Marriage and Family Resources:

References for the WV Community Marriage Agreement  

The following references are highly recommended quality tools which have been proven to have excellent success rates in achieving the goals of improving marriage and family life. This list is not intended to be a complete list of every program, technique, or book available to address these issues. It does, however, include what are considered to be among the best ideas available at this time that can give most churches a sound foundation in marriage support.

Each section is organized acording to

Unless otherwise identified, the following  programs and materials are non-sectarian.  However, even those noted as related to a specific denomination are usually easily adapted for use by others. This is an imperfect document at best, and is intended as a start, and is not a conclusive listing. New resources will gladly be added as information becomes available.

To add your program or resource to this list please contact us at:
Sky Kershner
Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center
304-346-9689  800-340-9680
"skershner@kpcc.com"

WV A.C.M.E. Chapter
 E-mail: JaneIves@aol.com 304-342-1441

Introductory Letter: Who We Are

Dear Friends,

The Family Concerns Program Unit of the West Virginia Council of Churches has been working on what we can do together to lower the rate of divorce in West Virginia. We have discovered an interesting piece of research: When the clergy of a particular area are agreed  on certain minimal prerequisites before a wedding will be performed, the divorce rate in that area tends to go down.

Attached is the Community Marriage Agreement proposal which is being suggested by the WV State Council of Churches for your consideration. This proposal outlines the kinds of approaches we all can take which can have a significant impact on the strength of family life in our State. We ask that you consider these ideas.

While any one of us can  implement this Community Marriage Agreement on our own, the research indicates that the more of us who are on board with the agreement, the more effective it will be. Therefore we will be gathering a mailing list of all interested clergy so that we can keep in touch with each other as interest in the Agreement grows.

We are working towards a Statewide Ecumenical event, sometime in early 1999 which will bring the ideas of the plan before the larger public. We would like to make sure you are aware of the event so that you can participate in it.

The Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center in Charleston will be gathering the mailing list information. They have established an 800 number so that out of area calls will be toll free. We ask that you send in or call 304-346-9689 or  800-340-9680 with the follow information:
 

Name ________________________________   Address ____________________________

City _____________  State _______  Zip _________  Church Name ___________________

Day Phone ___________  Night Phone ___________  Fax ___________  Title __________

E-mail address ____________________  Denomination _____________________________

General reaction to the proposal: ________________________________________________

Specific feedback and reactions are welcome and can be sent care of:
Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center   16 Broad Street    Charleston, WV  25301
304-346-9689 / 800-340-9680 / fax: 304-345-4601 / e-mail: "skershner@aol.com"
 


  WV Community Marriage Agreement

Much research indicates that the high divorce rate could be lowered if more attention were paid to pre-marital preparation. This is sometimes called the "speed bump" approach. The WV Council of Churches Family Concerns Task Force has adapted and developed the following proposal to be considered by clergy and other officials who perform wedding services as a way to see if we can form a more united front in helping couples prepare more completely for the commitment of married life. (There have been an average of 11,000 marriages and 9,000 divorces per year in the State of West Virginia since 1990.)

#1   We encourage a minimum of four months of marriage preparation.  The preparation time  begins with the initial pre-marital appointment and continues until the wedding date. The  preparation could include learning experiences in:

 This can be accomplished by using one or more of the following:

#2  We encourage clergy and/or mentoring couples to develop follow up contacts with each   newly married couple approximately six and twelve months after the wedding, and with   couples as they become new parents.

#3 We encourage married couples to attend programs designed to enrich and strengthen marriages.

#4  We encourage married couples experiencing serious difficulties in their relationship
 to seek sources of help.

#5 We encourage clergy to exercise a leadership role in helping couples bond for life by:

Since a united front is important for this to be effective, we are trying to create a document that most of our clergy can agree to. Please call to be added to our mailing list of upcoming workshops and offerings around strengthening the marriages in our communities.
 

Thanks !

Sky Kershner                                                 Jane Ives
Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center              A.C.M.E. Leader
skershner@kpcc.com                                     JaneIves@aol.com
304-346-9689                                               304-342-1441

 


 

To: WV Council of Churches  Board of  Directors
From: Sky Kershner and Jane Ives
 Co-Chairs, Family Concerns Program Unit
Date: March 7 , 1998

Re:  WV Community Marriage Agreement
 

Our Program Unit has been working over the past year to spread the word about the Community Marriage Agreement. So far we have been working with clergy association groups in particular geographic areas across the State.

Now we would like your help to spread the word along denominational lines.

We are hoping that over the next several months, each denomination would send out information about the Agreement to its clergy and lay leaders. While inclusion with usual mailings to clergy would be very helpful to us, a special mailing from the denominational head would give significance and weight to this matter.

Please consider this (or both) options, and feel free to amend the letter we have provided in any way you see fit.

We also hope to have your support and presence at a Statewide Ecumenical Event around this issue, which we are hoping to put together for 1999.

Some notes about the logistics:

We have considered that the proposal may have more impact and may be more of a unifying force when it is presented for consideration to each individual clergy person, rather than to be brought before a denominational group for a more formal ratification. Therefore, we are asking the information about the Agreement and the upcoming Event be supported and passed along, but not attempt to be made mandatory in any way.

Several of our denominations already have Marriage guidelines for clergy, and these are usually more detailed and structured than the Community Marriage Agreement proposal. The proposal is an attempt to find common ground for agreement, and therefore is more general and open-ended. We are hoping that clergy in all churches will be able to see the Agreement as representing a minimum of what we are willing to do.

Feedback about the proposed Agreement is welcome and encouraged, c/o Sky Kershner, Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center, 16 Broad Street, Charleston, WV 25301, 304-346-9689.


  Can Government Rescue Marriages?

There is a trend sweeping the country to make changes in legal codes to strengthen and stabilize marriages. There are two key thrusts emerging in state legislatures: the first involves changes in laws that would make it harder for couples to divorce; the second involves efforts to encourage or mandate couples to participate in premarital counseling.

It is hardly debatable that many of society's ills can be traced to the continuing high rates of marital distress and divorce. While divorce rates have fallen from the all time high in 1979, couples marrying for the first time today still have a 40-50 percent chance of divorce. Further, the links between poorly handled marital conflict and adverse psychological outcomes for adults and children are very strong--stronger, in fact, than the links between divorce and such outcomes. Added to these psychological outcomes of marital conflict, there are increasingly clear sociological effects of family fragmentation, including increased poverty, crime, and alienation between parents and children.

While strange bedfellows, there is a growing consensus among both liberal and conservative political and religious leaders that something must be done. Nevertheless, we believe that some of the trends in legal initiatives represent hurried solutions that could lead to serious unintended negative consequences.

