The debate over same-sex marriage will come to a head in Australia when Parliament resumes in August.

A marriage equality bill is to be introduced by Liberal MP Warren Entsch, seconded by Labor MP Terri Butler and backed by a multi-party group. 

However, if such legislation is passed, there are no legal obligations for churches to perform same-sex marriages because religious celebrants are not obliged to marry couples who go against their religious beliefs.

“For example, Catholic priests do not have to marry divorcees,” Australian Marriage Equality national director Rodney Croome said.  

“This principle is enshrined in section 47 of the Marriage Act and will continue when we have marriage equality. 

“In fact, all the bills currently before parliament reinforce the point by specifically stating religious celebrants will not have to marry same-sex couples.”  

In Bega, ministers belonging to the Anglican, Presbyterian, Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Baptist and Uniting Churches all said they would not perform a same-sex marriage even if it was legalised. 

All follow the Biblical definition of marriage, which is that it is between a man and a woman. 

The Reverend Lucas Uhlman of the Bega Baptist Church said while he believes in this definition of marriage, his decision to support this stance was not an easy one to make due to the weight of popular opinion. 

Jimmy Watanabe, pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bega, referred the Bega District News’ questions to a church spokesperson to respond on his behalf.

“Homosexuality is a manifestation of the disorder and brokenness in human inclinations and relations caused by sin coming into the world,” the spokesperson said.

“We do not condone singling out any group for scorn and derision, let alone abuse.

“However, it is very clear that God’s word does not countenance a homosexual lifestyle; neither has the Christian church throughout her 2000-year history.” 

The Reverend Ross Gear of Bega’s St John’s Anglican Church said there is a separation of church and state in Australia, which is “right and proper”.

However, as a Christian he wanted to abide by laws of the land, so is unsure what will happen if Mr Entsch’s legislation is legalised. 

“We believe in the understanding from the Bible that marriage was blessed by God to be between a man and a woman,” Mr Gear said.

“As I understand, at the present time we are ordained to preside over marriages between a man and a woman. 

“That’s the position right now, but I’m not sure where that leaves us if the law changes.” 

Binding same-sex marriages do not have to be performed in churches, and one of the civil celebrants in the Bega Valley, Rebecca Lupton, said she is “waiting for the day” for same-sex marriage to become legalised. 

“Love is love and it should not be discriminated against and there is absolutely no reason why same-sex couples shouldn’t be married in a legal sense,” she said.  

The minister of Bega Presbyterian Church, Jim Mobbs, "definitely" believes marriage is between a man and a woman although he said it was only a matter of time before the law changed. 

“I think it is only a matter of time before same-sex marriages will become legalised,” Mr Mobbs said. 

Bega Uniting Church Pastor Dan Riethmuller said same-sex marriage was “pastorally an extremely sensitive and complicated issue” and he would not perform marriages for a gay couple.  

“[But] if legalisation passes and same-sex marriage does become the norm, I would want to introduce a couple to someone who would marry them,” Pastor Riethmuller said. 

Despite Bega Valley ministers saying they would not perform same-sex marriages, many stressed the importance of accepting people who identify as homosexual. 

“We want to be very clear that God’s love is for the world and for all people – black or white, gay or straight, rich or poor,” Mr Gear said.  

“The more important message that I would like to speak out about is that everybody is welcome in our church.” 

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