Wellington’s Presbyterian Parish of St Andrew’s on The Terrace will marry same-sex couples, should the marriage equality law pass. The final reading is being held at Parliament tonight and if it’s successful, the first same-sex weddings in New Zealand could be held in August. St Andrew’s has celebrated civil unions since 2005 and says it hopes that it will soon be able to treat opposite-sex and same-sex couples equally and offer both marriage and civil unions to all couples. It says the law change addresses the hopes and needs of real people, with real families and it is to them that it responds with compassion and love. Parish Council member Ellen Murray says it’s an issue of freedom of religion. “At present the law prevents us from treating people in our faith community equally. Seeing all people as made in the image of God, and seeing all loving and just relationships as of value, is central to our faith.” Minister Rev Dr Margaret Mayman says she hopes that the passage of the bill and the passage of time will alleviate the concerns of people of faith about marriage equality. She says religious celebrants who do not support marriage equality will be free to maintain their religious beliefs and practices, and the amendment to the bill has made this very clear. “It is our hope that in time all people of faith will come to accept the relationships of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender New Zealanders. As New Zealanders we trust each other, and those of us who follow Jesus should remember his injunction that we love our neighbours as ourselves. We are a diverse nation and our differences of race, culture, religion and sexuality are something to celebrate. But we all deserve to be treated equally under the law.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 17th April 2013 - 9:41am