A long-standing moment in many wedding ceremonies has now been struck out by The Apostolic Church-Ghana, which has formally barred couples from kissing at the altar during marriage services.
The new directive did not emerge in isolation. It was endorsed by the Council of Apostles and Prophets and subsequently adopted by delegates during the church’s 6th General Council Meeting at the TAC Conference Centre in Fafraha, Accra, where the matter was put forward and approved.
Explaining the thinking behind the move, President Ami-Narh pointed to a growing drift in how weddings are conducted. He indicated that some practices seen at ceremonies today have veered away from both Ghanaian cultural norms and the spiritual discipline the church seeks to uphold.
The church’s position was clearly captured in an official statement: “The Council of Apostles and Prophets has decided to expunge the ‘you may kiss the bride’ aspect from our wedding ceremonies owing to its inappropriateness within our cultural setting.”
While acknowledging that such gestures are widely accepted in Western traditions, the statement stressed that they do not reflect the values the church promotes within its own context.
Beyond the altar, the Council also raised concerns about the kind of pre-wedding content being produced by some couples. Members were cautioned against staging or sharing photoshoots the church considers suggestive or out of step with its moral expectations.
President Ami-Narh further stressed that marriage should be approached with a sense of reverence, insisting that its dignity must not be compromised even before the ceremony takes place. He added that upholding Christian conduct ahead of marriage remains essential in honoring God.
The announcement reportedly drew a strong reaction from the gathering, with delegates responding with loud applause and open approval. Many present viewed the decision as a timely intervention aimed at guiding young people away from what they see as the excesses driven by social media trends.
