Wed 29 Aug 2012 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Auckland’s pro-equality St-Matthew-in-the-City is getting ready to erect a new billboard in support of Louisa Wall’s Bill, which shows the top of a wedding cake with two women in bridal gowns and states “We don’t care who’s on top.” Reverend Clay Nelson says it should be of no surprise that St Matthew’s with its long history of supporting the full inclusion of the LGBTQ community in both the church and society endorses the bill. “Our question is why would any church not endorse two people making a loving commitment to each other” He says. “Through our billboard we are expressing our solidarity with the many Christians in many denominations who are calling on Members of Parliament to support Louisa Wall’s bill.” Vicar Glynn Cardy points out that St Matthew’s has long been involved in weddings, with about 80 to 90 couples pledging their love each year. “What is important is their willingness to commit themselves to each other, not their gender. It is the joy and risk of giving oneself to another in a bond of mutuality, fidelity, and love that is at the heart of the sacrament of marriage.” St Matthew’s looks forward to a time when the barrier of sexual orientation will be removed from the requirement for a church wedding. “Such prejudice”, says Cardy, “is contrary to the good news of Jesus Christ.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 29th August 2012 - 11:15am