The General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches today expressed strong support for the nation's Constitution and urged religious leaders to respond cautiously to yesterday's Supreme Court of Appeals ruling that the common law definition of marriage must be developed to include same-sex partners.

"The traditions and teachings of the Church have not recognised same-sex marriages. However, the core teachings of Christianity do not explicitly prohibit the validation of faithful, loving same-sex relationships," the Rev. Dr. Molefe Tsele said.

"The Biblical texts most frequently cited by those who condemn homosexual relationships were informed by the dominant understanding of the world and human nature at the time they were written. These passages cannot readily be applied to contemporary society any more than ancient ways of explaining natural phenomena should be used to dismiss the results of centuries of scientific inquiry."

"We would not wish to align ourselves with such selective and simplistic interpretations of scripture, especially in the light of the Gospel's central emphasis on Christ's equal love and concern for all God's children and his particular compassion for the poor and marginalized," Dr. Tsele warned.

The General Secretary observed that marriage has never been a static concept. The Bible mentions different forms of marriage; many of the most important figures in the Hebrew scriptures -- such as King Solomon -- practiced polygamy, which has also been rejected by most Christian traditions.

Similarly, the Church's understanding of the purpose of marriage has evolved over time. Early Christian leaders frowned on marriage, viewing it as an imperfect remedy for concupiscence. Later, the Church saw marriage as the basis for procreation and inheritance. Today, when many married couples choose not to have children, marriage has come to be primarily a sign of companionship, love and commitment.

Dr. Tsele emphasised the Constitution's importance as the founding document of South Africa's multi-cultural democracy. "The Constitution correctly affords all South Africans equal protection before the law. Although we have not customarily recognised or celebrated gay relationships, we understand how constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination are applicable in this situation."

He noted that the Constitution remains young, so its provisions and scope of application are still being tested in the courts. He urged those who are critical of the Supreme Court of Appeals' ruling not to be disrespectful of the Constitution. At the same time, the General Secretary admitted that "the Constitution is way ahead of most of churches" on many issues.

For many South Africans, marriage is an emotive concept, difficult to disentangle from religious and cultural beliefs. Recognising this, Dr. Tsele questioned whether it would be better to separate the religious and legal aspects of marriage, so that the state could fulfil its constitutional obligations to recognise relationships equally through some form of civil union, leaving faith communities to celebrate such unions through marriage ceremonies, in keeping with their respective traditions. To attempt to compel religious institutions to apply the same rules as the state would not only be unconstitutional, it would also be counterproductive.

Dr. Tsele is mindful that "many of the people who will be directly affected by this ruling are devout members of religious communities. We can therefore not adopt a position without being sensitive to our ministry to those affected." The solution is not to impose a "one-size-fits-all" solution, but rather to develop a system that can accommodate everyone.

He noted that the South African Law Reform Commission has already undertaken an extensive review of the laws affecting domestic partnerships, and he urged churches and faith communities to continue to monitor and participate in process of articulating new legislation in this regard.

For more information, contact:
Mr. Eddie Makue
Deputy General Secretary
South African Council of Churches
(011) 241 7809
082 853 8781