SOUTH AFRICA
Male to Male relationships: Legal
Punishments for male to male relationships: No law
Female to Female Relationships: Legal
Age of consent: Equal for heterosexuals and homosexuals
Marriage and Substitutes for Marriage: Recognized on national level
Is it possible to change your gender on official documents?: Yes
Although Good Hope MCC serves a predominantly gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender congregation, the membership is diverse and goes beyond the social constructs of gender, beyond race and sexual orientation. Good Hope MCC traces its roots back to 1983, when a few Christians founded the "Gay Christian Community". Subsequently Good Hope MCC became a member congregation of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), an affirming Christian denomination with churches and ministries in more than 37 countries.
MCC are at the vanguard of civil and human rights movements by addressing important issues such as racism, sexism, homoprejudice, ageism and other forms of oppression. MCC has been on the forefront of the struggle towards marriage equality worldwide and continues to be a powerful voice in the movement for LGBTI equality. Across the globe Metropolitan Community Churches are also known as the “Human Rights Church”.
Core values are Inclusion, Community, Spiritual Transformation and Social Action.
Good Hope MCC recognises that people are not one dimensional and orientation, whether LGBTI or straight is only aspect of who we are ~ but for so many LGBTI’s, this can be something that deeply conflicts with our spirituality because of what is so commonly preached. It is GHMCC’s mission to serve God among those who are seeking and celebrating the integration of their spiritually and sexuality. We know that many have been deeply hurt by organised religion and GHMCC is a place, where people are able to have their faith and their love for God restored, whilst still being true to all of who they are, with no fear, no shame and no guilt.
At Good Hope MCC, we know that we are created in the image of God. We also understand that God is not limited by our understanding of God. God is not bound by any of our cultural or personal biases. God is beyond gender, beyond race, beyond nationality, beyond any church or religion, beyond any culture or time. We are created in the image of God – we do not create God in our image.
For further information, please visit www.goodhopemcc.org or e-mail welcome@goodhopemcc.org.