More ructions in (SA) Anglican church over same-sex marriage |

Pretoria – The furore over the Anglican church’s decision to reject same-sex marriage looks likely to intensify, with its Pretoria region the latest to voice its unhappiness with the decision.

The matter was an issue of heated debate among delegates during the three-day conference that began on Thursday. Pretoria region is among the biggest regions in South Africa.
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Current political and economic crises in the country, including state capture and corruption, as well as social problems, were also raised at the conference.

The dissent by Pretoria comes almost a year after the Anglican Church of Southern Africa decided that it would not allow bishops to “provide prayers of blessing to be offered for those in same-sex civil unions”. Following that resolution during a debate in Ekurhuleni, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba expressed his disappointment at the move, saying he was “deeply pained by the outcome of the debate”.

“I was glad I wear glasses or the synod would have seen tears. I wanted to be anywhere but in the synod hall – I wished I was quietly home in Magoebaskloof,” he said at the time.

Source: More ructions in Anglican church over same-sex marriage |

South Africa’s Anglican bishops move toward gay inclusion

South Africa’s Anglican bishops have taken an initial step toward including LGBT people as full members of their congregations with the passage of a resolution at a meeting in the Grahamstown Diocese.The resolution now goes to the Provincial Synod, the church’s top decision-making body, which meets later this year, said Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town. Show captionAnglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba leaves a Pretoria hospital where Nelson Mandela was being treated on June 25, 2013. Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko *Editors: This photo may only be republished wtih RNS-SAFRICA-ANGLICAN, originally transmitted on Feb. 23, 2016. This image is available for web and print publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.“I believe its adoption by Provincial Synod would be an important first step signaling to the LGBT community that we … see them as welcome members,” Makgoba said in a pastoral letter dated Monday (Feb. 22).

Source: South Africa’s Anglican bishops move toward gay inclusion – Religion News Service

South African Church Approves Gay Clergy, Same-sex Blessings

History made as South African Church Votes to Bless Same-sex marriage and Ordain Gay Ministers | O-blog-dee-o-blog-da

Dutch Reformed Church Theological College

YES! for Gay People in Dutch Reformed Church – NG Kerk  – There were Tears of joy after the announcement.

 

By Melanie Nathan, October 08, 2015.

 

History was made in South Africa today, when the synod of  what was once probably the most conservative church on the planet, the Dutch Reformed Church, (NG Kerk/ DRC) in an overwhelming majority,  voted in favor of ordaining gay ministers and blessing same sex unions.

Source:  O-blog-dee-o-blog-da

Ministry wants gay cure centre probe (South Africa)

The justice ministry has asked the Human Rights Commission to investigate claims of unfair discrimination at the Creare Training Centre in Bloemfontein.

 

Ministry wants gay cure centre probe - Politics | IOL News | IOL.co.za

“We trust the SA Human Rights Commission will be able to use its extensive powers to investigate this matter and to take the necessary and appropriate action,” the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

“The notion that a person’s sexual orientation can be changed at will, or by compulsion, feeds the very same homophobic attitudes that encourage the criminal and abhorrent practice of so-called corrective rape.”

The Sunday Times reported this week that the Christian arts academy had come under fire for advertising that it could “cure” homosexual students.

According to the centre’s prospectus they can “convert” gay students into heterosexuals through “rehabilitation”, it reported.

Creare founder Cornelius can Heyningen denied the institution was discriminatory.

“We are catering for those who say ‘I want to change as a homosexual’. That’s not saying no homosexuals are allowed,” he was quoted as saying.

He compared the academy’s stance on homosexuality to a drug rehabilitation programme. – Sapa

via  IOL News 

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With South Africa facing a flood of LGBT refugees from all over the African continent, a creaking asylum system is exposing them to corruption, homophobia and the risk of attack.  In this feature article we investigate the gravity of the situation, its sources and possible solution.

-full analysis at Pink News

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