Churches ‘should support gay marriage’

Churches ‘should support gay marriage’

A NSW reverend has called on Christian churches to support reforms for marriage equality.

UnitingCare NSW executive director Harry Herbert said while many ministers and congregations support equal rights, Christian churches are out of step with the community on social reforms such as same sex marriage.

“Without embracing progress on other important social reforms such as same sex adoption, foster care, and medically supervised injecting, countless lives would be worse off today,” Reverend Herbert said.

“Despite having to apologise for past paternalism in Aboriginal policies, treatment of children in church-run institutions, and the bad behaviour of some of their clergy, churches have failed to learn from their mistakes when social issues arise.

“Marriage today is essentially a social custom. Only some 40 per cent of marriages in Australia are solemnised by church clergy, yet Christian churches still mistake their role as regulators of a dynamic social institution.”

Herbert said examples overseas prove the arguments against same sex marriage as false and that the debate offered an opportunity for churches to concede the changing social views while retaining their own patterns of behaviour as they wish.

“In the end, same-sex couples want to marry for the same reason as the rest of us. They love each other and want formal recognition of their relationship,” he said.

“Disturbingly, some use a theological opposition to same-sex marriage as a disguised prejudice towards same-sex relationships. Churches have no place supporting such backwards views.

“Church leaders selective reading of biblical verses, tarnish their good works in the community through the impact they have on those that are discriminated against.”

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14 responses to “Churches ‘should support gay marriage’”

  1. The Bible clearly says that sodomy is an abomination worthy of death and yet you openly deny the Word of the Lord to the world via the media.
    Jesus was right when He said that you cross land and to make a convert twice a son of hell as yourself.

    Just to let you know I go around preaching and warning churches and people about societies slide into an abyss of perversion.

  2. congrats to Rev.Harry Herbert,, what a pity our other senior church clergy dont suuport his views,,stcking to antiquated church teachings,will never advance justice for our comnmunity,,
    I wish we had this support when I was President of Acceptance Melbourne,& National CoOrdinator of Acceptance Australia
    Jesus was compassionate to the oppressed & outcast,,
    Our leadres have not followed His lead & example,,

  3. Most Catholics actually support the Civil Rights of same-sex attracted people in Australia, as the polls show us, and around the world many Catholics have taken a stand and supported marriage equality. There was a time, not so long ago, when jobs advertised “No Catholics” in local newspapers in Australia. A time when family did not talk to family, if one side was Catholic, and the other Protestant. Most of society has moved on, just as they have with the issues such as Marriage Equality.

    A survey published in September by the Public Religion Research Institute in the US found that 52 percent of Catholics support marriage equality, and 69 percent support civil unions. In Europe, over a third of Catholic Theologians have openly demanded the Church support Marriage Equality.

    Catholics against Marriage Equality are a small minority, just as they are within the protestant movement, and those who want to bring back the White Australia Policy.

  4. These Protestant churches have truley lost their way. Their faith is so waterd down and corrupt its improper that they call themselves Christian.

    Jesus would be angry with these hypocrites, just as he challeged the Jewish authorities.

    Ed: Jesus would be angry? Really? The man who preached love as the most important thing another human being can do? Hm, I don’ think it is the Protestant Church that has lost its way.

  5. Well said Rev Harry Herbert. Why do people like Peter Salt who read their bible don’t understand it? The Bible is a book of wisdom. They wise who understand it have no need of it. The unwise, who have need of it, don’t understand it. Wisdom is cultivated, but you must always follow basic guidelines. Do not judge other, lest you are judged yourself. Ask what Jesus would have said were he standing besides you. Did He not say to ‘love one another as I have loved you’? Jesus, loved all; why do some who claim to follow him assert that He ‘hates’ gays. Having read so much and understood so little!

