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Church rejects lobby group 'no' campaign

A Sydney church congregation has announced it won't take part in the Australian Christian Lobby's campaign against same-sex marriage.

A woman placing a wedding ring on her partner's finger.
A woman placing a wedding ring on her partner's finger. Source: AAP

A Sydney Uniting Church congregation has rejected a call from the Australian Christian Lobby to "activate" against same-sex marriage.

The ACL, which is leading the charge against the marriage law change, has written to churches across the country asking them to join its "no" campaign in the postal ballot launched by the government this week.

The Reverend Meredith Williams, from St David's Uniting Church in Dee Why, wrote back to ACL director Lyle Shelton asking that she and her congregation be taken off the lobby group's mailing list.

"Please be advised that I am fully in favour of marriage equality and do not in any way feel it threatens me, my marriage, my children or the society in which I live," she wrote.

"Neither do I think the voluntary, exclusive union of two adult people who love each other contravenes Christian concepts of love, relationships, fidelity and mutual life enrichment."

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She said she resented the ACL's assumption all Christians shared its views.

"I look forward eagerly to the time when I will be able to celebrate the weddings of same-gender couples, and I believe that time is not far off."

Ms Williams told AAP on Friday she had been "wound up" by the email.

"They have gone through all the lists of ministers of various denominations and assumed we all share their view ... (but) they don't represent my views as a Christian person."

Ms Williams said if she was asked to take part in peaceful demonstrations or other action for the "yes" case she would be "favourable to it".


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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