Announcements

Coronavirus Update #5

COVID Upticks: Be Prepared

As the weather gets colder, health officials anticipate the coronavirus will spread more aggressively and faster. Indoor spaces and group gatherings are prime areas for the virus to thrive, and infect more people. Data has shown that private gatherings are high-risk settings. Governors have again increased restrictions, and fines are now being imposed.
Weddings, even the small backyard type, can become spreader-events. We need to remain diligent, despite covid-fatigue. In addition, as professional marriage officiants, we are leaders and influencers. During the wedding ceremony, all eyes are on us. Inherent in our role is to help couples make the safe decisions.

What is Your Plan?

Each of us has a personal responsibility to keep the virus in check. This includes assessing our own (or family members’) risk factors, and making personal decisions accordingly. Once you’ve made your own choices, be prepared to support your couples with implementation. Be ready with a selection of possible outdoor spots for a ceremony. Know what you’ll wear to stay warm. What if there is inclement weather? Identifying potential hiccups ahead of time will avoid on-the-spot dilemmas that put you or others at risk.
JPus has guidance for you on these questions and more. Our goal is to support members so you can continue to perform marriages, and also stay safe. See the links below.

Related Links

★  Coronavirus Update #4
★  Outdoor Winter Marriages – Tips for the Officiant
★  Zoom discussion about getting ready for colder weather

Coronavirus Update #4

It has been seven months since our communities shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, turning our worlds upside down. Life during a pandemic is hard. Quarantine fatigue is real. Covid burnout – we’re probably all there. Despite this, we move forward, because that is the only option. That is what we do.
For these reasons and more, we at JPus have been busy creating resources for our membership. Our goal is to help you safely and successfully navigate marriages during this time. Our situations are changing, and therefore we need to stay up-to-date and move fluidly. We strive to provide the guidance you are looking for, making sense of sometimes confusing or conflicting information.JPus’ networking events offer many benefits. The next Zoom call is on October 29th at noon. We’re in this together, and we’re here for each other.

Community Spread

As the leader of the ceremony, officiants have both influence and authority. This is a big deal – especially during this time. And, it comes with a hefty responsibility. For our own safety, and that of others, we can set the tone. The pastor who led the super-spreader wedding in Maine leading to at least 177 positive COVID cases and eight deaths is making international news with his defiant stance. He is the model of what not to do! On the other hand, you can be the calm voice of reason – and safety.
In fact, we need to acknowledge that the biggest source of community spread is private gatherings. Meaning, gatherings in private homes or other locations – similar to where many weddings take place. Being diligent about mask wearing and hand washing is paramount, and emphasizing outdoor events, even in the winter, is needed. Accordingly, I hope that you’ve taken our COVID training certification for marriage officiants (it is free!), so you understand steps to take to mitigate risk.

Ceremonies

In addition to providing guidance to our members, we are promoting findaJP and providing tips for couples, too. Fortunately, contacts to members’ listings on findaJP.com have been steady. There is an inherent nature about civil officiants that invokes a feeling of trust. Not to mention, our members follow a Code of Ethics that says they’ll always act in their clients’ best interest. So, while there may be a dip in marriages overall during the pandemic, the JPs and notaries listed on findaJP are doing okay.
Marriage ceremonies have changed. They are smaller (of course), and getting creative to find safe locations with air flow is needed. The wedding industry’s general message has been to postpone, not cancel. Nonetheless, officiants have been more fortunate than many others in the business. Couples can – and do – have two weddings. A small, intimate ceremony now, and a larger celebration later, also with nuptials! It is natural that couples anguish over what to do. Our monthly blog articles focus on areas that they struggle with. Written with the bridal couple in mind, they are also a resource for our officiants. Use them for ideas as you counsel your clients, and send them to your clients when you know that they are relevant. They will appreciate it – and you.
In the meantime, know that you can rely upon us. Stay connected with updates on our website, sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media and more. And, if you don’t see the answer you are looking for, the Justice of the Peace Association is just an email or phone call away.
Be well and safe,
Loretta Jay
Managing Member

Related Links

★ Member support articles about managing COVID

Open Forum Zoom Call

October 5th, 2020, 6-7:00pm

Join in the conversation with fellow marriage officiants. Monday evening, October 5, 2020 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm. We’ll have an open forum to allow for questions and answers and friendly banter. This is a members only call. Log-in information is available here.

COVID Marriages Discussion

Join the Zoom call to connect with fellow marriage officiants and talk about ceremonies during the pandemic: Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at noon. What is working, and what isn’t.? These are difficult times. Use your network of pros to brainstorm strategies for safety and success. More information and the link to join the Zoom call.

2020 Legislative Wrap-up

All of the legislation that JPus has been following has wrapped up for the 2020 spring session. A summary of each follows.

Amateur Officiants

Massachusetts

The Resolve for a commission study to evaluate the one-day solemnizer rule passed out of committee favorably at the end of February. But, then it got stuck and died in March. In order to plan for next year, we’ve spoken with Senator Cyr’s office and requested that the bill be resubmitted in January. More about our work to address one-day solemnizer problems.

New Hampshire

After the special marriage officiant bill died in the House, it was revived as an amendment in the Senate. Under guise of the pandemic, no head’s up was given to constituents. The language allowing lay officiants was attached to a sure-to-pass bill that protected children from sexual assault. Even worse, the senators were coy when introducing the floor amendment, neglecting to share the existing controversy about it. It passed and is on its way to the Governor. He won’t veto the bill, but we’re in discussions to have an executive order to stop implementation of the temporary officiant parts. We also submitted an op-ed reiterating our ask to Governor Sununu. The details are in the nitty-gritty backstory.

Child Marriage

Massachusetts

All non-covid legislation is on hold in the state, and that includes S2294, An Act to End Child Marriage. JPus has been involved, as a member of the Massachusetts Coalition to End Child Marriage, and submitting testimony in support of the legislation. Read about our activity.

New Hampshire

The bill to end child marriage in New Hampshire passed the House of Representatives, but then got tabled in June before being heard in the Senate. It will be resubmitted for the 2021 session. Read about JPus’ support of this bill.

Pennsylvania

With a unanimous vote, Pennsylvania ended child marriage in the state. Governor Wolf signed it into law on May 8th, 2020! Four states down, 46 to go. JPus submitted testimony in support of the legislation.