NGK to rule on homosexuality
2005-08-19 22:06
Cape Town - If everything goes according to plan, the minister of the St Stephen's congregation will know by Monday night whether he is still the Reverend Laurie Gaum or just Mr Laurie Gaum.
The law commission of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Cape postponed to Monday night the announcement of its finding following an investigation into allegations of promiscuity against Gaum.
Gaum will be informed of the finding at a meeting, but it will only be generally announced next Sunday after the St Stephen's congregation have been informed.
Members of the Gaum family and informed sources close to Gaum said this week they were "worried" that the finding might not be what Gaum wished for.
One of the possibilities mentioned was that Gaum's employment at the St. Stephens congregation might be terminated, even if he did not lose his ministerial rights.
The investigation into Gaum, which has been called a test case on homosexuality in the Dutch Reformed Church, came after his former lifelong partner, Douw Wessels, accused him of promiscuity earlier this year and gave newspapers photos of him in the nude.
Wessels also laid a charge of promiscuity against him and committed suicide shortly afterwards.
Gaum and Wessels had a relationship lasting four years. It is said in the church that the finding will depend partly on how "promiscuity" is defined and whether it includes all extramarital sexual activity or all homosexual behaviour.