Marital and Relationship Ministry (MRM) as a tenant of pastoral care

Although marital and relationship support programs are available for couples, few churches offer comprehensive marital and relationship ministry (MRM). This research examined MRM topics and formats desired by congregants and advocated adoption by clergy of MRM as a tenant of pastoral care. Eight faith communities in a Midwestern city were non-randomly selected for ethnic and denominational diversity. Overall analyses indicated congregants desired specific areas of marital and relationship ministry that included communication, family, and enrichment topics.