Christian Divorce Resourcs
Divorce is a phenomenon that affects people of various ethnic, racial, age, and religious demographics. Religious beliefs, however, can greatly complicate the divorce process and make an already complex procedure even more labyrinthine. This guide was created for Christians contemplating or curious about divorce, or anyone interested in the intersection of Christianity, marriage, and divorce.
The following resources will help you learn about the divorce process for Christians as well as offer support and informational references for Christians grappling with a divorce.
The Biblical Perspective on Divorce - Christian Living After Divorce -
Helping Children Cope with Divorce - Being a Good Christian During Divorce - Christian Support Groups & Divorce Services
The Biblical Perspective on Divorce
- Commit to Your Marriage: This free online Bible study considers God, marriage, and divorce, and encourages discussion on the consequences of divorce as well as the times when God says divorce is permissible. The Bible study is divided into two parts—the first examines scriptures that reveal God’s attitude about marriage and divorce and the second considers common unbiblical reasons or excuses for divorce.
- Divorce and Remarriage: Sheila Lewis Busby created this site to help fellow Christians uncover the Lord’s will concerning divorce and remarriage. She draws on the Bible as she presents a seemingly well-researched position on divorce, adultery, secular viewpoints, and remarrying.
- Divorce Help for Christian Women: The Divorce Help for Christian Women (DHCW) website was created by a divorcee for women divorcees. Debbie Carsten knows firsthand the difficulties associated with divorce, including lawyers, single parenting, financial upheaval, and identity crisis. She combines personal experiences with an in-depth study on Biblical texts to help educate and empower women coping with divorce.
- Divorce in the Bible: A Christian Bible expert is the creator of this website and the objective of the page is to clearly explain the Biblical passages pertaining to divorce without incorporating the author’s personal opinion. Visual diagrams are used to supplement the textual references.
- The Marriage Covenant: Samuele Bacchiocchi, a Ph.D. from Andrews University, created this site to publish his findings from a Biblical study on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. The objective of the study presented is to ascertain what the Old and New Testaments teach regarding divorce and remarriage. This objective is reached by examining all relevant passages and applying Biblical teachings to concrete situations today.
- Myths about separation, divorce, and the Bible: This article presents a list of myths and facts pertaining to what the Bible says about separation and divorce. In addition to offering advice for reconciling a broken marriage, the article also includes links to other relevant sources such as “8 Causes of Divorce” and “Is Divorce Really the Answer to My Marriage Problems?”
- What Does the Bible Say About…: This resource is a well-formatted user-friendly blog designed to address what the bible has to say about a particular subject. There are several posts pertaining to marriage and divorce, and the various ways that Biblical text pertaining to divorce can be interpreted. Subscribers to the blog are also encouraged to post comments and questions, and some subscribers have offered personal testimonies in the comment section.
- What Does the Bible Say About Divorce: This forum was created by a pastor and presents a Biblical study regarding the question of divorce. The author examines and interprets the words of Jesus and the Apostle Paul as he draws a conclusion on the issue of divorce rights.
Christian Living After Divorce
- Christian Divorce Recovery: Jason is a Christian who currently resides in Idaho. Recently his wife of three years had an affair and divorced him, at which time Jason began to focus on renewing his relationship with God. This website is a collection of Jason’s personal stories, articles pertaining to divorce and divorce recovery from a Christian perspective, and daily encouraging Bible verses.
- Christian Divorce Services: Christian Divorce Services is a blog that allows subscribers to post a comment or question pertaining to divorce and the pastors, believers, and other ministers that form Christian Divorce Services respond in a public forum. Posts range whether or not it is permissible to remarry a Christian divorcee to how Christians should defend themselves in divorce court.
- Christian Living After Divorce: Vanessa is a newly separated and divorce-seeking Christian woman. She created this blog to express her feelings and thoughts on her situation as well as to help other women who find themselves in a similar situation. Posts vary and cover topics pertaining to children and divorce, dating and divorce, and life in general after divorce.
