Church defrocks gay dominee

2005-08-26 22:48

Johannes de Villiers

Cape Town - The council of St Stephen's Dutch Reformed Church has fired Dominee Laurie Gaum.

The congregation was asked officially by the church's Cape of Good Hope circuit this week to release Gaum from service because he had been involved in a homosexual relationship for four years, while he was a minister.

Although the church council was under pressure from certain quarters not to accept the proposal, it was decided at a meeting on Thursday evening to terminate Gaum's service contract.

Gaum's contract would have expired in February next year, but in terms of the church council's contract it is being terminated now and he will receive two months' salary.

A statement issued by the council after the meeting said: "The church council prays for the blessings of the Lord on Dominee Gaum and trusts that his choices in the difficult periods in his life will be the best for the kingdom of God."

'Many grounds for appeal'

Gaum said he was disappointed and was considering other employment options.

He said on Friday he still was extremely unhappy about the finding of the circuit of the church, which included a request to the general synod of the church to suspend his powers to practise as a minister of the church.

"There are many grounds for appeal, but I am not sure yet which route we will follow," he said.

In the circuit's finding, Gaum was criticised, among other things, because he had not been "honest and open" about his sexuality.

Gaum said: "What is happening to me now shows exactly why one cannot be honest and open."

If Gaum decides to appeal to the regional synod, he has to give notice of this immediately and then has 30 days to submit grounds for his appeal.

- Die Burger