God. In order to devote ourselves to this task, we need to work harder. The method to do so is for us to fulfill our responsibility. What responsibility is that? It is to testify to True Parents through our tribes and bring them to the Holy Marriage Blessing.”

Also, True Father said that, “In the Unification Church, we restore fallen man and woman centering on true love by giving the Blessing. God’s primary will is that this be accomplished. In the future this will expand, as the work of making one world will remain. Now, through holding several Blessings for people worldwide, the new tradition of love is established as the road of tradition.” (Blessing and Ideal Family, Chapter 3, Section 3, part 1)

In response to True Parents’ guidance, the Marriage Blessing Movement has been initiated as a way to extend the grace of the Blessing to more couples and families throughout America, multiply the numbers of Blessed Central Families nationwide, and support each Blessed Central Family in reaching the goal of Blessing 430 couples in their tribe. The Marriage Blessing Movement will create opportunities for Marriage Blessing Ceremonies, sanctioned by True Mother, to be held in communities across the U.S. every few months. Through this Marriage Blessing Movement, we hope many married couples can become better educated about True Parents, their teachings, and the value of receiving the Marriage Blessing and being engrafted unto Heavenly Parent’s lineage; and that marriages and families throughout America can be strengthened and renewed.

Hosting a Blessing Ceremony on June 27

We know many communities have been inspired by this initiative and have been making preparations to host a Marriage Blessing Ceremony on Saturday, June 27. To begin this Marriage Blessing Movement with a strong precedent, we would like to ask that only those communities that feel well prepared to hold a Marriage Blessing Ceremony do so on June 27. All other communities are encouraged to hold off on having a ceremony on the 27 and instead prepare well for the next Marriage Blessing Ceremony on October 3.

If you feel that your community is prepared to host a Marriage Blessing Ceremony on June 27, and have not yet registered your community, you can register your community as a Blessing Ceremony host here. (This will allow us to help advertise your Blessing Ceremony, as well as allow us to send you a Blessing Ceremony Support Packet).

Securing a Certified Blessing Officiator

In order to host a Marriage Blessing Ceremony, a community must secure a certified Marriage Blessing Officiator. The process to become a certified Marriage Blessing Officiator was recently established by the board of HSA-UWC. Certified Marriage Blessing Officiating Couples will have the authority to give the Blessing on behalf of True Parents. Couples who receive the Blessing from a certified Marriage Blessing Officiator will be able to complete the “change of blood lineage” process, and achieve the status of a Blessed Couple.

A full explanation of the process to become certified as a Marriage Blessing Officiator can be found on the BFM website (ministry leader login required). It explains the necessary qualifications and required documents, the sequence of events in the processing of an application, and provides the application itself.

Our national BFM team is committed to processing applications quickly, so communities can secure a Blessing Officiating Couple in time for the Blessing Ceremony on June 27. However, it is important that candidates for the position of Blessing Officiator act quickly and fill out the application as soon as possible. It is a simple online application that will not take long to complete, as long as the applicant meets all the necessary requirements.

We invite you to contribute to the success of this Marriage Blessing Movement, and wish you the very best as you prepare for the Marriage Blessing Ceremony on June 27 and future ceremonies. May Heaven’s blessings be with you and your communities!

Dr. Michael Balcomb President

Crescentia DeGoede Director, Blessing and Family Ministry