MCC Sydney pastor appears at hearings
The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) Sydney鈥檚 Reverend Greg Smith told the Senate inquiry hearings into Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young鈥檚 (pictured) marriage equality bill that he was excited to have the opportunity to present a different Christian perspective on the issue.
鈥淔or so long our politicians have only heard from Christians who want to deny gay and lesbian Australians the fullness of legally recognised marriages,鈥� Smith said.
鈥淲e at MCC want to tell a different story. I see God working through the love I see in same-sex couples at our church. God blesses that love, because God is love and I will proudly fight for that blessed godly love to at last be recognised in legislation.
鈥淭he first thing God did in the Garden of Eden was to recognise that Adam needed a companion. The faith we have at MCC is one where we would never exclude anyone from fulfilling that need for loving, caring relationships. That鈥檚 why marriage equality is so important.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my prayer that the senators on the committee will be moved by this wonderful movement for marriage equality, which has love at its core.鈥�
The hearings began in Sydney on Thursday and were due to continue in Melbourne today.
Thank you Reverend Greg (and Alex) for speaking up for all of us at the inquiry. Sarah & I were the first couple to celebrate our Holy Union at MCC Sydney’s Crystal Street church and we will never forget it. It brought a deep level of affirmation and satisfaction to us that we thought we could not achieve, as lesbians. Some family members, however, were not there…as it was not a ‘real’ wedding. When it does become legalised we will have another ceremony but only as a celebration and a reaffirming of our vows (and to get the certificate-because we can).
We look forward to the time, soon, when Reverend Greg will, once again, watch us walk down the aisles of MCC Sydney, this time to be joined in holy matrimony.
May God speed up the journey towards marriage equality.