"PRAY FOR GODLY VALUES TO PREVAIL

Well, the fateful day has come and gone, and a new challenge has been put to the South African Church. We really need James 1:5 wisdom to know and discern where we go from here.

Now that Parliament has passed the Civil Union Bill and the Deputy President has signed it into law, same-sex ‘marriage’ is legalized in South Africa.

As the Marriage Alliance of South Africa (MASA), we wish to take this moment to thank you for the role played by each of you, our partners in mission.  Each of you has contributed in different ways, publicly and privately, taking a stand to advocate for the biblical standard for marriage.

Irrespective of the outcome of the process, we delight in the knowledge that the churches in our nation were mobilized extensively and in an unprecedented way. In this our contribution to strengthening civil society in South Africa is now a matter of public record. We expect that it will be possible to build on the work that has been done in the last several months in the future.

The Marriage Alliance of South Africa once again confirms its view that a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a voluntary union of a man and a woman is the only way to protect the biblical view of marriage supported by the majority of South Africans and will continue to work towards this goal.

Brief comments related to the Civil Union Bill adopted:

1. The Law now provides for a civil union between two people of any sex to be solemnised either as a civil partnership or a marriage. There are in other words two forms of a civil union – marriage and civil partnership.

2. The Law states that a church or religious organisation that wants to solemnise civil unions may apply to the Minister to be designated as such. This means that no church will automatically be obliged to solemnise civil unions and that a church that does not apply, cannot be compelled to solemnise civil unions.  In addition, a civil marriage officer (like a magistrate) may inform the Minister that he/she objects on religious grounds and such marriage officer may then not be compelled to solemnise civil unions.

3. The Law remains an attack on the institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and we cannot support this. We are grateful, though, that the chapter on domestic partnerships, which we saw as another assault on marriage, has been removed, but probably only because it will be addressed later in another bill.

Future actions:

The Marriage Alliance will continue to advocate its position to fight for family and marriage and, as part of that, we will:

1. Continue to call for an amendment to the Constitution – defining marriage as a voluntary union between a man and women;

2. Facilitate and encourage efforts in and through the Church, to strengthen family and marriage as the foundational institution of society. To this end we are working towards a national consultation on marriage. This is scheduled for August 2007. Notices in this regard will be sent out early in the New Year;

3. Call all partners and their constituency to pray and fast together for strength and wisdom in the battle ahead.

It will be good for us to move forward with vigor and courage and speak into this context with Biblical clarity and an ongoing prophetic witness. It is with this in mind that we envision a consultative workshop between MASA Patrons, the Executive and available partners for 16 Feb 2007 in Pretoria. The workshop would be focused on determining the way forward, together.

It is good to remind ourselves that MASA came into existence not only to engage in matters related to same-sex relationships, but more importantly, to stand positively for the traditional understanding of marriage and family, and, for the nature of civil society (including the place of religion) in South Africa today.   This means that it would want to encourage in a whole new way a positive and creative attention in our churches, to what it takes to make our marriages in South Africa really succeed.

We need the Lord's help and we need one another's encouragement.

Your friends and colleagues

Rev Moss Ntlha

(General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa

On behalf of Co-Chairpersons of the Marriage Alliance of South Africa:

Rev Moss Ntlha

(General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa) (Chair: MASA Executive)

Dr Michael Cassidy

(International Team Leader/African Enterprise)

Cardinal Wilfred Napier

(Chairman of the Southern Africa Bishops Conference)