The first professorial chair in sustainable relationships, announced in September by a Dutch university, aims to inform government policy towards supporting marriages and preventing relationships conflict. The appointment of Prof Dr Esther Kluwer to this chair – by the Behavioural Science Institute of Radboud University in Nijmegen – is a pro-active attempt to promote happier and more stable relationships.

The new chair is an initiative of the (Christian) Marriage Week Foundation in the Netherlands which is concerned at the 43%
divorce rate in Holland, and the social and economic costs of such broken relationships. Independent research calculated the cost of divorce to Dutch taxpayers to be some €2 billion per year. The greatest costs, about €900 million, related to criminal behaviour of children from broken homes.

While the situation in the Netherlands raises real concerns, the divorce rate in other European countries is even more alarming, with Belgium topping the world rankings at 71 per cent. Obviously much has to be done to promote long and happy marriages all across Europe!

Source: Joel News International

Bible Study: Malachi 2:13-16

PRAISE God for this important initiative of the Marriage Week Foundation.

PRAY it will convince governments of the need for pro-marriage policy.