From the Senior Minister – Congratulations!
Congratulations on the announcement
of your engagement!
I hope that your wedding and your marriage will be everything you imagine: uplifting, encouraging, enriching, and fulfilling all of your hopes and dreams.
On behalf of West Side Baptist Church, let me express my sincere joy that you have decided to get married. I encourage you to be married in your home Church, if possible. If this is not possible or desirable, I would be glad to officiate your wedding ceremony as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I invite you to become actively involved in our congregation as your wedding day approaches.
As you may know, Christians consider the Covenant of Christian Marriage to be a serious and special bond – a holy institution – created by God between one man and one woman to enter into for a lifetime.
God said: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4).
We are here to help you not only have a wonderful wedding day but to strive for a rich and rewarding marriage, which we hope will last a lifetime. We are pleased to play a part in this special time for you. That’s why I will want to meet with you at least once to schedule a premarital consultation and to set the date for your service. The sessions will enable us to talk about marriage in general and your wedding ceremony.
I generally do not reserve the service date on the Church calendar until after my first meeting with the couple. Please call the Church Office at (785) 233-4241 to schedule your first appointment. You should call three to six months before your intended wedding date.
I look forward to meeting with you very soon. Please call if you have any questions or need further guidance. My desire is to assist you in making this special day as Christ centered, God honoring and memorable as possible.
Blessings,
The Reverend Ivan E. Greuter M.A., M.Div., D.Min.
Senior Minister
The Ordained Clergy reserve the right not to perform a service
for any reason without prior notification, ramifications, refunds, or legal recourse.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
The Church Teaches that God’s purpose for our marriage is…
The Church teaches that God’s purpose for our marriage is our mutual joy, the help and Comfort we will give to each other in prosperity and adversity, and, when it is God’s will, the gift and heritage of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of God.
We also understand that our marriage is to be:
- Unconditionally Loving – a selfless, sacrificial, and unwavering affection that persists regardless of circumstance, merit, or reciprocation (1 Corinthians 13:1-12; Ephesians 4:2-3, 4:32; 1 Peter 4:8; and 1 John 4:7-8);
- Mutual – a shared, reciprocal relationship of love, submission, and support between two parties that emphasizes interconnectedness (Genesis 1:27-28);
- Exclusive – absolute sexual and emotional devotion that supersedes all other relationships and forbids adultery (Ecclesiastes 9:9; 1 Corinthians 7:5, Hebrews 13:14);
- Faithful – a steadfast, reliable, and entirely trustworthy relationship of mutual honesty and intimacy (Mark 10:9); and
- Lifelong – an unbroken devotion to God, enduring family commitments, and faithfulness that spans the entirety of a person’s earthly existence (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:6, Mark 10:9, and 1 Corinthians 7:39).
AND, we engage to make the utmost effort to accept these gifts and fulfill these duties, with the help of God and the support of our community.
All Couples will be required to read and sign the Declaration of Intent
prior to their Wedding Rehearsal or Service.
A FREE WEDDING CEREMONY
Couples wishing to have a simple wedding service for free are encouraged to hold their ceremony in the Church Sanctuary. The simple service is limited to the spoken rite, and the following limitations:
- The Bride and Groom,
- Two Witnesses,
- No Rehearsal,
- No Changing Rooms,
- No special music (e.g., solos, songs, etc.).
- No Reception(s)
- No extended time for photographers, and
- Fewer than fifty guests.
Couples should speak with the Ordained Clergy to request a free, simple service.
The Ordained Clergy reserve the right not to perform a service for any reason
without prior notification, ramifications, refunds, or legal recourse.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION & ENRICHMENT CLASSES
Couples celebrating the Covenant of Christian Marriage at the Church or asking our ordained clergy to officiate a service are required to successfully complete:
- An Online Registration Form, and
- Four (4) Marriage Preparation & Enrichment Classes.
These Prepare/Enrich classes provide couples with guided tools to strengthen communication, understand personality differences, and address key areas of relationship health before marriage. With a proven assessment process, couples gain practical insight and faith-centered support to build a stronger, more resilient Christian marriage grounded in intentional preparation and lasting commitment.
Prepare/Enrich is the #1 premarital and marriage assessment tool, using evidence-based skills and insights to foster healthy relationships. Contact the Church Office to schedule an appointment.
The Marriage Prepare and Enrich classes are free. The classes should happen six months before the wedding as follows:
- Initial Meeting (4-9 months prior): Couples must first meet with me, as the officiating and deacon. This meeting assesses the couple’s freedom to marry, resolves any religious impediments, and begins the required paperwork.
- Relationship Inventory Meeting: I use a standardized assessment called Prepare/Enrich. This tool highlights communication strengths and areas needing growth.
- Religious Formation Meeting: Couples complete a recognized marriage preparation Bible course focused on biblical theology, conflict resolution, and life skills.
- Ceremony Planning Meeting: The clergy member works with the couple to plan the Ceremony, select scripture readings, and finalize the prenuptial plans.
PREMARITAL COUNSELING: Couples wishing to engage in Premarital Counseling should contact a trained Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the State of Kansas. The Church’s ordained clergy do not offer “counseling” services.
MANDATORY REPORTERS NOTICE: In many US states, clergy and other professionals are mandatory reporters of CHILD ABUSE (mental, physical, or sexual), neglect, or suspected harm; ELDER ABUSE, neglect, or suspected harm; abuse, neglect or suspected harm to VULNERABLE PERSONS; and threats of BODILY HARM to yourself (suicide) or others. Our Church requires Ordained Clergy to be mandatory reporters regardless of state law. Mandatory reporting statutes in some states specify the circumstances under which a pastoral communication is “privileged” or allowed to remain confidential. Consult the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and/or an attorney for current requirements, statutes, and limits of privileged communication(s).
The Church Does Not Rent the Building or Property for Community or Private Use.
Persons and Groups may use the Building for Free with Prior Permission.
The building and property of West Side Baptist Church is dedicated to the glory of God and the service of His Kingdom.
It is available to the Church’s members and the community for worship, study and significant occasions. The booklet below provides all the information you need to make your wedding a meaningful celebration and to help ensure the wedding and related tasks run smoothly. To provide guidance for the celebration of marriage, the following policies and procedures have been adopted by the Council of Ministry of this Church, along with general guidelines on Church etiquette for wedding services.
We welcome Donations for the Maintenance, Repair, and Improvement of the Building and Grounds.
Persons and groups using the Church building and property for Christian weddings must meet the following requirements:
- The couple agrees to comply with the traditional teachings and practices of the Baptist faith (see What We Believe).
- The couple engages in premarital consultation.
- The couple must sign the Declaration of Intent (see below).
- The couple is married by the Senior Minister of this congregation.
- The couple complies with the policies and practices of the church (see below).
The Bride and Groom are responsible for ensuring all policies and procedures are followed by the wedding party, family, friends and guests. Violation of the church’s policies and procedures may result in the cancellation of the celebration without notice, liability, reimbursement or legal recourse.
Private Property for Religious Use: West Side Baptist Church does not rent its building or property for community use. The use of the Church’s building and property is offered gratis (free of charge) to persons or groups who wish to fulfill the original intent of the congregation and its 501(c)3 non-profit purpose, and are approved by the Council of Ministries. Nothing in this webpage or policy manual should be interpreted to convey a legal contract, a rental agreement, a binding lease, or legal advice.
UPDATED 20 MAY 2026
