Clergymen get cautious nod for same-sex blessings
MISCONDUCT charges have been dismissed against two ‘‘rogue” Johannesburg clergymen who had ministered blessings to same-sex marriages.
The Rev Martin ‘‘Chunky” Young and Professor Hansie Wolmarans faced a church tribunal last month after they were accused of violating church doctrine.
Young, a minister at St Columba’s Presbyterian Church in Parkview, Johannesburg, and Wolmarans, also an ordained minister, said on Friday that they were pleased with the ruling.
The duo had argued that the church’s doctrine was out of sync with South African legislation, which recognises same-sex unions.
The church court found that Young and Wolmarans had been given the space to minister to same-sex couples.
It said it could not infer an implied prohibition on ministers conducting, preaching or blessing same-sex couples.
‘‘On the contrary, blessing same-sex unions at the very least would be in line with pastoral, supportive and accepting approach,” said the judgment.
In the absence of an ‘‘implied prohibition” against ministers for conducting same-sex marriages, Young and Wolmarans could not be found guilty of misconduct, it said.
Young said: ‘‘The judgment has a lot to offer our denomination . . . It’s important that we walk down this road together. The judgment makes space for that and I am grateful.”
Wolmarans, a professor of theology at the University of Johannesburg, said this was the first step in a huge struggle. ‘‘For me it brings dignity to people who have been marginalised, discriminated [against] and rejected because of their sexual orientation.”