Pastor’s Information

Lutheran Marriage Encounter is a ministry comprised of Lutheran Clergy and Lay Couples who believe that a major need in today’s church is to strengthen the relationships between these  husbands and wives (a man and a woman) as well as their relationship with God. By deepening married couples’ relationships, their ability to form healthy relationships with their children, other family members, and society in general is enhanced.

Lutheran Marriage Encounter is for a married man and woman who are in love and want to make that love even stronger. The experience is an opportunity for them to focus only on each other to improve their communication. Lutheran lay couples and a Lutheran clergy couple lead the experience through a series of presentations that help couples become more sensitive to each other’s needs. The experience touches those married for any length of time – from newlyweds to new parents to empty nesters to the grandparenting stages – since marriages encompass many life stages; however, we have found that couples married at least 2 years receive the greatest benefit from Marriage Encounter. Couples privately practice their communication skills. Because there are no group discussions, the experience is not group oriented.

Marriage Encounter is open to a married man and woman regardless of their religious background. It is not designed as an evangelism event, thus non-Christians will likely not be offended by the presenters’ non-judgmental statements of their faith. The experience helps Christian couples understand that God and His love are at the center of good relationships. For Christian couples the experience also strengthens their relationship with God and their understanding of their own personal ministry.

Marriage Encounter is based on sound psychological foundations expressed through our Lutheran tradition of God’s Word. More than 90,000 married husbands and wives have attended Lutheran Marriage Encounter, of which more than 500 have been clergy and seminary couples.