IAM - Inclusive and Affirming Ministries

The Constitutional Court has made it clear that Parliament must amend the Marriage Act to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of marriage, presently provided for heterosexual couples, be extended to gay and lesbian couples in a way which is fully equal.

Given that the Court has now spoken, those who had previously stood against these legal changes, are now making a stand in favour of some term like ‘civil union’ as opposed to ‘marriage’ for gays and lesbians. Their focus is on keeping the term ‘marriage’ for heterosexuals only. From their perspective, given the long-standing dominant tradition of a particular interpretation of Scripture, one has to say that their focus is understandable. It is important to appreciate where so many of them are coming from. We are dealing here with deep-seated religious beliefs and cultural assumptions. When these are challenged both sociologically and theologically, it is disturbing for all concerned. Yet, however understandable their perspective, we need to try and address these issues as justly and humanely as we can.

by Bishop David Russell

The Constitutional Court has passed to Parliament the responsibility for amending the Marriage Act, or drafting a parallel Act, to ensure that equal legal rights are extended to persons of gay and lesbian preference in the way presently provided for heterosexuals. We all know that this is a hugely emotive and divisive issue in our society.

For those holding traditional religious convictions and cultural beliefs, the very idea of gay marriage is profoundly disturbing. It goes against all that they have been taught; it goes against their plain reading and understanding of Scripture; it goes against their deep-seated ‘cultural givens’ about what is normal and appropriate; in their view it goes against ‘God and nature’.  They believe therefore that a Constitution which allows such a thing, is, in this regard, ungodly.

by Bishop David Russell

Parliament’s Portfolio Committees for Home Affairs, and Justice and Constitutional Affairs are grappling with the task of amending the Marriage Act to bring it in line with the provisions of our Constitution which outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Those who wish to resist these changes frequently make the claim that gay marriage will undermine this foundational institution. This is highly questionable.

Gay and lesbian couples who are longing to be able to get married like any other heterosexual couple, can hardly be accused of seeking to undermine the institution of marriage. It is just the opposite. They are wanting to embrace this institution. By their very call and longing to be included, they are affirming the institution, and by every implication seeking to support it, and find support in it.

Conservative and Liberal Views: Standard Disclaimer

We will attempt to give interpretations of key passages of the Bible from both a conservative (Fundamentalist and other Evangelical) and from a liberal position.