Office of Communications

Contact: Amy Batheja

Communications Specialist

Office: (817) 531-7521

abatheja@txwes.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEARN SKILLS TO SUPPORT A LASTING, HEALTHY MARRIAGE

The marriage education course, Growing Love in Christian Marriage, will be offered at Texas Wesleyan University from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18. This course is certified by the state of Texas so that couples who participate will receive a certificate for a discount of $60 on their Texas state marriage license.

Amy Tate-Almy, a facilitator for the Depression Connection Team of Fort Worth and Director of Debtor Education for the Fort Worth Chapter 13 Trustee’s Office, will lead the premarital counseling workshop. The cost of the workshop is $30 per couple to learn skills to support a lasting healthy marriage.   

The GLCM course includes eight topics: commitment, communication, conflict management, companionship and lifestyle, career and finances, children and parenting, community networks, and compass for the future. Couples begin by answering the internet MIRROR Couple Relationship Inventory before coming to the workshop.

The Growing Love in Christian Marriage (GLCM) curriculum was developed by Richard and Joan Hunt. The couples book course, updated in 2001, is ecumenical in nature and is used by the United Methodist Church for its marriage education courses. Pastors have used the GLCM couples book with over 300,000 couples since its inception. 

Effective Sept. 1, 2008, House Bill 2685 provides that couples who attend a certified eight-hour course can receive a certificate for the $60 discount on their marriage license. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has started the TWOgether in Texas initiative to inform couples about the opportunity, certify courses, and organize marriage education providers.

Amy Tate-Almy is a certified provider for the TWOgether in Texas program. She received her undergraduate degree from Texas Wesleyan University and her Master of Divinity from Texas Christian University. After earning her master’s degree, Tate-Almy joined the staff of the Fort Worth Chapter 13 Trustee’s office where she has led financial management/counseling classes for the past five years.  

In addition, anyone interested in becoming a trained GLCM leader may attend this workshop and then complete an online set of leader questions for certification. Email glcm@careermarriage.org for more information about GLCM leader certification.

Marriage Education Seminar for Couples

Saturday, April 18, 2009

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Louella Baker Martin Pavilion, 1112 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth

RSVP to Amy Tate-Almy at aatalmy@hotmail.com

To register, send the couple's name(s), email address, and phone number with $30 fee payment (make checks out to Texas Wesleyan University) to Attn: GLCM, Office of Advancement, Texas Wesleyan University, 1201 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth, TX 76105.

For more information, email glcm@careermarriage.org.