Church 'knows nothing of love'

2005-08-25 08:41

Johannes de Villiers

Cape Town - She is becoming more and more alienated from a church that does not understand what love is about, columnist Cecile Cilliers, who is also a member of dominee Laurie Gaum's St Stephen congregation, said on Wednesday.

Cilliers, a former head elder of the Andrew Murray congregation, the first woman to serve on the Dutch Reformed Church's synod commission and member of "more sub-committees on homosexuality that you can count off on your fingers", was reacting to the news that Gaum may be suspended from his congregation because he had had a gay relationship.

The law commission of the Circle of the Cape of Good Hope will recommend to the general synod of the Dutch Reformed Church that Gaum be suspended.

"I joined the St Stephen congregation - which used to be a congregation for freed slaves and the only mostly Coloured congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church - three years ago because of its rich history and because Laurie was the minister there.

Violates his constitutional right

"Then I had to witness how the church drew a line, not only through Laurie, but also through the congregation. I feel increasingly alienated from a church that does not understand love, that does not understand what it means to follow Christ."

Gertrude Fester, a member of the Commission of Gender Equality and another member of the St Stephen congregation, said she is not familiar with the details of the ruling against Gaum.

"However, I am not comfortable with a ruling that violates a person's constitutional rights. My work involves advancing human rights and dignity. I have a problem with a ruling that violates a person's dignity."

Although most church officials did not want to comment before having a look at the ruling, there was mixed opinion among those who were willing to comment.

Doctor Peet Botha, who recently made the headlights with his book Sinode en homoseks in which he accused the Dutch Reformed Church of not taking a strong enough stand against homosexuality, said he supports any decision that "people who are practising homosexuals not be allowed to serve as ministers in the church".

Botha had not seen the ruling, but said that what he had heard about it supported the views he expressed in his book.

Doctor Carel Anthonissen, a friend of Gaum and member of the commission that studied the homosexuality issue on behalf of the Western Cape synod a few years ago, said the ruling "showed that the church still understands little of the pain and struggle gay people go through."

He said the ruling could do immense damage to the leadership of the church and its image in the gay community.

"I hope St Stephen will not submit to the decision and rather stand up for their minister."

- Beeld