- Contentment Living a Christian Single Life: This article is a part of a singles blog for Oasis Church. The blog aims to help newly divorced, not yet married, and other Christian singles to maintain a holy yet enjoyable lifestyle. In addition to contentment and single life tips, the blog also offers a subscription to a singles newsletter, a list of the top Christian dating services, and Christian podcasts.
- Coping With Divorce: the First Year: John Buckles is a once-divorced, currently remarried pastor who is in the process of writing a book on Christian hospitality. He was interviewed by divorce360—a virtual support group for Christian divorcees. Pastor John shares the most intimate details of how he coped with his divorce the first year and shares what he did to better himself and how his friends supported him.
- Dating During Divorce: This article is for Christians considering entering the dating world during or immediately after divorce. The article provides insight as to whether dating during separation or divorce is a good idea by presenting the legal and emotional repercussions.
- Emerge Victorious: This resource seeks to help Christians grow through and beyond divorce. The site features advice to help divorcees regain control of their lives and offers the opportunity for one-on-one divorce coaching.
- Focus on the Family: Focus on the Family is an online resource dedicated to helping Christian families thrive. The site offers several pieces of advice and other information for Christian divorcees including an eight part series on reentering the dating scene after divorce, the ten commandments of Christian dating, and a commentary on remaining sexually pure in an immoral world.
- Hope After Divorce-Remarriage: This online publication was created by two pastors and long-term marriage partners. Equipped with photos and animations, this online resource is designed to be a go-to guide for Christian divorcees contemplating remarriage. The site presents Biblical interpretations, personal testimonies, and a section on how the Bible is often misquoted to justify or defend certain behaviors.
- Power to Change: Power to Change is a virtual community of Christian mentors, prayer leaders, and pastors designed to uplift those in need. The website features an extensive “Sex & Love” section that offers advice on Christian marriage, divorce, sex, singles and relationships. In addition to reading insightful articles, the site’s viewers can also receive live-streamed prayer or join a Christian chat room.
- Recovering Your Life After Divorce: A divorce can result in depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders. MentalHelp.net created this guide to help divorcees reconcile their situation without stimulating mental anguish. Coping tactics include prayer, meditation, reinventing one’s life, and embracing change.
Helping Children Cope with Divorce
- Children of Divorce Aren’t Doomed to Failure: This article was written for Virtual Christian Magazine and features an extensive collection of information pertaining to the effects of divorce on Christian children. After presenting statistical data, the article’s author provides tips and practices to help ensure that the children involved in a divorce cope in a healthy way.
- Christian Caring: This resource aims to help parents assist their children in coping with divorce. The site’s creator believes that Christian parents and friends have been called by God to act in helping children handle divorce. Specific activities, words to use and refrain from, and attitudes to express are presented in this commentary.
- DC4K: DC4K—Divorce Care for Kids—is a safe and neutral place to help children heal from the pain caused by a separation or divorce. The program is held at local churches throughout the United States and the organization’s website provides an online community and extensive resources for parents.
- The Do’s and Don’ts of Divorce for Parents: This post was written as a part of the Better Parents, Better Families blog—an online Christian news forum. The post offers extensive coverage on how Christian parents should discuss divorce with their children. The site offers parenting advice for all stages throughout the divorce process and provides useful tips whether you are breaking the news of divorce to your child for the first time or in the final stages of the process.
- Gospel.com: Gospel.com is a community of online ministries. The divorce section of their site includes several resources for Christians considering a divorce or who have already experienced divorce. The sections entitled “How do I cope with the pain of my divorce?” and “How can my children cope with divorce?” are particularly useful for parents.
- No Good Divorce—the children’s perspective: Christian Century Magazine published this article as a reminder of the importance of the child’s perspective in Christian debates on divorce. The article is formatted to include an exhaustive list of frequently asked questions pertaining to children of divorcees and extensive answers.
