During our three month engagement, we were impure by touching each other inappropriately and French kissing, but we never had sex nor even came close to it.

We repented and confessed on our own to the minister three weeks before the wedding. He cancelled the wedding on the spot and we were not allowed to reschedule for at least three months. Even then, we were not given a new date until six months after the cancellation. At the wedding, he did not say one positive thing about us. I know that we sinned and felt Godly sorrow over it. However, I believe that he should not have cancelled our wedding and mistreated us like he did. They knew how hurt and angry we were at the cancellation.

We have been married for six years and I am still deeply saddened by the whole situation. I still cry about it. What do you believe are valid reasons and time frames for a pastor to cancel a wedding?

L. B., Illinois, USA

Dear L. B.,

The action of your minister is startling. He behaved as a judge. He had no authority to cancel your wedding. You could have gone to City Hall and got married there. Some ministers overstep their positions and need to heed the warning in the Bible that they should not be lord over God's people. What your minister did was wrong.