Evangelical Alliance welcomes High Court decision on 'Gay Marriage'

Decision upholds family values vital to a stable society

01 August 2006

The Evangelical Alliance has welcomed the decision by the High Court not to recognise the relationship between Sue Wilkinson and Celia Kitzinger as a 'marriage'.

The Evangelical Alliance recognises that everyone is entitled to their civil liberties, and holds that all human beings are inherently worthy of respect, regardless of their abilities, status, race, religion, age, gender or sexual orientation.

However, the decision of the High Court is good for society as it upholds the traditional view of marriage. Marriage between one man and one woman is the best foundation for family life and a stable society.

Christians hold to the biblical teaching that monogamous heterosexual marriage is the form of partnership uniquely intended by God for full sexual relations between people. We affirm God's love and concern for all humanity, including those with an orientation towards people of their own sex, but believe homoerotic sexual practice to be incompatible with God's will as revealed in the Bible.

The result has also been welcomed by Nola Leach, the Chief Executive Officer of CARE, who said: 'CARE welcomes the decision of the Judge as we believe that by definition marriage is not the same as a same sex partnership. It is about celebrating difference. While there are injustices that need to be addressed if we tamper with the basic principles underlying marriage we are sending a dangerous signpost to society. Research shows that children need both a mother and a father. Healthy marriages between a man and a woman are the building blocks of a stable society.'

Don Horrocks, the Head of Public Affairs at the Evangelical Alliance, commented: ‘As we have indicated all along, marriage, by definition, is an opposite-sex institution, and we are glad to see the common-sense decision reached by the Court, which resists the hi-jacking of marriage.’