NGK faces revolt

2005-08-29 08:40

Cape Town - Mutiny is threatening at St Stephen's Dutch Reformed Church after the church council's dismissal of Dominee Laurie Gaum because of his involvement in a homosexual relationship.

The congregation is divided because the church council didn't consult with them before deciding to accept a recommendation from the Cape of Good Hope circuit to dismiss Gaum. The congregation was informed of the decision before the service on Sunday.

Gaum didn't attend the service and turned down an invitation from the church council to have tea with them after the service, he said on Sunday.

He added he was disappointed by the failure of the church leaders in their leadership of the congregation to prevent "spiritual violence" from being committed against them and their ministers. Gaum is still a member of the congregation and an elder but expects he will also be dismissed from this position because of his past ''monogamous gay relationship" with Douw Wessels.

Meanwhile Dr Coenie Burger, moderator of the Dutch Reformed Church, told rural circles of the DRC in the North West there was growing opinion in the church that, based on the bible, it couldn't say whether the practise of homosexuality was acceptable - even if it wanted to.

Burger adds this doesn't mean the church wants to get rid of gays. In fact, it wants to do everything in its power to protect gay people, make room for them and help them along a difficult road. One thing he is "quite sure" of is that when it met last year, the general synod didn't condone homosexuality.

There are respected theologians on both sides of the debate. On Saturday morning in Groot Marico, Burger mentioned Professor Jan van der Watt and Dr Stephan Joubert as theologians who believe God denounces homosexuality, and Professors Andrie du Toit and Adrio Konig who differed in opinion.

The fact the church hasn't taking a stand on the issue immediately doesn't mean it's ignoring the Bible but it's rather out of respect for it, Burger said.

Members of St Stephen's congregation said on Sunday they were unhappy with the unilateral action taken by the church council. Some of the women refused to partake in communion.

Gertrude Fester, a member of the church council and member of the Commission for Gender Equality who was overseas at the time of the incident, said members of the congregation who didn't agree with the council's decision on Gaum had approached her. The women's association in particular was very unhappy. "The women's refusal to take part in communion is a sign of how serious the situation is."

- Die Burger