WeeklySA_AdminBLESSING: The move contradicts the latest position of mother body, Church of England, which is now easing its initial stance to embrace such marriages from next year…
By WSAM Reporters
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa has rejected a proposal to allow bishops to approve blessings for couples in same-sex unions in parishes that want to offer them.
The church’s Provincial Synod also voted against approving a set of prayers drawn up by the bishops for providing pastoral ministry to church members in civil unions. The two proposals were voted down by a show of hands after debate at the synod yesterday.
This development is in stark contrast with the mother body Church of England’s position on the matter, which seems to be moving closer to allowing services of blessing for same-sex couples. The Church of England’s ruling body backed a proposal by bishops that could see a three-year trial starting in 2025.
The church’s general synod voted by 216 to 191 to back the move in July this year – the latest incremental step in the church’s long journey towards welcoming the civil marriages of same-sex couples. At the moment, clergy are permitted to bless the marriages of same-sex couples within regular church services.
Meanwhile, in his opening charge to the synod in South Africa, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba asked, “Will we be able to craft a pragmatic, reconciliatory outcome which takes account of the differing pastoral needs for effective ministry in our varied dioceses which are called to minister in widely divergent contexts?”
The proposals that were rejected would have only allowed blessings. One proposal specifically ruled out same-sex marriages under canon law.
In recent years, same-sex marriage has been a contentious subject within many religious groups either in agreement, disagreement and partially accommodative in their attitude towards this type of civil union
In 2019, in a case involving the Dutch Reformed Church against a congregant, a High Court judgment held that it is not permissible for religious institutions to discriminate unfairly against fellow South Africans on the ground of sexual orientation. This, because the Constitution prohibits churches and other religious institutions from unfairly discriminating against gays and lesbians.
It all started in 2015 when the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church (who during apartheid was often called the National Party at prayer) made a momentous decision, agreeing to allow individual ministers (dominees) of the church to solemnise same-sex marriages and also to allow non-celibate gays or lesbians to be ordained as dominees or elders in the church. In other words, the decision allowed individual dominees to stop discriminating against gays and lesbians and also ended the church’s discrimination against gay and lesbian dominees.
The decision was met with outrage by some members of the church, and after a sustained campaign by more conservative dominees the General Synod met again towards the end of 2016 and voted to revert to the churches’ previous discriminatory position towards gays and lesbians.
In December last year, Pope Francis approved a ruling allowing Catholic Church priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples as long as the blessing was performed without any type of ritualisation and did not give the impression of the church’s approval of the relationship.
In an apparent revolt, the following week, the church’s African bishops dissociated themselves from the ruling, saying in a statement that the Vatican declaration on the possibility of blessing “same-sex couples” would not be implemented in Africa.
“We, the African Bishops, do not consider it appropriate for Africa to bless homosexual unions or same-sex couples because, in our context, this would cause confusion and would be in direct contradiction to the cultural ethos of African communities,” Catholic Bishops in Africa added in the statement.
In contrast, the United Methodist Church in May this year voted that its leadership must not to penalise clergy or churches for holding— or refraining from holding — same-sex weddings.
Without debate, the same general conference voted to remove the Church’s ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” — a 40-year-old prohibition that dates to 1984. The vote on the consent calendar was 692-51, with approval at 93%. Delegates and observers applauded after the vote.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran church body in the United States, allows for LGBTQ+ marriage and ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy. ELCA policy states that LGBTQ+ individuals are welcome and encouraged to become members and to participate in the life of the congregation.
Meanwhile, the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to allow same-gender marriages in2014 during its 221st General Assembly, making it one of the largest Christian denominations in the world to openly accept same-sex unions.
In 2019, senior pastors of one of Southern Africa’s most powerful African churches adopted controversial new rules that include ostracising gay and lesbian members.
The rules, adopted by 14 pastors of the Nazareth Baptist Church (Ebuhleni), also known as the Shembe Church, led to an outcry by some congregants. Ebuhleni regarded as the biggest and the most powerful among the 4.5-million members.
Islamic law forbids homosexuality, and the practice of homosexuality is a crime in many Islamic countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia.
There is no universal Buddhist position on same-sex marriage, according to the Pew Research Centre. According to some interpretations of the Buddha’s teachings, one of the 10 non-virtuous deeds that lead to suffering is “sexual misconduct.” This term is generally understood to refer primarily to adultery. However, some Buddhists interpret the term to include homosexuality.
There is no official Hindu position on same-sex marriage. Some Hindus condemn the practice of homosexuality, but others cite ancient Hindu texts, such as the Kama Sutra, that seem to condone homosexual behaviour.
The Reform and Reconstructionist Jewish movements have supported gay and lesbian rights, including same-sex marriage, since the mid-1990s, according to the Pew Research Centre. In June 2012, the Conservative Jewish movement approved a ceremony to allow same-sex couples to marry. All three movements also allow individual rabbis to choose not to officiate at the weddings of gay and lesbian couples.