New Fault, No Fault

The chief aim of initiatives to make divorce more difficult is to get couples to work harder at making their marriages work, and to reduce the degree to which society collectively thinks of marriages as disposable. As part of this movement, many state assemblies (e.g., Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia, and others) are considering the reintroduction of fault into divorce proceedings, or introducing longer waiting periods and/or requiring pre-divorce counseling. For most couples, it will be "too little too late." Most people do not file for divorce or even seriously entertain the idea until the marriage quality is severely eroded. These issues can be understood in the context of our research on commitment.

Commitment encompasses two related but different concepts: Dedication and Constraint. Dedication refers to the intrinsic devotion of one to another, and it is evidenced by thinking as a team, desiring a future together, placing a high priority on the relationship, and protecting the marriage from attractive alternatives. Constraint refers more to forces that tend to keep people committed when they might want to leave: e.g., children, limited financial resources, social pressure, moral beliefs about divorce, and the difficulty of the steps to end a marriage.

Essentially, the legal steps to reintroduce fault in divorce proceedings or to increase waiting times enhance constraint commitment. Making it harder to end a marriage would very likely make divorce a less attractive option. And there is some evidence that when people perceive their options as less attractive, they are more likely to work harder at making their present relationship work. These are the intended, positive aims of such initiatives. However, such measures may actually increase resentment and the sense of being trapped. In the worst cases, such changes could help keep some marriages together that both conservative and liberals would agree are hugely destructive for adults and children (e.g., battering situations). Moreover, it is possible that such measures could have the unintended negative consequence of fewer people choosing to marry in the first place--thereby undermining the very institution the laws are designed to strengthen.

Whether or not making divorce more difficult is good family law (the issues are very complex), the superior goal would be to do all we can as a society to support and encourage increased dedication to spouses and marriage. Perhaps divorce laws are too liberal. Perhaps it should be less easy to cast off a marriage. Either way, divorce laws do not cause divorce--the real problem is the low quality marital relationships that lead to decisions to divorce. The force of law can make divorce harder, but such laws do not teach couples how to build great marriages.

The Move To Mandate Premarital Counseling

Following closely on the heels of the legislative movement to make divorce harder is the movement to make marriages better by mandating premarital counseling as a requirement for obtaining a marriage license.  Some states are considering an incentive model, with longer delays for getting a license unless a couple gets premarital counseling (e.g., Maryland and Michigan) or by giving a tax break (e.g., Iowa), while other states (e.g., Minnesota and Mississippi) are considering an outright mandate for premarital counseling. The intention is to help couples increase their odds for successful marriage from the start. The good news is that couples can learn to have better marriages. The bad news is that government force could lead to unintended negative consequences.
 
The Good News: Reducing Marital Distress and Divorce Is Possible

Our studies show that marital failure is predictable to a surprising degree--with up to 90 percent accuracy in classification of future outcomes for research samples, using only premarital data. Hence, for many couples the seeds of divorce are present prior to marriage. The factors that predict marital failure range from relatively static dimensions, such as history of parental divorce and differences in religion, to more dynamic dimensions such as communication and conflict management patterns. The dynamic factors make the most attractive targets for premarital counseling because these factors are both highly predictive of divorce and amenable to change. In essence, it is not how much couples love each other, but how they handle conflict that best predicts future marital distress or divorce--and conflict is inevitable.

Added to the prediction research, studies on our Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) strongly suggest that couples can learn skills and enhance ways of thinking--prior to marriage--that significantly improve their odds of having good marriages. We and our colleagues in Germany have tracked the positive effects of such training for years following the marriage ceremony, with better communication, greater satisfaction, 50% lower break-up rates, and 50% lower incidence of physical aggression.
 

The Bad News: Possible Unintended Negative Consequences

Trying to prevent marital distress is hardly controversial. The controversy is whether or not governments should force it on a broad scale. Government mandated premarital counseling may have serious negative effects that are not being considered.

First, many segments of society are averse to increasing governmental intervention in family life. The fact that it is harder to get a driver's license than a marriage license is often mentioned in this debate, but getting a marriage license is different. Sure, there are areas of personal behavior where most would agree that the government should intrude and some areas where the issue is highly controversial. But are people really going to accept the government's intrusion into marriage any more than they want the government telling them how to raise their children?

Second, mandating premarital counseling would be a bureaucratic nightmare. There would be endless debates about what should be required and who is qualified to provide the training. Further, we note that premarital counseling is most often conducted by religious institutions. Since government mandates usually come with government standards, mandating premarital counseling could allow the government unprecedented regulatory control over processes that are currently and preeminently the province of religious institutions. This is a significant 1st amendment concern.

Some will note that many religious institutions have been mandating premarital counseling for years, so what's wrong with the government doing it, too? Since religious institutions often are more deeply embedded in the lives and culture of people than government is, they can likely mandate without the same degree of negative consequences. After all, the idea is consistent with a degree of accountability within the community of faith. It is also not unusual for military institutions to mandate such training as a requirement for chapel-based marriages. However, since there is a preexisting education and training mentality--as in religious institutions--this probably works more positively than a broader-based government effort could.

Third, we are concerned that there are virtually no data on the effectiveness of mandated programs while there is steadily growing evidence on the effectiveness when couples volunteer for such programs. We do hope, over time, to have better data on the effects of mandating premarital and marital training within both religious and military institutions.

Given the possible negatives of various initiatives to strengthen the institution of marriage, we argue for a less complicated path until we have had more discussion and research on the effects of the alternatives.

Public Education: A Better Way That Works

Legal strategies to make divorce harder or mandate premarital preparation may well work. On the other hand, some of the changes being contemplated may cause negative consequences despite the good intentions. If we had to choose today, programs oriented toward government incentives have more appeal than do government mandates. Further, attempting to bring greater delay to divorce proceedings (without encouraging opportunities for increased legal conflict) may well slow some couples down from what could be impulsive decisions toward divorce. Our key point is that couples and governments can tend to seek premature solutions to complex problems when those solutions may fail or increase frustration and conflict. While the problems cry out for solutions, more discussion of, and research on, the legal initiatives may be the wiser course.

This does not mean that we, as a society, have no means to begin tackling these problems. The most immediately effective strategies may lie in the field of education rather than in legislation. With a growing national consensus, a large scale public health education campaign could bring together educators, clergy, mental health professionals, and politicians to focus on two key goals: 1) To extol strong and happy marriages as a high value and a high priority, and 2) to encourage couples to take advantage of effective tools to make their marriages not just more stable, but truly better.

