IS THERE A RIGHT WAY TO ARGUE WITH YOUR SPOUSE?

 

New research in the Wall Street Journal shows that fighting fair can lengthen and strengthen your marriage.  TODAY’s Amy Robach takes a look at a communication skill called the Speaker-Listener technique that can greatly increase a couple’s ability to fight in a healthy way.  Scott Stanley, co-author of Fighting for Your Marriage states that couples who handle conflict poorly are set-up for marital failure.  The ability to maintain positive communication from the earliest years of marriage plays a big part in who remains happy and who ends up in divorce court. 

 

 

Click here to see the full interview. Wall Street Journal

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On October 15, 2009, area faith leaders joined together across denominational and racial lines to sign a public document to make healthy marriages a priority in their congregations. More than 200 cities across the nation have created similar Community Marriage Declarations, and divorce rates have fallen an average of 17.5%, and cohabitation by a third (visit www.marriagesavers.org for more information). Mayor Jim Wetherington issued a proclamation declaring October 15 Right from the Start, Building Strong Marriages and Families Day.

                    

Below is the full text of the Columbus Marriage Declaration:

COLUMBUS COMMUNITY MARRIAGE DECLARATION
           Established October 15, 2009

We, the members of the Columbus faith community invite all to join us in the quest to help promote healthy, stable marriages. 
 
We recognize that the FAMILY is the core of the larger society and the health of the family impacts the health of our community. 

WE BELIVE:

  • Marriage is intended to be a mutually healthy and loving relationship between a man and a woman.
  • Healthy marriage relationships form the foundation of healthy families.
  • Children thrive when raised by their two parents in an enduring, healthy marriage.
  • As shepherds to our community, we uphold standards and work with others to support healthy and stable marriages.
  • We must invest in future generations by preparing couples for marriage, empowering all marriages, and healing hurting marriages for the purpose of strengthening the overall health of our community. 

THEREFORE, WE WILL:

  • Provide young people and single adults tools and resources to help them make healthy choices in their present and future relationships.
  • Offer couples the opportunity to discover their “marriage readiness.”
  • Expect engaged couples to attend a minimum of six hours of pre-marital education.
  • Mentor and support newlyweds during the critical first year of marriage.
  • Create occasions to provide educational support to strengthen marriages and families.
  • Urge other community leaders to broaden their knowledge and expertise in the areas of relational health and family.
  • Encourage one another to model strong healthy marriages and families.
  • Collaborate with other organizations to support marriages and families.

We recognize that this declaration is not meant to replace standards concerning marriage of our respective faith communities and we encourage local congregations to endorse, publicize, and support this declaration.

As leaders in the faith community, we will work with each other to support this declaration, in full respect of the uniqueness of every group and individual.