- Recommendations for Care of “Divorced”: The Pontifical Council for the Family created this list of recommendations for dealing with the children and other relatives of divorcees in response to the rapid increases in divorce experienced within the church. Recommendations are supplemented by scriptural references and pastoral guidelines.
- Woman’s Divorce: The objective of this website is to help Christian women survive divorce and rebuild their lives. There are links to several helpful resources, especially for women wondering how divorce will affect their children. Featured sections include “Being Strong for Your Kids” and “For Stay at Home Moms.”
Being a Good Friend & a Good Christian During Divorce
- 4 Ways to Support a Friend: Sandra Dopf—a certified life coach, divorce coach, and family mediator—wrote this article to reveal four of the best ways for Christians to support their friends during divorce. The common theme in each of the four tips is the significance of showing God’s love through every action.
- Christian Life Coaching Blog: This blog provides the latest updates, inspiration and offers for Christians seeking to reach an elevated point in their walk with God. The links provided on this site offer practical and spiritual help and are especially useful for those trying to redefine their life after divorce or console a friend struggling with divorce.
- Christians, Relationships, & Fellowship: This resource distinguishes between Christian friendship and Christian fellowship and explains how each is important in helping a divorced friend to cope. The site also serves as an excellent guide for someone seeking to counsel divorcees as it provides a formal outline and several online resources for broken marriages.
- Divorce and You: Probe Ministries—whose mission is to present the Gospel to national and international communities by integrating faith and learning—created this guide to help friends and family members minister to divorcees. The guide will teach you how to remain neutral in the aftermath of a divorce and to seek Godly wisdom.
- Divorce Hope: Being a friend to someone going through a divorce is crucial during this time in their life. This list of tips will help you to be a productive and positive body of support for your friend in their time of need. Most of the featured tips apply to divorced wives rather than husbands.
- Healing the Grief of Divorce: Cross Walk Life Ministries created this article to teach Christians how to pray for a friend going through divorce. The article offers very specific prayers to be prayed over divorcees such as a plea to God for them to avoid every temptation to compromise or enter into self-deception and spending 20 minutes a day listening to God then sharing your revelations with your divorced friend.
- Helping a Friend Through a Divorce: Laura Petherbridge is a guest columnist for Christian Broadcast Network and she wrote this article after a heart-wrenching experience with a woman whose own mother blamed her for her and her husband’s divorce. The article offers dos and don’ts for Christians seeking to counsel divorcees who have been ostracized by members of their families.
- Helping Your Friends Help You: Often times divorcees try to cope with the burdens of divorce on their own. This article teaches divorcees how to be responsive to their friends and loved one’s help and support. After you clarify the role you want your loved ones to take, this resource advises divorcees to coach friends on how to best assist them.
- Straight Divorce: This website serves as a comprehensive toolkit for anyone contemplating or experiencing divorce, rather directly or indirectly. The resources the site offers are divided into seven sections—divorce attorneys, divorce information, divorce process, children and divorce, finances and divorce, divorce news and discussion, and recent divorce articles. Friends of divorcees are encouraged to visit this website for information on how to best assist their loved ones.
- Ten Ways to Help a Friend’s Struggling Marriage: The Christian advice offered on this website pertains not only to friends whose marriage is struggling, but also those whose marriage has already ended. Each tip is accompanied by a hyperlink to further resources and tips range from praying for the person by name to being a neutral listener and not offering non-professional advice.
- When a Friend Divorces: This article focuses on supporting newly-divorced individuals specifically from an emotional and spiritual perspective. Judy Corey will tell you how “you can be the bearer of the good news that God can bring rebirth and joy despite the pain of divorce!”
Christian Support Groups & Divorce Services
- Catholic Divorce Ministry: Catholic Divorce Ministry is the ministry of the North American Conference of Separated and Divorce Catholics, Inc. and works to create a network of support for families experiencing separation and divorce. The organization has set forth a list of objectives which include fostering the spiritual and emotional recovery of those who divorce, searching out those who have left the Catholic Church because of divorce, and welcoming divorced and separated persons of other faiths who request support.