Regarding the first goal, the institution of marriage does not seem to be held in as high of public esteem as it used to be. This can be changed if a wide range of influential voices join together in saying there is something special and beneficial about marriage. As importantly, the second goal is directed at helping couples build better marriages in the first place. This, after all, is really the goal behind all these competing ideas and philosophies. Can a society transform beliefs and patterns?

We have been fairly successful in waging an assault on the deadly habit of smoking, and, to some degree, on eating habits. While there has been some regulation adding to the effect, the greatest reductions in smoking seem to have come from the combination of an increasingly negative portrayal for the habit in the media and direct efforts to educate people about the debilitating effects. The next great challenge is to change relationship habits--and there may well be even more riding on the outcome.

What if marriages were portrayed more widely in the media as worthy of effort, with positive images and models of people working things out in their marriages? A greater number of religious organizations could emphasize the value of premarital training, or even make it mandatory. The government could encourage public service messages that promote marriage and that teach a skill or two about more effective ways to make marriages good.

We are talking about values here. Values that say marriage is important. Values that say working to resolve differences is good. Values that say preparing for marriage is wise. Values that lead to increased dedication for the task of building strong and happy marriages. These things can be done if we have the collective will. Let's get to it.

Drs. Stanley and Markman direct the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver and PREP, Inc., and co-authored the book Fighting for Your Marriage, (1994; Jossey-Bass, Inc.). Web: http://members.aol.com/prepinc  (303) 759-9931
 


 

 FLORIDA PASSES NATION'S MOST SWEEPING REFORM OF MARRIAGE LAW
By Mike McManus May 16, 1998
 

Can a liberal Jew from Miami Beach (Rep. Elaine Bloom) work with a conservative head of the Christian Coalition in Florida (John Dowless) and produce a law that can cut the divorce rate in Florida? As unlikely as it sounds, that's what happened last week.

By a vote in the Florida House of 91 to 16, and a unanimous vote in the Senate, the Legislature passed the "Marriage Preparation and Preservation Act of 1998 2E" It is the most sweeping and positive reform of both marriage and divorce law of any state in decades.

The bill's opening words are both wise and eloquent a rare feat in itself:

``Just as the family is the foundation of society, the marital relationship is the foundation of a family. Consequently, strengthening marriages can only lead to stronger families, children and communities, as well as a stronger economy.

``An inability to cope with stress from both internal and external sources leads to significantly higher incidents of domestic violence, child abuse, absenteeism, medical costs, learning and social deficiencies, and divorce.

``Relationship skills can be learned.

``Once learned, relationship skills can facilitate communication between parties to a marriage and assist couples in avoiding conflict. Once relationship skills are learned, they are generalized to parenting, the workplace, schools neighborhoods and civic relationships.

``By reducing conflict and increasing communication, stressors can be diminished and coping can be furthered. When effective coping exists, domestic violence, child abuse, and divorce and its effect on children...are diminished.

``The state has a compelling interest in educating its citizens with regard to marriage and, if contemplated, the effects of divorce,'' says Florida's new bill.

Therefore, the bill, which is expected to be signed by the governor, takes these new steps:

1. High school students must take a course in ``marriage and relationship skill-based education.'' No state ever made such a requirement.

2. Engaged couples are encouraged to take a ``premarital preparation course'' of at least four hours, which it suggests include instruction on conflict resolution, communication skills, financial responsibilities, children and parenting and data on problems married couples face.

Those who take such a course from a church or secular counselor can get a $32.50 reduction in the cost of their marriage license, which normally costs between $88 and $200, depending on the county. Each courthouse will have a roster of houses of worship or counselors certified to give the course.
Originally, the bill required premarital prep, but both conservatives and liberals did not want government to interfere that much. However, both sides could live with a strong encouragement, with the sweetener of a reduced marriage license fee.

3. Each couple applying for a marriage license will also be given a handbook prepared by the Bar Association to inform couples of ``the rights and responsibilities under Florida law of marital partners to each other and to their children, both during a marriage and upon dissolution.'' For example, it notes ``permanent relocation restrictions on parents'' caring for children in divorce. Both the man and woman must sign a statement that they have read it, but are not tested on it.

Rep. Bloom said, ``For many years I felt we needed to give people an understanding of what the laws of Florida are. If they knew they would be financially responsible for the child forever,'' they might not be so quick to divorce.

4. Couples with children who file for divorce must take a ``Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course'' that covers the legal and emotional impact of divorce on adults and children, financial responsibility, laws on child abuse or neglect and they must learn conflict resolution skills. The course has existed for some time, but it is normally taken after a divorce is final. Rep. Bloom says, ``We hope that by starting early, within a month of filing a divorce petition, before it becomes too adversarial, when parents see how children suffer short-term and long-term detrimental economic, emotional and educational effects,'' that couples will see it is easier and wiser to make a marriage work than a divorce.

The Christian Coalition's Dowless adds, ``The state has given a challenge to the churches and synagogues. They have a chance to step forward and register free courses at the courthouse to help people who would not normally get involved.

'' I predict Florida's law will inspire many states to pass similar laws.

Copyright 1998 Michael J. McManus

Mike McManus has been writing the ``Ethics & Religion'' column since 1981. He is syndicated in more than 90 newspapers.
 


 
Section I:
Support for Pre-Marital Preparation
 
  Locally Available Programs

"Pre-Cana"
is a marriage preparation program based in the Roman Catholic Church and structured according to the needs or preferences of the community. Locally in the West Virginia area, Pre-Cana offers a series of sessions facilitated by two married couples, a priest, and a medical doctor. It is designed to assist couples in preparing for their marriage by addressing such topics as Communication, Finances, Sexuality, Responsible Parenthood, and Spirituality. It is an interactive learning process in a large group setting. Sessions are offered throughout the year.

Catholic Engaged Encounter
 provides training, supplies (including a newsletter "Horizons,") support for leadership teams.
 
Sam and Karen Gross
703 Churchill Drive
Charleston, WV 25314-1742
304-346-260
 

PREPARE Pre-Marital Groups
are couple communication groups which help couples identify important issues for discussion based on the PREPARE Pre-marital inventory. Studies have shown that through the use of the inventory it is possible to predict with 86% accuracy which couples may eventually seek divorce and with 76% accuracy which couples will have a high degree of marital satisfaction, Also, approximately 10% of the couples taking the inventory postpone their marriage. PREPARE is designed to help the engaged couple become more aware of strengths and weaknesses in their relationship. This inventory helps pastors and/or mentoring couples to focus their counseling on areas that need the most attention. PREPARE is a moderate-cost inventory which is computer scored. Training is needed to administer the instrument.

 Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center
 16 Broad St
 Charleston, WV  25301
 304-346-9689
 
  Pre-marital Questionaires and Inventories

FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study)
is a low cost Premarital inventory that has a high success rate. The questionnaire dealing with communication, extended family issues, friends and interests, interfaith marriages, key problem indicators, life-style expectations, marriage covenant, parenting issues, personal issues,  sexuality issues, personality match, problem solving, readiness issues, religion and values, and second marriage.  Reports show that FOCCUS is 75% accurate in predicting which engaged couples, if they marry, will eventually divorce, Also, in 1986, of couples using FOCCUS, only 6% were divorced after ten years of marriage. FOCCUS helps couples pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses so that the couple and their counselor can center their energy on the areas that need the most attention. FOCCUS can be hand-scored or computer scored, A training workshop is recommended.

 Family Life Office
 3214 No, 60th Street
 Omaha, NE 68104
 402-551-9003
 
PREPARE (Premarital Personal and Relationship Enrichment)
is a premarital inventory dealing with communication, children  and marriage, conflict resolution, equalitarian roles, family and friends, financial management, idealist distortion, leisure activities, personality issues, realistic expectations, realistic orientation, and sexual relationship. Studies have shown that through the use of the inventory it is possible to predict with 86% accuracy which couples may eventually seek divorced and with 76% accuracy as to which couples will have a high degree of marital satisfaction, Also, approximately 10% of the couples taking the inventory postpone their marriage. PREPARE is designed to help the engaged couple become more aware of strengths and weaknesses in their relationship. This inventory helps pastors and/or mentoring couples to focus their counseling on areas that need the most attention. PREPARE is a moderate-cost inventory which is computer scored. Training is needed to administer the instrument.

PREPARE-ENRICH, Inc.
P.O. Box 190
Minneapolis, MN 55440 by Les and Lesli
 

PMI (Pre-Marital Inventory)
This inventory deals with children, family issues, finances, interests and activities, interpersonal communication, marriage experience, personal adjustment, religion and philosophy, role expectations, and sexuality.

PMI Profile, Intercommunications Publishishing
1 Valentine Lane
Chapel Hill, NC 26514   Programs Available for Use in the Local Church

Mentor/Sponsor Couple Programs
involve seasoned mature couples with solid marriages who serve as practical role models to young couples. They are candid about their mistakes and how they handled different kinds of problems, and they offer wisdom from both the male and female perspectives. A pastor who utilizes Mentor Couples can multiply his or her marriage ministry many fold. These precious sources of energy and time can administer Premarital inventories and follow-ups; preside over a variety of programs for the engaged; meet with young married couples during their first year of marriage to offer support and advice, etc.
 

Before You Say "I Do"
is a couples mentor program which can be used in Sunday School classes for the engaged or as a mentor couple program. It was written by Wes Roberts and Norm Wright and published by Harvest House Publishers. It is in the form of a workbook with topics like: A Christian Marriage, Genuine Love, Family of Origin and In-Laws, Communication Part 1 - Listening and Part 2 - Our Words, Marriage Roles and Expectations, Finances, and Sexual Intimacy. Each topic is Bible-based and utilizes numerous scriptures. Couples have homework each week and must submit it to the facilitator. It is an excellent tool and in many churches it is incorporated into pre -marriage requirements. Available in Local Christian Book Stores

Evenings for the Engaged
 is a six weeks program highlighting matrimony as a vocation of love. Some of the sessions include community, images of God and married love, and the journey ahead. It is designed to be facilitated in a home atmosphere with a mentor/sponsor couple.

 William H. Sadlier, Inc.
 11 Park Place
 New 'York, NY 10007
 800-221-5175t. 1-800-286-9333
 

Mentoring Engaged and Newly-wed Couples
Video and curriculum kit by Les and Leslie Parrott.  1-800-286-9333

The Sponsor Couple Program for Christian Marriage Preparation: For Better and For Ever
Manual and Dialogue Packet for a couple-to-couple approach to marriage preparation includes training for sponsor couples and detailed material for five sessions between an engaged couple and a married couple who demonstrate commitment to Christian marriage by working at improving their own relationship.  Roman Catholic, but easily adapted for other denominations.
Contact: Liguori Publications, One Liguori Drive, Liguori, Missouri 63057-9999 (314-464-2500)

True Love Waits
begun by Southern Baptists, is now multi-denominational and international.  Teens and college students alike are responding in large numbers, pledging sexual abstinence until marriage.  It also
Offers to those who have been sexually active an opportunity to a commitment to purity and to experience God’s grace and forgiveness.

John Lepper Family Ministry
Kentucky Baptist Convention
P O Box 43433
Louisville, KY 40253-0433
502-245-4101
 

Why Wait ?
is a high quality, Bible based video series for teens and their parents that has been seen by more than 60,000 church youth groups. Pastors agree "It's creative, it's biblical, it's relevant, and it's awesome." "It's an excellent mix of talk and music." "It's the best I've ever used."

 Josh McDowell
 Why Wait?
 P.O. Box 1000
 Dallas, TX 75221
 
 

Postponing Sexual Involvement
is a secular sexual abstinence program that can be adapted to church youth groups. PSI uses teenage leaders to present the program to younger teens. This program has lasting results. High school seniors who completed the program while in the 8th grade had a 1/3 reduction of pregnancies compared to students outside of the Program.

 Teen Services Program
 Grady Memorial Hospital
 P.O. Box 26158
 Atlanta, GA 30335-3801
 

Relationship Instruction
has been taken by more than 5000 couples. The course, using a paperback text and a work book, has 8 sessions that cover a period of four months. The couples sign a contract pledging: chastity, the limiting of time together, and to take a 4-month course and complete it even if their relationship ends. How effective is it? Out of 100 couples counseled, 50% did not marry. Out of those who did marry, only one separated and one divorced.

 Dr. Jim Talley, Relationship Instruction
 4216 N. Portland Ave.
 Oklahoma City, OK 73112
 405-949-2227culum list. 1-800-286-9333
 

Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts (SYMBIS)
by Les and Leslie Parrot. Video and curriculum list. 1-800-286-9333
 

Sex Respect
is an excellent secular approach to sexual abstinence that can be adapted to church youth groups. Evaluation of this program has shown that after two years, those taking SEX RESPECT in junior high school had pregnancy rates that were half of those students not in the program but attending the same school.

 Respect Incorporated
 P.O. Box 349
 Bradley, IL  60915
 815-932-8389
 

Nationally Available Programs

Engaged Encounter
is a weekend experience for the engaged designed to develop good communication habits and give the couples a chance to examine significant key issues they will encounter within marriage, such as: conflict resolution, sexual relations, children, finances, friendships, church participation, marital goals, careers, family, and on and on. The weekend is rigorous enough that weak relationships will be revealed. Studies show that 10% of those attending Engaged Encounter will either decide not to marry that person or postpone their wedding. Many agree that "It was a painful, emotional, draining, tearful, joyful, releasing, and finally peaceful experience."
 
