Gaum: NGK in two camps

2005-08-29 23:01

Johannes de Viliers

Cape Town - The Dutch Reformed Church's official discussion about homosexuality threatens to become completely derailed.

Rumours were rife in church circles on Monday that at least two members of a task team - the convener and a theology professor - investigating the homosexuality issue on behalf of the church were considering resigning from the team because of "breach of promise" by the church leadership.

Dr André Barlett and Professor Julian Müller were apparently dissatisfied that Dominee Laurie Gaum, a gay minister in Cape Town, had been disciplined in terms of a policy which was no longer valid, in their opinion.

They complained that action was taken against Gaum in terms of the church's 1986 decision on homosexuality, although the decision had been replaced by another policy at last year's general synod.

The official standpoint

Although the church decided in 1986 that homosexual behaviour was a sin, the general synod decided in 2004 "to continue the discussion and study of this matter in great earnest".

The 2004 decision also concluded with the words: "This decision replaces the previous decision of the general synod on homosexuality and now becomes the official standpoint of the Dutch Reformed Church."

But, last week, the church's Ring of the Cape of Good Hope ruled in its decision on Gaum that because the matter was being officially discussed, did not revoke the previous policy that homosexual behaviour was a sin.

Dr Nelus Niemandt of the synod's executive council said on behalf of the church's moderator that "the replacement of the decisions of 1986 by the decisions of the general synod of 2004 does not mean that homosexual practices and a homosexual relationship are approved as corresponding with the will of God".

Bartlett confirmed on Monday that they thought the church leadership had broken their promise.

'Hesitant to be part of process'

Dr Ben du Toit, convener of the general commission on learning and topical matters, of which the homosexuality task group is a part, said they were uncertain how the process would continue in future.

"The events of recent times have made some people hesitant to be part of the process."

Meanwhile, there still seemed to be dissention in the congregation of St Stephen's about the dismissal of their minister.

A member of the church council admitted that feelings were running high, "but the dissension is not worse than one would expect".

- Die Burger