Model Marriage by Bishop Dag Heward Mills

The Official Recognition of a Relationship by the Church

Fig. 1: Possible Sickle Cell Test Results

Medically, the “SS” child can have problems such as:

1. Frequent admissions to the hospital.


2. Numerous expenses relating to medical care.


3. Many hours will be spent at the hospital.


4. Possibility of sudden death of child.


5. Time otherwise to be spent at home will be spent at the hospital.


6. This will be an extra strain on the wife (mother) in addition to all her roles.


7. This could lead to quarrels at home and a possible shortage of money.


8. There is likely to be a morbid fear of pregnancy, which could also affect the sex
   life of the couple.


9. The child itself will be a very unhappy one.

The counsellor may ask the beloveds to recall whether they are acquainted with any sickler.
The acceptable situation is that they both be sickling negative or at worst, one negative and one
positive. If both are positive then the situation could be dangerous. Medical advice is against
such a marriage and so is the church, however, the decision is theirs.

If a couple decides to go ahead in spite of all the medical and church counsel, their marriage
will still be blessed. They will be supported in prayer so that, by God’s grace, they will not have
any sickness-prone children.

AS AS

AA AS AS SS

Husband Wife