A bride-to-be has had her wedding cancelled by a Presbyterian church after they discovered she supported same-sex marriage.
The couple were due marry at Ebeneezer St. Johns church, in Ballarat, Victoria, in November.
But in August, shortly after the same-sex marriage postal vote was announced, the bride expressed her support for voting ‘yes’ on Facebook.
Ballarat minister Steven North (pictured) refused to marry young couple after the woman declared she would be voting ‘yes’ in the same-sex marriage postal vote
The couple were meant to be getting married at Ebeneezer St. Johns church (pictured), west of Melbourne, in November, but the plans were cancelled two months early
‘I know it’s something not everyone will agree on and that’s fine but this is what I stand for and frankly it doesn’t affect my relationship with [my partner] one bit,’ the 26-year-old bride-to-be said.
Soon after the post, minister Steven North called her and her 25-year-old groom to the church and gave them a letter announcing he would not marry them, Fairfax Media reports.
The Minister’s letter to the couple said that ‘by continuing to officiate it would appear either that I support your views on same-sex marriage or that I am uncaring about this matter.’
‘Also, if the wedding proceeded in the Ebenezer St John’s church buildings, the same inferences could be drawn about the Presbyterian denomination,’ the letter said.
‘Such inferences would be wrong.’
The couple said they were open about having gay friends at their wedding and the minister’s decision had caused a ‘great deal of stress and upset’ for the families involved, reported the publication.
‘How could you assume that we would abandon them or degrade them with regards to same-sex marriage?,’ the couple wrote.
‘By continuing to officiate it would appear either that I support your views on same-sex marriage or that I am uncaring about this matter,’ a letter said (stock image)
The couple have since found a new venue for their spring wedding which will be officiated by a retired minister.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ebenezer St John’s church and Mr North for comment.