Contact: Mark W. Gaither, 214-457-5418; www.redemptiveheart.com

FRISCO, Texas, Sept. 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- Divorced Christians eventually recover from the pain of divorce, but often struggle with nagging doubts about God's acceptance many years later. Their feelings of shame are often intensified by the earnest desire of Christian leaders to uphold the sanctity of marriage. Unfortunately, anti-divorce zeal unwittingly suggests that divorce is an unforgivable sin, leaving divorced people feeling like unforgiven sinners. They secretly wonder if God--like His church--considers them "damaged goods."

According to Mark W. Gaither, author of "Redemptive Divorce," "many divorced Christians desperately need healing, even those who have been divorced a long time. They may have gone through divorce recovery and grieved the loss of their marriage, yet an unspoken question continues to haunt them: What does God really think about me now that I'm divorced?"

Leaders in Christian ministry cannot be directly faulted for this. They struggle with the problem of divorce on a grand scale. As the divorce rate climbs, church leaders feel compelled to elevate the institution of marriage. The more a secular society dismisses marriage, the more pastors proclaim the inviolable, unbreakable covenant of marriage more fervently and more rigidly than before. An unintentional result is a general feeling of rejection among divorced Christians, who are often heard to ask:

"My marriage failed. Does that make me a failure?"

"Am I committing adultery in my marriage to another partner?"

"Am I disqualified from Christian service?"

"Does God want me to divorce my second spouse and then reconcile with my first?"

"Did I have 'biblical grounds' to divorce? What if I didn't?"

"If my ex-spouse divorced me against my will, am I still guilty of sin?"

Questions like these eventually prompted John Eaton, pastor of Alter Church of Frisco, to organize a one-day seminar and to contact Mark Gaither to serve as the instructor. The result is an in-depth study of the issue presented as "No More Condemnation: What God Really Thinks about Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage."

"This seminar isn't about bashing pastors or churches in an effort to comfort divorced Christians," assures Mark. "In fact, we will be affirming their often thankless efforts as we examine this difficult issue from a biblical perspective."

Anyone seeking more information, including the possibility of hosting the seminar, may visit www.redemptiveheart.com/seminars or email info@redemptiveheart.com for more information.