Press Release
St Andrew’s on The Terrace
7/7/2017
St Andrew’s on The Terrace welcomes the Government apology to homosexual men convicted prior to 1986.
In its life as a faith community, St Andrew’s welcomes anyone from the rainbow communities. We enjoy the fact that in
our complex of buildings many lgbtqiap+ people are part of the crowd.
We at St Andrew’s have for many years battled within the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand to achieve
equality. We will continue to press for reforms which match that of the wider society. Key leaders in this movements in
the past have been Rev John Murray and Rev Dr Margaret Mayman. Our present Minister, Rev Dr Susan Jones, is committed to
leading this faith community in inclusive directions. We continue to challenge the wider church to cease its present
discriminatory practice.
We deeply regret and grieve the pain and suffering which gay men, their families and their wider networks suffered as
the result of living in a country which ruled homosexual acts were illegal. Instead, they should have been able to
celebrate life and love. As heterosexual New Zealanders were able to do. We especially grieve lives lost because of
prejudice and discrimination.
We urge the Government to make sure that in future men convicted prior to 1986 are able to access pardons simply and
easily so injustice is not perpetuated.
St Andrew’s affirms all people are equally deserving of freedom and dignity. Who is in any particular relationship is
less important than that those relationships are loving, non violent and mutual. Our understanding of religion, of God
and of church is that all are included.