           Engaged Encounter
           Dave & Sue Edwards
           1509 S. Forest Street
           Denver, CO 80222
             303-753-9407
 

Second Marriage Preparation
Two-day Roman Catholic program for couples entering into a second marriage led by couples who are experienced in living in a second marriage relationship.  Encourages self-assessment and good communication skills; evaluation of the closure on their previous relationships and readiness for a new marriage; awareness of special stresses which lie ahead, such as step-parenting, finances, etc.

Family Life Office
3214 North 60th Street
Omaha, NE 68104
402-551-9003


 

Section II:
Marriage Support Resources
   Local Programs  

Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment (A.C.M.E.)
An international organization whose purpose is to strengthen marriages.  Provides training and certification for leader couples, activities (retreats, conferences, and other events), and resources for building marriages that are strong and satisfying to both partners. See list of trained leader couples at the end of this catalog.

 West Virginia A.C.M.E. Chapter
Jane Ives
1804 Shadybrook Road
Charleston,    WV 25314
304-342-1441
JaneIves@aol.com.
 

Celebrating Marriage: Growing in Love
A weekend program for building on strengths in the marriage relationship.  Requires leadership training; see list of certified couples in West Virginia at the end of this catalog. A revised manual, currently in process, will provide more flexible formats for use with groups of couple.

General Board of Discipleship,
Adult Ministries, United Methodist Church,
P.O. Box 840, Nashville, TN 37202-0840
615-340-7134
 

Growing Together: Couple Enrichment Program
A couple enrichment program that focuses on couple strengths and growth areas, dealing with six relevant topics for couples.

Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center
16 Broad St
Charleston, WV  25301
304-346-9689
  Programs Available for Use in the Local Church  

Care and Maintenance of a Good Marriage
a six-session video program.

Presbytery of West Virginia Resource Center
520 Second Avenue
So. Charleston, WV 25303
304-744-76340
 

Caring Couples Network
An intentional program for marriage and family ministry, developing Caring Couples Teams within churches and/or parishes.  These teams, which include a pastor or staff person, at least two volunteer couples, and at least one professional therapist as a consultant, plan their own ministries to couples, but will usually focus on pre-marital and newly-wed couples, couples with parenting issues, and couples facing various crises.  Resources for these teams include the following:
Caring Couples Network (CCN) Handbook
Caring Couples Network (CCN) Video,  a 15-minute introduction to the CCN.
Couples Who Care, true stories offering inspiration and introducing couple and family ministries.

General Board of Discipleship, Office of Family and Life Span Ministries
United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 840
Nashville, TN 37202-0840
615-340-7134
To order:  800-685-4370
 

Covenant Marriage
 is a Southern Baptist program that consists of 12-13 weeks of study. Commitment to complete the course is a must and combines the use of private workbooks and group sessions. Areas of study includes: God’s Plan for Marriage, A Journey Inward, A Journey Outward, A Partnership Of Equals, Commitment to a Partnership of Love, Couples Sharing and Supporting.

 John Lepper, Family Ministry
 Kentucky Baptist Convention
 P O Box 43433
 Louisville, KY 40253-0433
 502-245-4101
 

Growing Love in Christian Marriage
This workbook for engaged and married couples, currently  being revised, includes exercises to help couples deepen their commitment, clarify goals and strengthen their relationship based on God's love.  A computer disk with marriage inventory scales and growth activities will also be available.

General Board of Discipleship, Adult Ministries, United Methodist Church,
P.O. Box 840, Nashville, TN 37202-0840
(615-340-7134)
 

Marriage Savers, Proven Ways to Prevent Divorce.
consists of 6 dynamic videos, study guide, leader's book, and a member's book This excellent tool will equip your church to prevent marriage problems, strengthen marriages, and save troubled marriages. It shows how to develop mentor couples and addresses the issues and needs of persons who are dating, engaged, married, estranged, separated and divorced, and remarried/blended.

 Marriage Savers Institute
 721 East State Street, Suite 302
 Rockford, IL 61104
 800-987-1995
 

Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships
Gary Smalley seminar, six video presentations, 30 to 50 minutes each.

United Methodist Conference Library,
 900 Washington St. E.,
 Charleston, WV 25301
800-788-3746

Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Interfaith Marriage
Thirty-minute video interviews couples in interfaith marriages, exploring difficulties and ways to achieve happiness.

Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
 304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Listening and Loving
An easy-to use five-session program for use with couples or one-spouse groups.  Topics include empathy, accepting differences, encouragement, conflict resolution, and sexuality. (Leader's Guide; Participant materials. Training available but not required.)

Gleam S. Powell, Ph.D.
112 Stafford Drive
Athens, GA 30605-3718
404-546-6401
 

"Loving Better Through Laughter"
Six video tapes featuring Annette Goodheart, Ph.D. Titles  are "Neither of Us is Wrong," "Get Your Mitts Off  My Happiness," "Desperately Trying to Show Our Love," "Getting What We Want From Each Other," "Money is No Laughing Matter," "When the Kids Always Come First."

EcuFilm
800-252-4092

  Questionaires and Inventories  

ENRICH
is a post-marital inventory that is very similar to PREPARE, with a number of questions focusing on a married couple's satisfaction with their relationship. It is a superb diagnostic tool for the minister or mentor couple which brings to light problem areas that could take years to uncover through normal counseling sessions. One six-hour training session will teach mentors and ministers how to interpret PREPARE/ENRICH computer reports.

 Prepare/Enrich
 PO Box 190
 Minneapolis, MN 55440-0190
 800-331-1661
 

REFOCCUS (Relationship Enrichment Facilitating Couple Communication, Understanding and Study).
Refoccus is designed to help couples understand, study and communicate about their marriage. It has five sessions that relocate attention on the core issues of their relationship. This instrument is intended to give couples a "fix" on the issues that are important in their marriage today. REFOCCUS is a self-standing instrument; however, a manual is available offering facilitators models for working with groups of couples to enhance, motivate and maximize the use of REFOCCUS.

 Foccus/Refoccus
 Family Life Office
 3214 North 60th Street
 Omaha, NE 68104
 402-551-9003   Nationally Available Programs

Fall Festival of Marriage
offered by the Southern Baptists, is a Christ-centered weekend to help a husband and wife grow in their relationship with each other. The weekend is a retreat which addresses a wide selection of topics and includes activities to help with a variety of needs.

 John Lepper, Family Ministry
            Kentucky Baptist Convention
            P O Box 43433
            Louisville, KY 40253-0433
            502-245-4101
 

International Marriage Encounter
Weekends for married couples.  Resources for marriage and family enrichment.  Newsletter and magazine: "Marriage Encounter" ($8.50).
 
