Leaders of a number of churches have indignantly made an “urgent” last gasp effort to ask MPs to vote against the second reading of the marriage equality bill. “We urgently call on Members of Parliament to uphold the definition of marriage as held in human societies across the world for thousands of years, that marriage is between a man and a woman,” the statement signed by at least 20 male church leaders reads. The second reading of the Marriage (Equality) Amendment Bill is on Wednesday and the Select Committee which heard submissions has recommended it be passed, with a few tweaks. MPs passed the first reading of the Bill 80 votes to 40. The church leaders who have released a statement today say 20 per cent of New Zealanders are regular churchgoers, and “not only do studies indicate that Christians make a significant contribution to this nation, but as the statement by Church leaders last August showed, there is an unprecedented level of consensus among the churches against this bill.” They claim, despite numerous recent opinion polls showing the exact opposite, that a majority of New Zealanders are against the Bill. “For a bill that was not in any party’s manifesto, and the effect of which would be to make such a radical change to a foundational institution of our society, to be forced through by a process which has lasted barely a few months, and contrary to the deep beliefs and values of a very large proportion of this country's people, is shameful and totally inconsistent with the spirit of democracy,” they say. “We do not intend to repeat here all of the arguments made in the written and oral submissions. Suffice to say, the definition of marriage does not need to be changed to ensure equal rights for people in same-sex relationships. In fact, equality already exists, (with the main exception of adoption, which is so important that it really needs to be debated as a separate issue).” They add that if Parliament passes this bill into law, “then overseas experience strongly suggests that state pressure will eventually be brought to bear against people’s freedom of conscience and speech”. They are asking for protection under the Human Rights Act for anyone who wants to express their belief that gay and lesbian people who marry are not “truly and sufficiently” married. “We maintain however that the proper course of action for Parliament is to reject this bill, or at the very least hold a Royal Commission of Enquiry followed by a referendum.” The “partial list” of people who have signed the statement: - Rev. Andrew Marshall (National Director, Alliance Churches of New Zealand) - Rev. Illiafi Esera (Assemblies of God, Superintendent) - Rev. Craig Vernall (Baptist, National Leader) - Archbishop John Dew (Catholic Bishop of Wellington) - Rev. Ray Coster (Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand) - Mr. Brent Liebezeit (President of Christian Churches New Zealand) - Pastor Dr Brian Hughes (Calvary Chapel) - Mr. Peter Eccles (Chairman, Auckland Congregational Union churches) - Rev. Dr Neville Bartle (National Superintendent, Church of the Nazarene) - Pastor Mike Griffiths (Elim, National Leader) - Mr. Glyn Carpenter (Director, New Zealand Christian Network) - Pastor Ken Harrison (Harvest Christian Church Papakura, AOGNZ) - Rev. Dr Stuart Lange (Presbyterian; Senior Lecturer, Laidlaw College) - Rev. Steve Maina (Anglican, New Zealand Church Missionary Society) - Pastor Sam Monk (Equippers Church, Auckland) - Pastor Peter Mortlock (Senior Pastor City Impact Church) - Pastor Rasik Ranchord (New Life Churches International - Pastor Lloyd Rankin (National Director, Vineyard Churches Aotearoa New Zealand) - Pastor Dean Rush (National Leader, C3 Churches of New Zealand) - Rev. Dr. Richard Waugh QSM (National Superintendent, Wesleyan Methodist)
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 11th March 2013 - 2:13pm