![]() ![]() The ecclesiastical marriages would have no legal standing but be recognized by the church itself. ![]() Under Middleton’s proposal, the church would establish its own independent register of ecclesiastical marriages, which would have nothing to do with the state. If the General Assembly takes that decision, it will apply to all Presbyterian ministers in Australia. He has already had talks with the Attorney-General’s Department about the formalities of handing back the church’s official marriage licence. “We will recommend to the General Assembly that no Presbyterian Church of Australia minister would solemnize any marriage under the new Marriage Act,” Mr Middleton said. The Reverend Darren Middleton will present a report to the Presbyterian General Assembly in September. In one of the most radical actions taken by a mainstream Christian denomination in Australia, the Presbyterians will divorce themselves from the state, and institute ecclesiastical marriages instead, if its General Assembly accepts the recommendations of a church committee charged with reviewing the issue. They would live in de facto relationships as far as civil law is concerned. It will refuse to conduct any state marriages and some of its pastors will encourage Presbyterians to live outside the legal institution of marriage. The Presbyterian Church will halt all co-operation with the state on the matter of marriage if same-sex marriage is legalized. ![]()
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