St Matthew-in-the-City

12 March 2013

For Immediate Release

Christians for Marriage Equality Welcomes Select Committee Report

The national network Christians for Marriage Equality urges MPs to support the passage of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill into law.

We are saddened to see some religious organisations resorting to fear mongering, misinformation and promulgating a message of exclusion that will further alienate young New Zealanders from participating in church life.

People of faith are evenly divided on this issue. A May 2012 Colmar Brunton poll indicated that 46% of people who identified with a religion or spiritual group supported marriage equality while 47% did not agree that same sex couples should be eligible to marry. The difference is statistically insignificant.

Spokesperson for Christians for Marriage Equality, Rev Dr Margaret Mayman, says:
“At this stage, a clear distinction needs to be made between civil marriage and theological perspectives on marriage. Religious opponents have a right to be heard, but they do not have the right to impose their views on religious people who believe in equal love, or on non-religious New Zealanders who see marriage as relevant precisely because it has evolved to become a commitment between two people who love each other.

Christians for Marriage Equality believes that the Select Committee balanced the concerns of the range of religious submitters and made it clear that the Bill will not diminish the freedom of religion of those who oppose it. On the other hand, it will enhance the religious freedom of churches that want to be able to offer marriage to all couples.

Margaret Mayman says, “We support the proposed amendment clarifying that religious organisations which hold the view that marriage should only be between a man and a woman will not be required to marry same-sex couples, but we still hope for a day when all people of faith will embrace gay and lesbian couples and their families.”

Rev Clay Nelson of St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican church said, “We are grateful for the rigorous Select Committee process which has considered the thousands of written submissions. Though many submitters on both sides were not heard, we are confident that the Select Committee heard or read all of the arguments on both sides of the issue.

“The concern about use of religious premises is a red herring. Under current Human Rights law religious organisations cannot discriminate in hiring of their buildings if they make their venues available for public use. No change is being made to the control churches have over their sacred, non-public spaces. The provision of non-religious celebrancy is also a Human Rights issue. Celebrants are authorised by the State to perform a public function and should not be able to discriminate in this role.

“Christians for Marriage Equality urges all MPs to allow gay, lesbian and transgender New Zealanders to fully access the social, cultural, legal and spiritual right to marry.”

ENDS

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