St Andrew’s on The Terrace Media Release

St Andrew’s on The Terrace Presbyterian Church supports Marriage Equality

In response to the Presbyterian General Assembly’s decision to oppose the Marriage Amendment Bill currently before Parliament, the Minister and Community at St Andrew’s on The Terrace Presbyterian Church (Wellington) today restated their commitment to be an inclusive church, welcoming and including people of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

St Andrew’s dissents from the Assembly’s decision to oppose marriage equality. Marriage equality is not an issue on which Presbyterians agree.

“We are looking forward to the passing of the Marriage Amendment Bill which will mean that we can offer to perform and bless civil marriages for same-sex couples,” says minister Rev Dr Margaret Mayman. “And we are relieved that the Assembly left ministers with the freedom to make decisions about whom they will marry.”

St Andrew’s community supports the law change because it sees sexual orientation and gender identity as irrelevant in the celebration of a couple’s union. St Andrew’s has been blessing the relationships of same sex couples for over twenty years and celebrating civil unions since 2005.

But currently not all couples can choose the rich cultural institution of civil marriage as part of marking their commitment to each other.

“At the moment we are forced to treat same-sex couples differently from other couples. I look forward to the time when we are able to meet same-sex couples’ requests to celebrate their marriage,” says St Andrew’s on The Terrace Minister, Margaret Mayman. “Because what matters in marriage is love and commitment.”
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