Interdenominational marriage#Christianity

File:Ev Stadtkirche Ravensburg innen.jpg priest in Germany marries a young couple in a church.]]

{{Main|Interfaith marriage in Christianity#Inter-denominational marriages}}

In Christianity, an interdenominational marriage (also known as an ecumenical marriage) refers to a wedding between two Christians who belong to different denominations, for example a marriage between a Lutheran and a Catholic.{{cite book |last1=Schram |first1=Robert H. |title=Mixed Marriage ... Interreligious, Interracial, Interethnic |date=16 September 2013 |isbn=978-1-4836-8816-9 |page=93 |language=en}}

In Methodism, ¶81 of the 2014 Book of Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection, states with regard to interdenominational marriages: "We do not prohibit our people from marrying persons who are not of our connection, provided such persons have the form and are seeking the power of godliness; but we are determined to discourage their marrying persons who do not come up to this description."{{cite book|title=The Discipline of the Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection (Original Allegheny Conference)|year=2014|publisher=Allegheny Wesleyan Methodist Connection|location=Salem|language=en|pages=33}}

The Catholic Church recognizes as sacramental, (1) the marriages between two baptized Protestants or between two baptized Orthodox Christians, as well as (2) marriages between Catholic faithful and baptized non-Catholics,{{cite book|last=Foster|first=Michael Smith|title=Annulment|year=1999|publisher=Paulist Press|isbn=9780809138449|page=[https://archive.org/details/annulmentwedding00fost/page/83 83]|quote=The Catholic Church considers marriages of baptized Protestants to be valid marriages. So if two Lutherans marry in the Lutheran Church in the presence of a Lutheran minister, the Catholic Church recognizes this as a valid sacrament of marriage.|url=https://archive.org/details/annulmentwedding00fost/page/83}} although in the latter case, consent from the diocesan bishop must be obtained, with this termed "permission to enter into a mixed marriage".{{cite book|last=Burke|first=John|title=Catholic Marriage|year=1999|publisher=Paulines Publications Africa |isbn=9789966081063|page=98|quote=We might remind ourselves here that a marriage between a Catholic and a baptized person that takes place in the Catholic Church, or in another Church with permission from the diocesan bishop, is a sacramental union. Such a marriage is a life-long union and no power on earth can dissolve it.}} To illustrate (1), for example, "if two Lutherans marry in the Lutheran Church in the presence of a Lutheran minister, the Catholic Church recognizes this as a valid sacrament of marriage". Weddings in which both parties are Catholics are ordinarily held in a Catholic church, while weddings in which one party is a Catholic faithful and the other party is a non-Catholic can be held in a Catholic church or a non-Catholic church.{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions about Marriage in the Catholic Church |url=https://www.archsa.org/marriage-faqs#question5 |publisher=Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio |access-date=30 November 2020 |language=en |date=2020 |quote=If the wedding is celebrated in the Catholic Church, the priest presides, and a non-Catholic minister can offer prayers and ask a blessing on the couple. If the wedding takes place in a non-Catholic church, the minister presides, and a priest/deacon may be present to offer a prayer and blessing.}}

== Islam ==

The largest form of inter-sect marriages in Islam is Sunni-Shia marriage. Such marriages are common in Iraq, but uncommon in Saudi Arabia. The term "sushi marriage" is sometimes used for these marriages,{{Cite news|date=2016-06-18|title='Sushi' children defy Sunni-Shia divide|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36528536|access-date=2021-09-23}} although the term "sushi" is also adopted by Muslims who do not want to identify with either Islamic sect.Chehata, H., [https://www.middleeasteye.net/features/why-cant-i-be-sushi-making-sense-sunni-shia-divide 'Why can't I be a Sushi?' Making sense of the Sunni-Shia divide], Middle East Eye, published on 4 May 2016, accessed on 11 March 2025

{{col div|colwidth=30em}}

• Ecumenism
• Endogamy
• Interfaith marriage
• Multiple religious belonging
• Shia–Sunni relations

{{Div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171123110214/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09698a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Mixed Marriage]

{{Religious pluralism}}

{{Types of marriages|state=autocollapse}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Christian ecumenism