Same-sex Marriage
Sizwe Dlamini|Published
ONE of South Africa’s largest churches, the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA), has made history in Ottosdal by hosting the first same-sex marriage in the Ottosdal Presbytery.
Thuso Lobeko and Kagiso Maine tied the knot in a landmark ceremony officiated by Emeritus Reverend Gumede and Reverend S. Mnisi, marking a significant moment for the local congregation and the church’s ongoing journey towards inclusion.
The wedding represents more than a personal celebration of love and commitment. It brings renewed attention to the URCSA Southern Synod’s 2018 decision to support the full inclusion of homosexual people in the church, including equal rights concerning marriage and ordination.
By celebrating the union, URCSA Ottosdal has placed this commitment into the context of congregational life, demonstrating how decisions taken at synodical level can find expression within local church communities.
The historic occasion comes at a time when questions of LGBTQI+ inclusion, equality and belonging continue to generate discussion within religious communities.
For many LGBTQI+ people, acceptance within the church remains an important issue, particularly where questions of faith, identity and relationships intersect.
Against this background, the marriage in Ottosdal provides an opportunity to reflect on the church’s responsibility to uphold human dignity and offer pastoral care to all its members.
Lobeko, who was born in Klerksdorp and grew up in Ottosdal, has a personal connection to the town where the couple celebrated their marriage. Maine grew up in Dobsonville, Soweto, and is an active member of St Angela Catholic Church.
Their union brings together different communities and backgrounds, reflecting the personal journeys that have led them to build a life together.
For the couple, the wedding marked the beginning of a new chapter defined by shared hopes, responsibilities and aspirations. For URCSA Ottosdal, it marked a historic first in the life of the congregation and the wider presbytery. The ceremony also highlighted the importance of moving beyond formal resolutions towards practical expressions of inclusion within local churches.
The Southern Synod’s 2018 resolution remains an important reference point in this development. While discussions about theology, Scripture and church practice continue across the broader URCSA denomination, the wedding demonstrates how the question of inclusion can become part of the lived experience of a congregation.
It also creates space for continued dialogue about the relationship between theological convictions, pastoral responsibilities and the dignity of LGBTQI+ members.
The occasion does not suggest that every theological difference within the church has been resolved or that all congregations share the same views.
Rather, it marks a significant development in Ottosdal and provides an opportunity to consider how the church responds to the experiences and needs of its members.
For URCSA Ottosdal and the Ottosdal Presbytery, the marriage will stand as a milestone in the congregation’s history. For the wider church, it offers an opportunity to reflect on how decisions concerning inclusion are implemented and experienced at local level.
As Lobeko and Maine begin their married life together, their wedding serves as a reminder that discussions about inclusion involve real people, relationships and families. Their union celebrates their commitment to one another while adding a new chapter to URCSA Ottosdal’s history.
The landmark marriage in Ottosdal therefore carries both personal and institutional significance: a celebration of two people’s love and a notable moment in the continuing conversation about equality, dignity and belonging within the church.