A Pretoria high court judgment on Friday, which overturned the Dutch Reformed Church's decision not to recognise same-sex unions within the church, is a step forward for LGBTQI inclusion across the board, especially in the church.
This is the view of Laurie Gaum, one of the people who challenged the church’s decision to rescind its initial decision allowing homosexual pastors to be in relationships.
In 2015 the church ruled that it would allow pastors to marry homosexuals in the church and the church's gay and lesbian pastors to be in sexual relationships.
However, following an extraordinary synod meeting‚ that original order was overturned less than a year later.
Gaum, together with his father, Frits Gaum, Judith Kotze and Michelle Boonzaaier last year challenged the church's decision to rescind its 2015 decision.
On Friday, the court set aside the synod's decision.