International Marriage Encounter
955 Lake Drive
St. Paul, MN 55120
 

Marriage Encounter
is a weekend experience offered by several different denominations. Over 2 million couples around the world have made a Marriage Encounter weekend. Michael McManus calls it ‘the best marriage saver.' The weekend teaches a communication technique that any couple can continue to use at home. Nine out of ten couples have a positive experience with the weekend and studies show that even decades after attending a M.E. Weekend, two-thirds of the couples say that their communication is excellent as a result of M.E. In fact, most couples agree the weekend resulted in "falling back in love" with their spouses.

 Worldwide Marriage Encounter
 1908 E. Highland Ave., Suite A
 San Bernadino, CA 92404
 909-881-3456     800-795-5683
 

Ministering Couples
A Roman Catholic program for training and enabling selected volunteer couples to minister to engaged couples preparing for marriage and to couples experiencing marriage and family problems.  Volunteers minister in couple-to-couple settings and also in the church community as group facilitators and  educators.

Catholic Family Service
2537 South  University
Fargo, ND 58103
National Marriage Encounter (Ecumenical)
Weekend experiences for couples, ecumenical resources for marriage and family, workshops for parents, etc.  Magazine:"Agape" ($8.00)

National Marriage Encounter
4704 Jamerson Pl.
Orlando, FL 32807
 

Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Programs (PREP)
Six-week communication program for couples focusing on skill-building.
 
Center for Marriage Studies, Psychology Department
University of Denver,
Denver, CO  80208

 


 
Section III:
Parenting Support
 

Active Parenting
Six-session course with video presentations, handbook, and  action guide focuses on principles of parenting (communication, cooperation, respect, self-esteem, discipline, and responsibility)a

Presbytery of West Virginia Resource Center
520 Second Avenue, So. Charleston, WV 25303
304-744-7634
 

Beginning Family Center
Provides innovative resources and formation services for developing deeper relationships across the generations and  with young and expectant families.

Beginning Family Center,
14260 Lake Hills  Blvd
Bellevue, WA 98007
 

Boys’ Town Video Series (ten to fifteen-minutes each)
"Catch ‘Em Being Good" teaches parents to concentrate on the good things their children do in order to improve their mutual relationship. "A Change for the Better" helps parents with the frustrating problem of children and teens’ misbehavior.
.
Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron Street,
P.O. Box 230,
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Bradshaw on the Family
Text, study guide, and 10 video tapes which address problems facing families.  Free loan.

Diocese of West Virginia (Episcopalian)
Peterkin Conference Center, Romney, WV 26757 or
P.O. Box 559,
Romney, WV 26757.
304-822-4492
 

Building Shalom Families
Four-hour program with video presentations for Christian parenting for peace and justice.

Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Children And Self-Esteem (…and Discipline, …and Faith, …and Sexuality, …and Television)
Video presentations and Leader’s Guides.
 
United Methodist Conference Library,
 900 Washington St. E.,
 Charleston, WV 25301
800-788-3746
 

"Claiming Our Time With God"
Devotional guide and workbook for families who want to strengthen their prayer life together and who want to incorporate Christian values in solving problems.
 
Office of Family Ministries, Board of Discipleship,
P.O. Box 840,
Nashville, TN 37202
615-340-7190
 

Creative Grandparenting
Four-session video on how to love and nurture a new generation; being a vital factor in their lives, even at a distance; evaluating responsibility.

United Methodist Conference Library,
900 Washington St. E.,
Charleston, WV 25301
800-788-3746
 

Families Matter
A 30-minute video tape looking at the problems and needs in and of families today. Free loan.
Diocese of West Virginia (Episcopalian)
Peterkin Conference Center, Romney, WV 26757 or
P.O. Box 559,
Romney, WV 26757.
304-822-4492
 

Fathers and Sons
Video series dealing with real relationships, struggles and triumphs.
 
United Methodist Conference Library,
900 Washington St. E.,
Charleston, WV 25301
800-788-3746
 

Hidden Keys to Successful Parenting
Six video presentations, 30 to 45 minutes each, teaching parents how to discover their child "m’s personality typei and how to build on their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.  Parents will learn how to motivate their children, how to remonistry of reconciliation".s

Womeaningful communication and love flowing both ways.

United Methodist Conference Library,
900 Washington St. E.,
Charleston, WV 25301
800-788-3746
 

It Takes More Than Love
This video resource provides a grace-oriented framework for an asset-building approach to parenting.

United Methodist Conference Library,
900 Washington St. E.,
Charleston, WV 25301
800-788-3746

 
National Parenting for Peace and Justice Network
Ecumenical effort providing resources and workshops designed  to integrate family life and social ministry.  Individual and organization memberships.  Quarterly newsletter. Catalogue of resources available.

National Parenting for Peace & Justice  Network,
Institute for Education, Peace & Justice
4144 Lindell Blvd. #122
St. Louis,   MO 63108
 
 
Stepfamily Ministry
was developed at Roswell United Methodist Church rn Roswell, Georgia. Couplesldwide Ma at least one person has chrriage Encounter
1908 E. Highla meet regularly for support and advice on their unique situations. They also listen to speakers and discuss various books, one being Willing To Try Again by Dick Dunn. The divorce rate for blended families is over 65%, where as the divorce rate for couples involved in this program is less than 20%. A true Marriage Saver!

   Roswell United Methodist Church
   Singles and Stepfamily Dept.
 814 Mimosa Blvd.
 Roswell, GA 30075
 404-594-0520 or 404-993-6218
 

Parenting: Growing Up Together
Six programs which show how to be better parents and to grow  through good parenting.  Study guide and six 22-minute tapes.

Presbytery of West Virginia Resource Center
520 Second Avenue, So. Charleston, WV 25303
304-744-7634

Diocese of West Virginia (Episcopalian)
Peterkin Conference Center, Romney, WV 26757 or
P.O. Box 559,
Romney, WV 26757.
304-822-4492
 

Parenting Teenagers

Presbytery of West Virginia Resource Center
520 Second Avenue, So. Charleston, WV 25303
304-744-7634

Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342

 
Prayer in Your Home
Twenty-seven minute video presenting enriching possibilities of family prayer in the following activities: sharing a meal, preparing for sleep, sharing our stories, experiencing consolation, and celebrating special events.

Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Secrets of Strong Families
Dr. Nick Stinett discusses the ingredients for building and maintaining a strong, loving family; among them are commitment, appreciation, communication, time together, spiritual wellness, and coping with stress.  Thirty-minute video.
 
Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Storytellers
Through the evolution of a family crisis, Storytellers express the power of story in passing on family traditions and for nurturing a family’s sense of identity.  Twenty-two minute video.

 Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Stress and the Healthy Family
Dolores Curran shows how healthy families effectively deal with the four major areas of family stress: money, time, children, and the couple relationship.  Fifty-five minute video.

Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP)
A nine-session course for raising responsible, confident children.  Leader’s guide, video presentations, parent  handbook.

Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

Understanding Your Teenager
James Emswiler provides advice on how to understand youth and communicate Christian values and beliefs.  40-minute video tape.

Diocese of West Virginia (Episcopalian)
Peterkin Conference Center, Romney, WV 26757 or
P.O. Box 559,
Romney, WV 26757.
304-822-4492
 

Youth and Parents Together: Facing Life's Struggles
Leader's Guide and Participants' book

Presbytery of West Virginia Resource Center
520 Second Avenue, So. Charleston, WV 25303
304-744-7634

Section IV
Support for Families in Transition
 

"Retrouvaille"
which is French for "rediscovery", is a weekend experience designed for troubled marriages. It is an outgrowth of Marriage Encounter and has been sweeping across the United States since 1982. Currently it is only available through the Catholic Church, but non-Catholics are more than welcome to attend. The success rate of this program is impressive. For example, in some areas of the country, almost half of couples attending are already separated and usually one or two couples per weekend are already divorced. Yet, studies show, in certain cities, 4 out of 5 couples are still together after more than a year following the weekend. Some divorced couples have even remarried. Retrouvaille offers couples hope and inspiration to persevere in their marriage.

 Mary and Norm Moore
 Center of Family Ministries
 1200 So. Shelby Street
 Louisville, KY 40203-2600
 502-636-0296, ext. 105
 

Retrouvaille Steubenville Diocese/SE Ohio
Donna and Al Kalis,
134 Congress St.,
Athens,   OH 45701 (614-592-6081)
Retrouvaille Columbus 614-855-8226
 
 National:  800-470-2230
 

Marriage Ministry
is a program developed by an Episcopal priest that uses couples "whose marriages were on the rocks, but have healed" to meet with couples who are having marriage problems. The Marriage Ministry Couples lead the troubled-couples through 12 steps that brings restoration to their marriages. In St. David's Episcopal Church, where Marriage Ministry was started, in a seven year period there was not one divorce among the couples who experienced nd A program. There were 33 marriages saved.

 Marriage Ministry
 St. David's Episcopal Church
 12355 Fort Carolina Rd.
 Jacksonville, FL 32225
 904-641-8177

 
Reconciliation Instruction
provides a couple with the conflict resolving skills needed to move toward a more effective means of interpersonal communication. This process is intensive and takes a period of 4 months to complete. Several couples who were divorced for as long as 5 years have remarried after completing this course. The Taylor Johnson Temperament Analysis is built into the program if you choose to use it.. Any mature lay leader can be trained to lead this course through a 4 hour training called Reconciliation and Relationship Instruction. Other resources are also available.

 Jim Talley Relationship Resources
 7300 N.W. 23rd St., Suite 105
 Bethany, OK 73008-5128
 405-789-2900
 

Aging Parents
Thirty-minute video presents a message of hope that, although caring for an aging parent isn’t always easy, it can have many rewards.

Diocesan Audio-Visual Center
1213 Byron  Street
P.O. Box 230
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-233-0880 Ext. 342
 

A Roof Over Your Retirement

Presbytery of West Virginia Resource Center
520 Second Avenue, So. Charleston, WV 25303
304-744-7634
 

Beginning Experience
Roman Catholic organization providing enrichment weekends for separated, divorced, and widowed.  Newsletter.

Beginning Experience
305 Michigan Ave
Detroit, MI 48226
 

Please Come Home - A Heart to Heart Video
 
Presbytery of West Virginia Resource Center
520 Second Avenue, So. Charleston, WV 25303
304-744-7634
 

The Family Matters: People With Aging Parents
Twenty-eight minute video presentation

United Methodist Conference Library,
900 Washington St. E.,
Charleston, WV 25301
800-788-3746
 

Inter-Church Families
This twice- a-year publication discusses the theological and pastoral issues raised in interchurch families -- where a Roman Catholic spouse marries a spouse from another Christian denomination. This journal shares the experience of these families, and helps readers keep abreast of developments which concern religiously mixed marriages and interchurch families, in the context of the wider ecumenical movement. Excellent for clergy, religious education ministers, and marriage counselors. Annual subscription is $8.00, payable to:

 The Association of Interchurch Families
 Inter-Church House
 3541 Lower Marsh
 London SE17RL
 ENGLAND
 

"The ARK"
is the newsletter of the American Association of Interchurch Families (AAIF), published 2-3 times a year to keep clergy, pastoral ministers, counselors and families advised of theological and church developments concerning interchurch families, or families where the spouses belong to two different denominations or church traditions. The emphasis of the newsletter is to support and to encourage successful faith activities in various parts of North America. Annual subscription is $7.50, payable to:

 Kentuckiana Interfaith Community
 1115 S. Fourth St.
 Louisville, KY 40203-3101
 502-587-6265
 

 
Section V:
Books and References for Couples and Clergy
 

Marriage Savers, Helping Your Friends Stay Married,
by Michael I. McManus, Zondervan, 1993, is a "how to" guide for marital success. It outlines several strategies anyone can use to help a friend or loved one stay married. It is well researched and points to concrete and practical suggestions that have over time been proven to be successful in improving marriage and family life. Also provides the basics for the Community Marriage Agreement Guidelines.

Reconcilable Differences.
Jim Talley and Les Stobbe, Thomas Nelson. 1985, is the text for Jim Talley's entire reconciliation ministry. It provides the guidelines and the rationale to provide the foundation for a "ministry of reconciliation". The Bible is the basis for the ministry and 2 Cor 5:18-21 provides the theology.   Other Books

Burkett, L. (1989) The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples. Victor Books, Wheaton, IL

Emmons, R.E & M.L. (1993) Your Perfect Right: A Guide to Assertive Living. San Luis Obispo, CA

Gottman, John and Nam, Silver. (1994) Why Marriages Succeed or Fail. Simon and Schuster, Rockefeller Center, 1230 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY 10020

Lees, Robert. (1993) Prepared Companions. Sandhill Book Marketing, 99-1270 Ellis Ave., Kelowna, B.C., Canada VIY 1Z4. (800-667-3848)

Markman, Howard, Stanley, Scott and Blumberg, Susan. (1994) Fighting for Your Marriage. Jossey-Bass, 350 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104. 415-433-1740, FAX 415-433-0499

Miller, Sherod, Miller, Phyllis, Nunnally, Elam and Wackman, Daniel. (1991) Talking and Listening Together. Interpersonal Communication Programs, Inc., 7201 S. Broadway, Suite 6, Littleton, CO 80122. (800-328-5099)

Minirth, Frank, Minirth Mary Alice, Newman, Brian &Deborah and Hemfelt, Robert & Susan. (1993) Realistic Love, Thomas Nelson Publishing, Nashville, TN

Oliver, Gary and Wright, Norman H. (1992) When Anger Hits Home. Moody Press, 820 N. LaSalle Drive, Chicago, IL 60610

Olson, D.H., and DeFrain, John. (1997). Marriage & the Family: Strengths and Diversity. Mayfield Publishing, Mountain View, CA. (800-433-1279)

Tannen, Deborah, Ph.D. (1990) You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation, Ballantine Books, NY.

