38 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

Marilyn Reames and Gail Dunn, united in marriage January 1,1951

Dianne Gordon and Steve Dunn united in marriage August 26, 1972

 August 26, 1972.

A hot and humid day in Carlisle, Pennsylvania

 In Allison United Methodist Church on the campus of Dickinson College

The Reverend A. Gail Dunn officiating

A gorgeous girl from South Florida and a skinny guy called to serve God consented and covenanted before God and our witnesses to be husband and wife until death do us part. 

It's now 38 years later ... today.  Seven different communities, four children, three grandchildren; four ministry staff jobs; four pastorates ... in sickness and in health ... in prosperity and want ... we remain Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Dunn (now Dr. and Mrs. Stephen Dunn).  Not every moment pleasant but a lifetime of joy. United by the gift of God in Jesus Christ.  Living as one flesh to be gifts of God to others.  Sharing more than a legal name. Sharing a passionate belief that marriage was God's design for Dianne and Steve; and that through Christ we have all we need for the love and loyalty that is absolutely essential to a healthy and enduring marriage. Believing that what we have is not a contract measured by the performance of our partner but a covenant measured by our faithfulness to God and one another.

As a pastor, I perform weddings.  I unite no one in marriage who does not spend time preparing for marriage by sitting with me, examining the foundations and values of marriage, identifying and agreeing to the expectations of marriage, and committing to do the
work of marriage.  My pastoral efforts have not

Now we are husband and wife!

always been successful in producing healthy marriages.  The people being joined are free moral agents in a fallen world.  Some of them come to the altar perjuring themselves before God by lightly repeating the vows embedded in values that they do not intend to live by.  Some of them come to the altar more in love with love than with God and one another.  But some come committed to Christ, truly committed to one another and continue to seek God's empowerment daily to preserve and strengthen that sacred covenant.

And those marriages are a source of joy to the couple, to their children, and to the world in which they live and love as husband and wife.  I believe that is what has been true for Dianne and myself. I look forward to the next 38 or however many we will have until we go to be with our Lord.

(C) 2010 by Stephen L. Dunn

I wonder what our life together will be like