- Christian Divorce Services: Christian Divorce Services (CDS) offers multiple resources for Christians facing divorce and needing Christian divorce help. Although the litigators, attorneys, and mediators at CDS do not promote divorce, they seek to extend their services in instances where divorce has become unavoidable so as to help the people going through divorce to avoid the damage associated with extended litigation, to grow in their faith, and to trust the redemptive power of the Lord.
- Christian Lawyer Connection: The founders of Christian Lawyer Connection are committed to Jesus Christ and connecting those who are seeking Christian counsel with local Christian lawyers for the advancement of God’s kingdom through the legal field. Their services are particularly useful for Christians who seek a faith-sharing divorce attorney.
- Christian Life Assembly: The divorce care support group that Christian Life Assembly offers focuses on the unique issues facing men and women who have experienced divorce and separation. Individuals in this group will find support and encouragement in dealing with issues of fear, pain, trust, and rebuilding lives. Although Christian Life Assembly Church is based in Pennsylvania, their services can also be rendered via telephone, website, and email.
- Christian Services Savvy: This resource offers financial and legal services for Christians seeking or currently involved in a divorce. The site’s creators acknowledge that a Christian divorce lawyer can see things from the same point of view and with the same values you share and the litigators and debt counselors they present are all practicing Christians.
- Divorced Catholic: Whether you are separated, divorced, going through an annulment, or coping with the repercussions of it all, DivorcedCatholic.Org will help you find accurate information, support, and practical tools to help. This site is a reputable source for answers and insights for divorced Catholics.
- Divorce Counseling: The Georgia Christian Divorce Counseling Advice Ministry Services Center created this website to offer free legal, spiritual, emotional or other advice to individuals contemplating a divorce. This ministry’s aim is to guide individuals through divorce counseling and mediation to resolve marital problems and conflicts, save marriages and homes, and help couples gain a fresh start.
- Divorce Hope: Divorce Hope—a site dedicated to destroying the yokes of shame and guilt associated with divorce—has created this list of websites, phone numbers, and in-person support groups to help people involved in a crisis in the areas of marriage problems, family problems, divorce help, or needing a marriage counselor or divorce support group for men, women, or kids. Most of the resources offered are sponsored by Christian organizations.
- Divorce HQ: Divorce HQ provides an organized listing of divorce support groups as they are offered by state. After clicking on a state, site viewers will find a listing of all the divorce support groups and relevant websites and phone numbers offered in a particular area. Some of the groups are social while others are emotional and some are Christian while others are offered by nonsectarian religious groups.
- Every Day Catholics: This article presented by Every Day Catholics teaches divorced parishioners how to choose the divorce support group best tailored for their needs and offers advice for clergymen on how to best counsel divorcees.
- Fresh Start Seminars: Fresh Start Ministries exist to let people know there is life after divorce. Their seminars and online materials are designed to provide hope and new direction for broken lives. The seminars are held in local churches throughout North America and some churches also offer the Fresh Start for Kids Program.
- Northside Christian: Northside Christian Church offers online and in-person year-round support groups for men, women, and children coping with divorce. The Divorce Care for Adults program is a place for adults to find information, encouragement, and sharing pertaining to their divorce; the Divorce Care for Kids program helps children aged six to twelve to recover from the hurt of divorce; the Grief Share program is open to individuals of all ages.
- Picket Fences: Picket Fences Divorce Recovery Ministries for Christian Women began in 2000 after a small group of women gathered feeling they had been shunned by their churches as a result of their divorce. The ministry has grown tremendously since then and is currently focused on ministering to divorced Christian women nationwide. The women’s-only forum offers an event calendar, online and in-person communities, and a wealth of other resources.
- Religious Resources: Religious Resources provides an extensive list of links for support groups that offer divorce recovery, support, and encouragement. Some sites are specifically devoted to ministering to women while others are focused on Christian men or children.