Pietermaritzburg pastors speak up for marriage (Church in Action)

16 September 2006

The Hon Minister of Home Affairs,
Mrs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula
Department of Home Affairs
Private Bag X114
Pretoria
0001

Dear Hon Minister Mapisa-Nqakula,

We write to you as leaders of a network of churches in Pietermaritzburg called Church in
Action, representing some thirty actively involved congregations, as well as another twenty
congregations in our area, involving about 25 000 Christian citizens in the Msunduzi
Municipality.

Our concern relates to the issue of same-sex marriage now being considered by Parliament.
We, along with those we represent, believe that marriage in South Africa must be maintained
as the union of one man and one woman. This is the foundation of the family and the best
unit tested over the entire course of human history within which children can be
successfully raised up to form the next generation and contribute positively to society. We
are deeply concerned that any altering of this vital institution to include same-sex pairings
will bring negative and even calamitous consequences to the already fraying social fabric of
our young democracy. Most especially are we concerned for the children of our country. Too
many children in South Africa are growing up without fathers, or without parents at all.
Same-sex marriage will, by definition and conscious government policy, lead to depriving
children of either a mother or a father. But children so desperately need both a mother and
a father.

As pastors, we live and work at the coalface of human joy and misery, and everything in
between. We realise that we do not live in an ideal world where every marriage is happy and
lasting, and every child is as loved and cared for as they need and deserve to be. Too many
marriages end in separation or divorce, with children paying the lion's share of the price. In
our ministries we seek to provide all the love, encouragement and support we can to families
that have been torn asunder, for whatever reason. We have also had many opportunities to
minister to people who are homosexually attracted or involved in same-sex relationships. We
have felt deeply and prayed fervently for these beloved brothers and sisters. Thus it is that
we do not write to you out of an un-Christian mindset of homophobia or out of a desire to
abridge the legitimate civil rights of gay people in any way.

Furthermore, it is not only because our Scriptures say so, but also out of our years of
experience in ministry, that we know that marital unions of one man and one woman work
best and provide the most solid and vibrant soil from which families and children grow. Far
from seeking to deny anyone's civil rights, it is our desire to see government policy contribute
to the emotional, spiritual, mental and physical health of families and children. We believe
that supporting traditional marriage is the wisest and most fruitful course that Parliament
could take at this crucial time in our nation's history.

We thus call on you to ask Parliament to enact a Constitutional Amendment defining
marriage as between a man and a woman. Since Parliament has already passed some twelve
amendments on other matters since 1996, we would not view this course as a radical idea nor
an insurmountable obstacle.

Should same-sex marriage become law in South Africa, we as Christian pastors would be put
in an invidious position if it ever became required of us to perform ceremonies celebrating or
certifying same-sex unions or marriages. We are not in any way seeking confrontation with
the government of South Africa or its laws; indeed, we eagerly strive to be positively
contributing citizens of our beloved country. However, we would be prevented by our Lord,
by our Scriptures and by our consciences from performing same-sex marriages or unions and
our allegiance on this matter would be to the aforementioned authorities above our allegiance
to the laws of the state. Again, it is our aim in every way possible to be cooperative with
government. But we do want to make ourselves clear as to where we stand on this vital
matter.

We commit to keeping you and our government in much prayer in these days as you consider
these important matters. We thank you for giving attention to our views and our pleas and
we put ourselves at your service in the task of strengthening and ministering to South African
families.

Respectfully submitted,



Anthony Naidoo
Chairperson
Church in Action
Joined by
Quinton Aiyer
James Arnot
Tony Beepath
Alan Bruce
Daya Chetty
Leslie Chetty
Ruth Coeser
Terrence Francis
A B Gengan
Indran Govender
Clive Govender
Kevin Jones
Russ Kain
Clive Lawler
Ashley Munien
Patrick Mveli
Selva Naicker
Jonothan Nathaniel
Jacques Oberholzer
Richard Pillay
Mogenthran Pillay
Sherwin Pillay
Lee Rajah
Victor Ramlingham
Eugene Reddiar
Paul Saul
Paul Simpson
Henry Sterly
Rajin Subiah
Dean Tyson
John van Niekerk
Peter van Niekerk
Alan Wade