Senior minister at St Andrew's on the Terrace, Margaret Mayman, said it would be part of a small minority of churches doing so.

The Presbyterian General Assembly in New Zealand opposes a bill before Parliament which seeks to legalise same gender marriage but the Presbyterian Church allows individual churches to choose their own stance.

Church moderator the Right Rev Ray Coster said the assembly's decision was made last week to uphold the "historic Christian" understanding that "marriage is a faithful, loving union between a man and woman". A small number had registered their dissent.

"Registering dissent is an accepted part of Presbyterian process, and is part of our tradition of open and robust debate," he said.

A same gender marriage bill passed its first reading in the New Zealand Parliament last month. It must pass two more stages before it becomes law.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• St Andrews on the Terrace
• Image: St Andrews on the Terrace

Father Merv Duffy: I oppose the proposed re-definition of marriage in Labour MP Louisa Wall's bill before Parliament because it is wrong, dangerous, expensive and unnecessary.

It is wrong because marriage is a historical and cultural universal reflecting our nature.

Humans are a sexually differentiated species - males and females are different - and we pair-bond. A couple who are attracted to each other set up a household and raise a family. The family, involving the genetic parents of the children co-operating to raise them, is an enduring institution which has taken many forms. Read more

Sources

• Merv Duffy and Margaret Mayman in Stuff
• Image: 3News

Fr Merv Duffy is a Catholic priest who lectures at Good Shepherd College in Auckland; Rev Margaret Mayman is a Presbyterian minister.