  6. Statement on Marriage Equality in Australia by

    Metropolitan Community Church Sydney

    Metropolitan Community Church Sydney is part of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, which has over 43,000 members in over 250 churches in 22 countries.
    In its 40 year history the UFMCC has taken a strong and uncompromising stand in favour of equality and social justice for all people, especially for members of the GLBT communities. Metropolitan Community Church Sydney stands with MCC Churches everywhere in its commitment to marriage equality and justice for all people everywhere.
    Marriage equality is a social justice issue. MCC Sydney is committed to supporting and working for marriage equality for all people around the world and especially here in Australia whether they are in opposite or same sex relationships.
    MCC Sydney supports the freedom of religion for all faiths. Freedom of religion is vital concern when it comes to marriage equality as not all Christians hold the same view regarding who they will marry. Rather there is great divergence of beliefs amongst Christians when it comes to marriage. Some Christian churches only marry those who are members of their church. Some Christian churches will marry people who have been divorced while others will not. If legal some Christian churches will marry same-sex couples while others will choose not to. MCC Sydney supports the rights of all churches to practice their faith according to their own conscious.
    Not all churches are currently allowed to practice their faith freely according to their conscious. We at MCC Sydney strongly believe in the holy rite of marriage for all couples yet we are forbidden by Australia law to practice this aspect of our faith for our members and friends who are in same-sex relationships. The fight for Marriage equality is not solely a secular social justice issue. For MCC Sydney it is also a religious freedom issue. Practicing the rite of holy matrimony for same sex couples is as much a part of our faith as is practicing the rite of holy matrimony for opposite sex couples. As long as Australia does not allow civil marriage equality we do not have the freedom of religion to practice our faith fully.
    MCC Sydney also supports freedom from religion. No citizen should have second class rights in Australia due to the religious bigotry of others. As such we call on the Australian Federal Government to change such laws as would be required to be changed to bring about a fair go and full civil marriage equality for all residents of this great country of ours.
    MCC Sydney will use our resources to work in partnership with other community organisations, both secular and religious, in speaking out against those who would seek to demonize homosexuality and who oppose equal rights for same-gender couples and full marriage equality.

  7. Some Christians still believe in slavery, and believe inter-racial Marriage is wrong. But the vast majority do belive in Equal Civil Rights.

    Trolls like Peter Salt might well say he has all the answers, and only he knows, but this is a vile attack on other Christians.

    To quote from an Anglican Arch-Bishop, and someone who really understood discrimination.

    “To penalise someone because of their sexual orientation is like what used to happen to us; to be penalised for something which we could do nothing [about] — our ethnicity, our race. I would find it quite unacceptable to condemn, persecute a minority that has already been persecuted.” Nobel Peace Prize winner and Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeLDsBPSzYg&feature=related

  8. Congratulations Reverend Herbert on your humanistic approach to Christianity…just as Jesus taught us.
    MCC was founded on this very attitude way back in 1968. For those still seeking something more meaningful and lasting in their lives, why not come and see what it’s all about at MCC Sydney…96 Crysatl St Petersham. 95695122. This Sunday night is the Blessing of Mardi Gras at 6.30pm. J Bear will be singing and Dr Stuart Edser is speaking about his book Being Gay Being Christian. This is authentic Christian worship & you are all welcome.

  9. Congratulations to Rev Harry Herbert and the many progressive thinkers within the Uniting Church. The Uniting Church continues to show leadership within the mainline Christian community when it comes to issues of social justice. We at Metropolitan Community Church have struggled for the full inclusion of all God’s children since our founding in 1968. We will continue that struggle, particulary in relation to marraige equality, until social justice and full acceptance is available to all our communities. We thank Rev Herbert and the many brave souls in the Uniting Church who, often in the face of great opposition, stand up for what is right in the name Jesus and in the name of humanity.

    Rev Greg Smith (MCC Sydney)

  10. Harry H is wrong.
    Unlike the Beatles, who said, “all you need is love”, the Bible teaches that while love is important, Truth is MORE important.
    Love without Truth, simply gives false hope.
    The false truth in this case is that ‘normalising’ unnatural same-sex relationships can somehow make them ‘right’ or ‘equal’.
    Interestingly, Harry also supported the ‘false love’ called the Sydney Drug Injecting Room!
    That type of ‘love’ simply leads people into more misery.
    Go back to the Bible, Harry – find the Real Truth – the one who said, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to The Truth” (John 18:7) – Only then will your ‘love’ bear good fruit and save lives.

  11. The majority of Christians, as the polls show over and over, support Marriage Equality. Those against this fundamental Civil Right, are a small vocal minority.

  12. Wow! How refreshing to read a well articulated opinion that doesn’t promote hysteria and is logically sound. Well done Reverend Herbert!

  13. So well said! :) Mr Herbert you are simply a legend! I hope that you continue to talk to those against same sex marriage and explain to them your points so consistently and clearly as you have done here.