CALL TO SUPPORT SUSPENDED LESBIAN MINISTER

By Mongezi Mhlongo (BTM Senior Reporter)

SOUTH AFRICA – 01 February 2010: Supporters of suspended Minister of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA), Ecclesia de Lange, are confident that her appeal against the verdict forcing her to “continue under suspension”, for marrying a female partner, will be successful.

Since the Methodist Church only recognises marriage between heterosexuals, de Lange was suspended immediately when she announced her marriage to her wife in December.

She appeared before the District Disciplinary Committee of the MCSA on 12 January where she was found guilty of “failing to observe the provisions of the laws and disciplines and all other policies, decisions, practices and usages of the Church”, by getting married to a female partner and for allegedly not consulting her Superintendant and the Bishop.

She was also sentenced to “continue under suspension until such time that the MCSA makes a binding decision on ministers in same-sex unions.”

De Lange lodged an appeal against the verdict and sentence of the District Disciplinary Committee, to be heard on Monday the 8 February in Bedfordview.
The Facebook group, formed to support the minister has called on the gay community to join and create awareness about the issue.

They also called for “a large group to gather outside the Bedfordview venue for an hour in a dignified and peaceful manner to show their support.”

“We want our church to be as inclusive as possible”, said Reverend Jenny Sprong of the MCSA Durban

Creator of de Lange’s Facebook group Andrew Treu said, “We have arranged activities around the country on the day and we are asking you to commit yourself to attend one of these activities.”

Some of these planned activities include the Bedfordview show of solidarity and support, Cape Town service of solidarity and witness, Port Elizabeth prayer vigil and the Durban prayer vigil.

While Glynis Stokes Director of the Methodist Church's administration office in Durban refused to comment on the matter, attempts to get a comment from the MCSA Bishop’s office were also fruitless.