Warren, Neil C. (1992) Finding the Love of your Life, Focus on the Family Publishing, Colorado Springs, CO.

Warren, Neil C. (1996) Triumphant Marriage: 100 Extremely Successful Couple8 Reveal their Secrets. Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, CO.

Wright, Norman H. (1992) Holding onto Romance, Christian Marriage Enrichment, 17821 17th St., Suites 290, Tustin, CA 92680.

 


  Quick Reference Enrichment Programs for Couples

An excellent comprehensive resource can be found at the annual Smart Marriages/Happy Families Conference which happens in Washington DC, usually in July.  The web site for information on this conference is also excellent:   www.smartmarriages.com.

Association for Couples for Marriage Enrichment (ACME)
ACME National Office
PO Box 10596
Winston Salem, NC 27108
(800) 634-8325

Couple Communication Skills
Drs. Sherod & Phyllis Miller
Interpersonal Communication Programs, Inc.
7201 S. Broadway, Suite 11
Littleton, CO 80122
(800) 328-5099

Growing Together Program
Life Innovations, Inc.
PREPARE/ENRICH
PO Box 190
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0190
(800) 331-1661

Marriage Savers
Michael & Harriet McManus
9500 Michaels Court
Bethesda, MD 20817-2214
(301) 469-5870

National Marriage Encounter
4704 Jamerson Place
Orlando, FL 32807
(800) 828-3351
(Information about groups)

National Institute of Relationship Enhancement (NIRE)
Dr. Bernard Guerney
1191 Renwood Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852
(301) 986-1479
 
PAIRS
3705 S. George Mason Drive
Falls Church, VA 22041
(800) 477-2477
 

Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP)
Dr. Howard Markman
Center for Marriage and Family Studies
P.O. Box 102530
Denver, CO 80250-2530
(303) 750-8798

Worldwide Marriage Encounter
1908 E. Highland Ave., Suite A
San Bernadino, CA 92404
909-881-3456   800-795-5683
 

Association for Couples in Marriage Enrichment Website: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/wvacme  

as of 10/4/2001

 

Fully Certified

  

Bishop, Arlen and Margaret
  1127 Londonderry Rd., Charleston, WV 25314 (304-343-0970)         
   ALBISH@aol.com

Echols, Susie
   118 Foley Street, Bridgeport, WV 26330  (304-842-4992)            
    Swe4u@aol.com

Erskine, Hugh and Judy
  1 Tomahawk Run Place, Hedgesville, WV 25427 (304- 754-7350)            
    tomahawk@intrepid.net

 Flanagan, Janet and Randall
  100 Colony Way, Nitro, WV 25143  (304-755-3015)            
    JLFGR8@aol.com        RFF7@aol.com

Ives, Clifton and Jane   
  1804 Shadybrook Road, Charleston, WV 25314 (304-342-1441) 
    WVAreaUMC@aol.com             JaneIves@aol.com    

 Kenaston, Joe and Judi            
     607 37th St., Vienna, WV 26105 (304-295-7431)   
    jkenaston@juno.com   jkenaston@wirefire.com

 Shomo, Frank and Michelle 
   1807 Rosewood Drive, Charleston, WV 25314             (304-346-1160) (Office 304-342-7351)
            DrFTS@aol.com                                 MWShomo@aol.com

Shreve, Joseph and Vicky        
     409 Park Avenue, Williamstown, WV 26187 (304-375-5936)
            Shalombear53@aol.com       VickyJeanS@aol.com

Waugh, Kelly and Tim            
   Route 9 Box 85, Parkersburg, WV 26101 (304-485-2792)
            TJWaugh@juno.com                          

                                                                                                                                              

Completed Basic Training

                                    

Brown, Sylvia and William
  179 Tartan Drive, Follansbee, WV 26037             (304-527-3925)
            IzettaB@home.com             KiltWRB@home.com

Butcher-Winfree, Joy and Olen
    401 Indiana Ave., Nutter Fork, WV 26301
            joyspeak@earthlink.net

DeQuasie, Richard and Susan
  #20 Crystal Springs, Washington, WV 26181 (304-861-0277)
            rkdequasie@juno.com

Duffield, Carol and Doug
   65 Meade St., Buckhannon, WV 26201 (304-472-3152) (Office 304-473-8490)
            pastorcarol@earthlink.net

Heilman, Cindy and Joe
    Rt. 7, Box 300, Fairmont, WV 26554  (304-534-5344)
            joeheilman@juno.com

 Hicks, Charles and Joy                        
   344 N. Church St., Ripley, WV 25271 (304-372-7050)
            chicks@wvadventures.net

Malcolm, Stephanie and Thomas
    P.O. Box 67, Franklin, WV 26807 (304-358-2989)
            thomm3@hotmail.com                         mstp44@hotmail.com

Moore, Eugenia and Tom
   P.O. Box 87, Sandyville, WV, 25275             (304-273-0066)
            moorezip@wv-cis.net

 Sears, Pam and Scott  
        P.O. Box 911, Peterstown, WV 24963  (304-753-9523)
             ssears@1wv.com

 

  
Prepare/Enrich in WV

Echols, Susie
400 Duff Street, Clarksburg, WV 26301 (Office – 304-624-7951, Home – 304-622-0413)

Shomo, Frank
1807 Rosewood Drive, Charleston, WV 25314 (304-346-1160)

Waugh, Tim
Route 9 Box 85, Parkersburg, WV 26101 (304-485-2792)

 
Credits
 

Initial inspiration was found in work by Michael McManus and his book Marriage Savers.
Conceptual help provided from the work of the Kentuckiana Christian Marriage Task Force.
Financial help and assistance from the Episcopal Diocese of WV.
Many thanks to the work of  former Family Concerns Program Unit member, Steve Botos.
Thanks To Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center for web site publishing and web space.
 
 
Jane Ives
Sky Kershner
Co-Chairs
Family Concerns Unit
____
 
 
 
 

_