The Presbyterian Church upholds the historic Christian understanding of marriage as the loving, faithful union of a man and a woman.
Consistent with this view, the Church has decided that its ministers may only conduct marriages between a man and woman.
This decision was made by the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly. The 2016 General Assembly ratified the 2014 General Assembly decision that ministers may only conduct marriages between a man and woman. The decision meant that the rule which was adopted ad interim in 2014 was formally adopted into the Presbyterian Church's Book of Order.
Where you can get more info
- Marriage Discussion Paper (May 2014) prepared by the Church's Doctrine Core Group.
- Read the Church’s 2012 submission on the Marriage Amendment Bill
- Sexual Ethics study guide (prepared by the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand)
- Theology of Marriage (November 2013) issue of Candour, the Presbyterian magazine for ministers