Pastors may now officially fulfill same-sex commitments in the Dutch Reformed Church.

“In terms of Section 5 (2) of the Civil Union Act, 2006 (Act No. 17 of 2006), the Minister of the Interior decided to authorize ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church , who would apply and meet the specific requirements, to same-sex commitments within the Republic of South Africa, ”said Dr Gustav Claassen, general secretary of the Dutch Reformed Church, in a statement on 30 July.

This applies to legitimate ministers who would like to exercise the option and the minister acts in that function as accredited by the state, Rev. Nelis Janse van Rensburg, moderator of the General Synod, explained when asked.

The decisions made around same-sex commitments at the 2019 General Synod make room for this and it is individual pastors' right to do so, according to Janse van Rensburg.
"I can not wait to finally have the privilege of marrying couples in same-sex relationships," Johan Conradie, pastor at NG congregation Sonstraal, told Kerkbode . "Those who have remained so loyal all these years in the Dutch Reformed Church because they waited… Now we can finally celebrate together," says Conradie.

Others were concerned about this development, which follows years of debate in the Dutch Reformed Church about homosexuality. "We now have two Dutch Reformed Churches, whether it is recognized or not, that is a fact," Kerkbode reader Cois Pretorius wrote at the bottom of an article about this on kerkbode.co.za . "I will not feel at home in a congregation where the pastor is willing to confirm same-sex marriage." Read more via Kerkbode