The Faith and Culture cluster of the Western Cape End-Hate Campaign monitors the internal policies of religious communities - ensuring that the values and principles of equality enshrined in our Constitution are embraced and respected by religious institutions. The End Hate Campaign is an alliance of gender, LGBTI organizations and human rights activists to highlight hate crimes and homophobia, and advocates for an end to violence against gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexed (LGBTI) persons.

We want to express our concern at the level of debate and homophobic language used in the recent discussion on homosexuality at the General Synod of the Uniting Reformed Church in Hammanskraal. We have familiarized ourselves with the values expressed by the Confession of Belhar and have concluded that these are precious values – particularly in the political climate which threatens our vulnerable democracy.

We commend Dr Allan Boesak for his courage to uphold these values in the face of adversity. We strongly urge the Uniting Reformed Church to revisit this basis to their confession and its implications so that they can continue to help ensure equal dignity and justice for all people, regardless of the gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

Laurie Gaum
Western Cape End Hate Campaign – Faith Cluster

Statement of Triangle Project

The manner in which the Uniting Reformed Church’s leadership responded to the report tabled by Dr Allan Boesak at their recent synod reflects and demonstrates the denomination’s ineptness and incompetence to engage and respond with compassion to the humanity of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexed (LGBTI) persons. Sexual orientation that does not fit into the understanding of narrow-minded, literalist and fundamental interpretations of scripture within institutionalized religion, is still viewed as deviant, abnormal, and not worthy of discussion in a functional, constructive and humane way.

Triangle Project is fundamentally committed to the human rights of all LGBTI persons and is deeply concerned in the way in which mainstream, organized religion disengages with the issues of sexual orientation, sexual diversity and same-sex relationships. We are outraged at the way in which the Uniting Reformed Church (URC) has responded to the tabled report, and we condemn the homophobic, prejudiced and hate speech that has ensued their deliberations. Historically, the church has always been a powerful institution and has often been on the forefront of “holy wars” in the name of God justified by their own scriptural interpretation. Governments, civil society and communities are highly influenced by religion and religious leaders who are often seen as the “only representatives of God” on earth – thus making ordinary communities susceptible and vulnerable to the perpetuation of harmful and negative stereotypes of LGBTI persons.

Triangle Project commends Dr Boesak for his stance in highlighting the struggle for affirmation and inclusivity within the URC. Hate speech and homophobic statements by church leaders are interpreted by heterosexist, patriarchal and misogynist communities as permission to continue to abuse, victimize, marginalize and violate LGBTI persons “in the name of God”. The response of the leadership of the URC leadership highlights the lack of responsibility the church takes in speaking out against violence and hate crimes when these happen in the communities they serve, particularly in township, rural and under-resourced communities.

We support the advocacy and activist work of human rights defenders within organized religion to end the hate and the lack of love and compassion for LGBTI persons who are excluded from expressing their faith in their birth churches. We call upon the URC to remain true to the principles of the Belhar Confession which declares commitment to the eradication of human rights violations perpetuated by the church. We support Dr Boesak in his quest to further heal and reconcile the church by reaching out to their LGBTI members as full confessing members of the URC.

Triangle Project, a human rights organization offering emotional, health and empowerment services to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexed community advocates for a society free of prejudice, discrimination, homophobia and violence – where sexual diversity is appreciated and same-sex relationships are affirmed.

Marlow Valentine
Deputy Director – Triangle Project

Statement of IAM Inclusive and affirming Ministries

Teleurstellende reaksie van VGK

Inclusive & Affirming Ministries (IAM) het ‘n droom vir Suider-Afrika geloofsgemeenskappe wat verwelkomend en ondersteunend is, waar lesbiese, gay, biseksuele, transgender en intersex (LGBTI) Christene volledig aanvaar word en ten volle kan deelneem in die geloofsgemenskap sodat hulle versterk kan word in hul geestelike, psigologiese en seksuele identiteit . IAM probeer hierdie droom verwesenlik deur programme wat dialoog tussen die kerke en LGBTI Christene bevorder.

Dit is daarom vir ons teleurstellend dat die VGK, ‘n kerk wat so sterk gestaan het in die stryd teen die ongeregtigheid van apartheid en so ‘n uistekende dokument soos die Belydenis van Belhar kon produseer, so sonder empatie Dr Boesak en sy kommittee se verslag kon afskiet met argumente wat stereotipes van LGBTI mense maak en haatspraak bevorder.