Orthodox Judaism does not accept same-sex marriage, and its highest governing body, the Orthodox Union, has lobbied against gay marriage nationally and in various states. – Additional reporting by The Guardian, TimesLive and ACN
Mirror Briefs
HUNT FOR MASS KILLERS
Police have launched an intensive search for the criminals involved in the heinous killing of 17 people including 15 women who were gunned down in a mass shooting incident in Ngobozana village in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape on Friday night.
Thirteen victims – 12 women and A man – were found in one house, and four others in another homestead. The 18th victim is in a critical condition in hospital. In total, 15 women and two men lost their lives in the shooting, according to the police.
The victims were preparing for a traditional ritual, umembulo or ukukhululwa kwezila, scheduled for the following day, Saturday, at MaNtlaneni village, also in Lusikisiki, to mark the end of mourning of a mother and daughter murdered a year ago.
The group had gathered to pack goods and presents for the event when the shooting occurred. The motive is not known.
Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu and his deputy, Cassel Mathale as well as National Commissioner of the South African Police Services, General Fannie Masemola, were expected to address the media late on Saturday to shed more information on the brutal killings.
Mchunu had earlier said an intensive investigation had been launched to bring the perpetrators of this vicious crime to book. Maximum resources had been mobilised to arrest those behind the attacks. Anyone with information has been asked to contact the nearest police station. – SABC News.
HLOPHE BANNED FROM JSC
MK Party (MKP) deputy president, John Hlophe has been interdicted from taking part in any Judicial Service Commission (JSC) activities pending a review of the decision to designate him to the body. The Western Cape High Court handed down its judgment in an application the DA and Freedom Under Law had lodged for his recusal from the JSC.
A full Bench of judges seconded from the Gauteng High Court heard the matter. The DA submitted that it deemed it irrational for Hlophe, the first judge to be removed from the Bench in democratic South Africa, to be a part of the body that interviews judges for vacancies and disciplines members of the judiciary.
DA national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau welcomed the court’s decision. She described it as a landmark victory for the DA and for the integrity of the judiciary.
“The court’s decision affirms our position and strengthens the fight to maintain the highest standards of integrity within our judiciary. An impeached judge, found guilty of gross misconduct should not hold a position on the JSC.’’
Hlophe’s removal from the Bench followed a JSC process in which he was found guilty of gross misconduct for trying to sway two Constitutional Court judges to rule in Zuma’s favour in the arms deal corruption case in 2008. – Fullview
EMPLOYER ON KIDNAP RAP
A domestic worker is in the midst of a desperate search for her six-year-old daughter who was allegedly kidnapped by her employer.
Eva Tembo was allegedly kidnapped in Kensington, Johannesburg, on 12 July this year, despite a court order which demanded that her mother’s employer, Carlos Rebelo (72), return the child to her parents.
Laura Nkhana, Eva’s heartbroken mother, had devoted the past 10 years to working and living with Rebelo. Nkhana recalls their early days living on Rebelo’s property. When Eva turned two, Rebelo allegedly insisted they move into the main house for safety reasons.
“When she was two, Mr Carlos insisted that she move into the main house because it was safer for her, and he bought Eva a bed, which he put inside his room,” she said. Nkhana was given a separate room in the house. Rebelo assisted in paying Eva’s school fees and acted as a guardian.
She said the trouble began when she expressed a desire to take Eva to Malawi to visit her family. “He said he did not want me to take Eva back home to Malawi with me because Malawi is a poor country. I told him, yes, Malawi might be poor, but it is my country.”
Earlier this year, Eva’s parents discovered that Carlos was secretly attempting to adopt Eva, without their consent. On 28 June, Rebelo obtained a court order, which stated that Nkhana could not remove her daughter from his care, unless otherwise directed.
On 12 July, however, the Children’s Court in Johannesburg intervened, and suspended that interim order. – SA News.
KILLER’S PAROLE ON HOLD
The decision by the Pollsmoor Correctional Supervision and Parole Board to place convicted murderer Najwa Petersen on parole has been referred to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board (CSPRB) for review.
The referral was made by Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, in terms of section 75(8) of the Correctional Services Act.
Peterson is serving a 28-year prison sentence for orchestrating the murder of her husband, popular artist, Taliep Petersen.
“The CSPRB is tasked with reviewing the original decision made by the Pollsmoor Correctional Supervision and Parole Board and must confirm or replace it with its own decision. This referral suspends the decision to place her on parole, effective from the 27th of November 2024, pending the outcome of the CSPRB,” the department said.
Furthermore, the department explained that the referral followed representations made by Taliep Petersen’s family.
“The discrepancies in Marius van der Westhuizen’s case have led to a lack of public trust. As a result, I am exercising my discretion under the provisions of the Act to ensure that Parole Boards consider all reports comprehensively to prevent future occurrences of such issues,” the Minister said. – SAnews
