Who is going to marry us now?

Since I was a little girl, I always had a vision of who would marry me.  I had the same Pastor baptize me, give me my first Communion, and confirm me into the Church.  He also married my parents.  He was my Pastor up until a year and a half ago, when he left our congregation to be the Pastor at a retirement home. 

After he left, we got a "temporary Pastor".  Since this new Pastor came to the Church, I have had this "blah" feeling about going each Sunday.  I did not feel inspired.  I was not happy to be there.  So, I basically stopped going.  I maybe go 4 or 5 times a year, but that is it.  This is strange for me, seeing as I went nearly every Sunday growing up and while in college.  I would rather not go than go and sit in the pew and not be happy about it. 

When JS and I got engaged, I knew immediately who I wanted to marry us.  I told JS all about my beloved Pastor, and he was all for it!  I didn't want to put him on the spot, so I simply emailed my old Pastor and asked him to marry JS and me.  After waiting two weeks, I finally received a response today.  It was not what I had hoped...

Unfortunately I'm finding out the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) has some weird rules.  When a pastor leaves a congregation, he can not be involved with any "pastoral services" (ie baptisms, weddings, funerals) with any members of the congregation.  An excerpt from the ELCA synod states:

"Congregations and pastors need to understand the professional ethics of ministry relating to former pastors, interim pastors and current pastors. A pastor who resigns or retires from a congregational ministry setting no longer serves as pastor to members of this congregation. Former pastors should not agree to pastoral responsibilities that rightfully belong to the current pastor of the congregation."

When I read this email from my (former) Pastor, my heart just sank.  I know he must follow the rules put forth by the ELCA, but it just doesn't seem right.  I'm not sure who will marry us now.  Although, this email may have pushed me to withdraw my membership at my Church, and search for a new Church.  Hopefully I will make a new relationship with a new Pastor within the next year who wants to...and is able to...marry us.