Dit is teleurstellend, maar nie juis verassend nie, want in ‘n wetenskaplike navorsing wat IAM in 2001 onder 3000 predikante van 7 denominasies gevoer het om te bepaal hoe inklusief hul denke en houding ten aansien van hul homoseksuele naasste is, het die VGK die slegste gevaar. Om net ‘n paar van hierdie insiggewende statistiek aan te haal:

• Slegs 15% van die ondervraagde predikante het ooit met ‘n homoseksuele persoon in die pastoraat of gemeente gepraat.
• Die VGK ondervraagdes het die hoogste telling (56%) uit alle predikante wat glo dat die Bybel letterlik gelees moet word (in plaas van kontekstueel)
• Slegs 16% het aangedui dat hulle ‘n goeie Bybelse kennis oor die saak het.
• Die mees onstellende feit is egter dat slegs 4% van die ondervraagde VGK predikante ‘n goeie wetenskaplike kennis het van homoseksualiteit en wie die gay persoon is.

Waar is die predikante saam met wie ek sy-aan-sy teen die gruwel van Apartheid geveg het en wat saam met my in die gevangenis was hiervoor? Ek het hul stemme nie gehoor nie. Dankie aan Allan Boesak dat hy die profetiese stem van die Belhar Belydenis ook deurgetrek het na die verstote (in die Kerk) gay gemeenskap. Ons pleit by die VGK om in gesprek te tree met ons en nie oor ons te praat nie (want volgens die statistiek het  hierdie kerk veels te weinig wetenskaplike kennis oor wie en wat ons is). ‘n Dialoog waarin ons mekaar respekteer en aanvaar dat albei partye graag in navolging van Jesus Christus wil lewe. ‘n Nuwe “debat” waarin mense mekaar alleen maar met die letter van die Bybel verguis is duidelik nie die juiste weg nie. Die gay gemeenskap het ook geen behoefte aan ‘n VGK “Anti-gay” dokument nie – dit bestaan reeds in die homofobie en haat wat ons al ons lewe lank daagliks  ervaar.

Pieter Oberholzer
Direkteur – IAM

Statement by Good Hope Metropolitan Community Church

Good Hope Metropolitan Community Church is disappointed in the manner in which the leadership of the Uniting Reformed Church responded to the discussion around homosexuality.  Religion is an emotive subject and is based on one's belief in the unseen - faith in The Divine Creator. Therefore, faith or religion is a personal choice, unlike one's sexuality which is a part of who you are and is not a choice. Homosexuality is not a sickness nor a sin, but an extension of our faith journey and our spirituality.

As a denomination that was formed to take a stand against discrimination and oppression, it is unfortunate that they would now inflict this type of prejudice on lesbian and gay people.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT) persons face constant discrimination and prejudice because of societal attitudes towards us, and is very often reflected in our faith-based organisations and places of worship. Sadly, the interpretation of scripture is often used as a weapon to bash LGBT persons from the pulpit and to exclude them from their birth churches.  It is important to remember that such hurtful doctrines are not a reflection of The Christ - or the way God calls the church to be - these are products of fallible and imperfect human beings who guide these churches.

Churches are still prejudicing LGBT persons – as long as you don’t verbalize who and what you are, you are accepted. As long as you are closeted, you are accepted. As long as you don’t “practice” your sexuality or “homosexual lifestyle”, you are accepted. The church will use your talents, skills, financial support and your time as long as you don’t publicly claim your space as a LGBT person. You’ll be accepted as long as you don’t speak out against discrimination, prejudice, homophobia, homo-prejudice and the hypocrisy of the Christian church. You will be accepted as long as you can conform to “The church’s” value system – and to heck with you being loved, blessed and created in God’s image.

Sadly, this goes against the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: a message of hope, salvation, love and eternal life for all people who profess Christ as their Saviour and Redeemer. Never did Christ speak out against homosexual people.  What He did speak about was love for God our Creator, love for our neighbour and the inclusion of all those marginalized and exploited. Jesus went against the grain of His own traditions and broke down the barriers that divide.  Many people are still been kept away from Christ’s table of forgiveness based on their sexual orientation. 

Good Hope MCC commends Dr Allan Boesak for the strong stance he has taken on the issue of continued discrimination by the church against LGBTI people.

Sharon Cox
Secretary: Good Hope MCC