Would Donald Trump’s marriage be accepted in a CA church?

[Josh]

That's interest logic. I never considered it that way. However, I would say that once a person has gone and remarried then they really have consented and approved of there first marriage being divorced or else they could not remarry - so to be realistic both of them did divorce.

This is a common view amongst CAs, and one I've had to deal with myself when I've had multiple people ask me why I "allowed" my ex wife to get a divorce, or why I didn't just reconcile with her. They don't seem to have much understanding that it is something I had absolutely no control over. She since got married to someone else, too, so I'm not sure what CAs would expect in that situation. Most of them would consider it immoral if she left her second husband and got back with me. A minority of CAs would consider it a good thing.

In any case, I would not have felt comfortable being remarried myself until after she was, and never even considered it before then. Once she got married to someone else and had a kid with him, I did not feel it was right at all to ever try to reopen that wound or break up her new family. I realise this isn't the "standard" CA position, but at the same time, I rarely see divorced seekers in most CA settings at all, outside of Holdemans and Apostolic Christians.

[Ernie]

The dominant view of traditional Anabaptists is that if you remarry, you basically end the possibility of ever being reconciled with your first spouse. It is also less likely (not impossible) that the estranged spouse will repent if their first partner remarries.
Since the Gospel is all about reconciliation, I admire those who remain celibate and pray long and hard for their spouse who is estranged from God and from them.

[Josh]

The dominant view of traditional Anabaptists is that if you remarry, you basically end the possibility of ever being reconciled with your first spouse. It is also less likely (not impossible) that the estranged spouse will repent if their first partner remarries.
Since the Gospel is all about reconciliation, I admire those who remain celibate and pray long and hard for their spouse who is estranged from God and from them.

Does this include the Covenant View, though? Because Covenant View people wouldn't want you to reconcile with and be reunited with your first spouse.

I instead view holders of the Covenant View as ones who simply seek to punish divorce by putting strict requirements on divorced people for any reason, and that they do this to keep divorce to a minimum in their circles.

[Ernie]

The dominant view of traditional Anabaptists is that if you remarry, you basically end the possibility of ever being reconciled with your first spouse. It is also less likely (not impossible) that the estranged spouse will repent if their first partner remarries.
Since the Gospel is all about reconciliation, I admire those who remain celibate and pray long and hard for their spouse who is estranged from God and from them.

Does this include the Covenant View, though? Because Covenant View people wouldn't want you to reconcile with and be reunited with your first spouse.

I instead view holders of the Covenant View as ones who simply seek to punish divorce by putting strict requirements on divorced people for any reason, and that they do this to keep divorce to a minimum in their circles.

This would be the Reconciliation View which is held by most Old Orders (I think) and by a sizeable group of CA's. Many CA's find themselves in Covenant View churches, but would favor the reconciliation view.
FWIW, I think the Reconciliation View is the Old Mennonite view and I think it is the view of Amish. German Baptists officially have a Covenant View or Reconciliation View but many New Conference members lean Permanent View. Heirby can clue us in further.

[Ernie]

What would CoGiCM do in a situation like this? (one I am involved in right now.)

An Evangelical man has an affair. His wife is devastated. The man comes to our Bible study. He knows what he is doing is wrong, but he can't detach himself emotionally from the woman and doesn't really feel rotten about what he is doing. He tries cutting off the emotional connections, but keeps failing. This results in a binge trip to Vegas with the lady. His wife (not a member of our church) says that this is the last straw and he may not come home anymore. If the man marries this new lady, but then truly repents and wants to join your church, what would CoGiCM tell him to do?

[Josh]

The dominant view of traditional Anabaptists is that if you remarry, you basically end the possibility of ever being reconciled with your first spouse. It is also less likely (not impossible) that the estranged spouse will repent if their first partner remarries.
Since the Gospel is all about reconciliation, I admire those who remain celibate and pray long and hard for their spouse who is estranged from God and from them.

Does this include the Covenant View, though? Because Covenant View people wouldn't want you to reconcile with and be reunited with your first spouse.

I instead view holders of the Covenant View as ones who simply seek to punish divorce by putting strict requirements on divorced people for any reason, and that they do this to keep divorce to a minimum in their circles.

This would be the Reconciliation View which is held by most Old Orders (I think) and by a sizeable group of CA's. Many CA's find themselves in Covenant View churches, but would favor the reconciliation view.
FWIW, I think the Reconciliation View is the Old Mennonite view and I think it is the view of Amish. German Baptists officially have a Covenant View or Reconciliation View but many New Conference members lean Permanent View. Heirby can clue us in further.

Do I have Covenant View and Reconciliation View switched around? (I understand, on a continuum of strictness from most to least, to have the Covenant View - Reconciliation View - Permanent View - Exception View - Washed Clean View - Evangelical Anabaptist View - Liberal-Progressive View).

[Ernie]

Do I have Covenant View and Reconciliation View switched around? (I understand, on a continuum of strictness from most to least, to have the Covenant View - Reconciliation View - Permanent View - Exception View - Washed Clean View - Evangelical Anabaptist View - Liberal-Progressive View).

You have the right order.

Here is a chart I made from 2016. https://churchplantersforum.org/wp-cont ... -Chart.pdf

[Josh]

Do I have Covenant View and Reconciliation View switched around? (I understand, on a continuum of strictness from most to least, to have the Covenant View - Reconciliation View - Permanent View - Exception View - Washed Clean View - Evangelical Anabaptist View - Liberal-Progressive View).

You have the right order.

Here is a chart I made from 2016. https://churchplantersforum.org/wp-cont ... -Chart.pdf

OK. The "Free to Remarry" response is what I called the Permanent View.

The "Wisdom Response" and "Mostly celibate response" are what I called the Reconciliation View.

The "Totally celibate resposne" is what I called the Covenant View.

Is there a difference between these two views?

"Wisdom" response: Even though being married to a divorced person is not a legitimate marriage, it is often unwise to remarry

Mostly celibate response: Remarried individuals should remain celibate or remarry their first partner

[Ken]

Do I have Covenant View and Reconciliation View switched around? (I understand, on a continuum of strictness from most to least, to have the Covenant View - Reconciliation View - Permanent View - Exception View - Washed Clean View - Evangelical Anabaptist View - Liberal-Progressive View).

You have the right order.

Here is a chart I made from 2016. https://churchplantersforum.org/wp-cont ... -Chart.pdf

So there are what? At least 8 different views that are all based on reading the same scripture?

Do any of these views change if children are involved? Or are children a non-issue when it comes to Anabaptists and divorce?

[Josh]

So there are what? At least 8 different views that are all based on reading the same scripture?

Do any of these views change if children are involved? Or are children a non-issue when it comes to Anabaptists and divorce?

Despite what someone like JD Vance might say, I don't think whether or not someone has children affects whether or not a marriage or divorce is OK.

In groups that allow some divorce & remarriage, like mine, a remarriage might feel like a better idea if an ex-spouse has remarried herself and has children from that marriage. I wouldn't have wanted to see my ex-wife leave her new husband once they had a kid together and try to reconcile with me, for example. But there isn't some scriptural basis for that.