Drama as presiding pastor cancels church wedding over pregnant bride

Drama erupted in Abia State after the presiding pastor who was to conduct a church wedding at the Assemblies of God Church, Ehere, Ogbor Hill, Aba, of the State, Reverend Eze Ogba declined to wed a groom and bride, over reports that the bride was already pregnant.

It was learnt that the couple, Mr. Isreal Kennedy and his bride, Miss Rose, as well as their relations had arrived the church for the ceremony which was slated to hold after church service.

However, the church was said to have ordered a pregnancy test to be conducted on the bride which later revealed that she already had a bun in her oven.

Following the development, the priest of the Church announced that the wedding had been cancelled.

The situation brought confusion into the church as the families made frantic efforts to have the board of the church rescind the decision, while the priest was seen interviewing the bride who pleaded her innocence.

The families of the groom and bride were said to have gone to a nearby church [name not stated] which performed the wedding. The new church also hosted the reception ceremony.

A member of the church who declined his name on print told journalists that it is the tradition of the Assemblies of God Church not to perform wedding for pregnant brides, no matter their status.

He said; “It is the tradition of the Assemblies of God Church not to wed pregnant brides, it is not a new thing. The groom and bride who presented themselves for the wedding knew that the Church cannot join them in matrimony because the bride was already pregnant. They were to be joined after the service when the result of the test ordered by the church would have been ready. After conducting the pregnancy test on the bride, the church found out that she was pregnant and announced that the wedding was cancelled.”

Some members of the church who considered the huge amount spent by the families in preparing for the ceremony said the church ought to have performed the ceremony and later disciplined the groom and the bride.

It was further gathered that both the groom and his bride were later suspended in accordance with the Constitution of the Church.

According to Vanguard Newspapers, efforts to get the reaction of the priest were unsuccessful as he was said to be in a meeting at the moment of contact.