About
The Diocesan Clerical Council for Family Affairs – Diocese of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana was established by H.G. Bishop Saraphim in 2017. The Council is the tribunal authorized by the Coptic Orthodox Church to adjudicate applications for remarriage, grant or refuse permissions to remarry and all related family affairs within the Diocese of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
The Diocesan Clerical Council for Family Affairs has jurisdiction of first instance over family affair matters in the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
Coptic Orthodox Views on Marriage
Marriage in the Coptic Orthodox Church is one of the seven Mysteries or Sacraments of the Church, established by Christ Jesus Himself. The bond of marriage is one that unites a man and a woman to Christ and as such is to be cherished and protected. Following the teachings of the Lord and the cannons of the Church, this bond can only be broken by divorce in the case of adultery. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, when asked the conditions for divorce, Our Lord declares, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mt 19:4-7; see also, Mk 10:5-10). The Lord continues, and sets the guidelines for divorce, maintained by the Church through the ages and says, “whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” (Mt 19:9; see also Lk 16:18 and Mk 10:11-12).
Frequently Asked Questions
The Church abides by the teachings of Christ and thus an ecclesiastical divorce is only permissible in cases of adultery.
The Church investigates a case based on evidence and with the principals of Biblical and Canon Law in all family matters.
A link to the application is found on this website (at the bottom of the page), complete with all relevant instructions.
An annulment is a judgement by the Clerical Council that a marriage was invalid from its inception and thus, invalid, i.e., the marriage never existed.
A decree of civil divorce is a requirement for a permit to remarry to be granted.
All contact with the Council must be in writing via postal or electronic mail, to the address and email listed below:
Coptic Orthodox Diocese – DCCFA
P.O. Box 80824
Rochester, MI 48308
E-mail: DCCFA@omicopts.org
The application fee for the DCCFA is $100.00 USD.
The duration of each case will depend on the complexity and completeness of the evidence and applications. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of the application and a notification upon final decision of the Council.
No. The Church in its entirety, and the Clerical Council, specifically, will never compromise the sanctity and confidence of the Sacrament of Confession and Repentance.
The applicant making the claims bears the burden of proof.
No. All communications must be made in writing to the Council and not via individual conversations or contacts with the members.
Yes, it is the right of the spouse not filing for permission to be informed of the allegations and provided an opportunity to defend and respond to all documents and allegations presented against them by the other spouse.
No. The Council will hold any evidence or documentation obtained through illegal means as inadmissible and will not consider any such information in the case.
No. To protect the family unit and the wellbeing of children, the Council will not hear the testimony of children under the age of 16, for or against the parties involved.