Dutch Reformed Church did not backtrack on same-sex marriage lightly, court hears
by Zelda Venter, IOL:
Pretoria – The decision to no longer recognise same-sex unions in the Dutch Reformed Church was taken at a special synod meeting after four days of intensive debating and praying, counsel for the Church argued on Tuesday in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
The Church is opposing an application by several of its members, including Laurie Gaum, with the blessing of his father, Dr Frits Gaum, a well-known figure in the Church. They are challenging the Dutch Reformed Church’s decision to go back on its word regarding same-sex unions.
The Church made headlines when it in 2015 announced that its various congregations could decide for itself if it wanted to give its blessing to same-sex unions. A year later, following a lot of pressure from some of its members, it announced that a gay or lesbian person can only be a minister if he or she is celibate. Ministers were also no longer able to solemnise same-sex civil unions.
Advocate Schalk Burger SC, for the Church, said this decision was not taken lightly. He argued that since 2004 its general synod confirmed its stance against gay unions in the Church. It changed its stance in 2015, but due to a lot of opposition from its members, it decided to revert back to its previous stance.
Burger said the synod acted above board regarding this change of heart and it did follow the correct process.
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