Pacific

Anglican Church of Polynesia to discuss stand on same-sex marriage

06:47 am on 3 April 2013

The Anglican Church of Polynesia will discuss later this year where it stands on the issue of same-sex marriage.

Over the last week both the Samoa Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, and the Fiji Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, have told local media that same-sex marriage will not be considered because it is against religious beliefs.

The Archbishop of the Church of Polynesia, the reverend Winston Halapua, says there needs to be more conversation on the notion of 'marriage' and 'same-sex union'.

He says same sex marriage is an agenda item for the next Synod church meeting.

"We need to talk about important things, and then we arrive at the point if a person says I prefer not to be part of this, at least the person makes a decision on an informed level. Or maybe a person close-up before we start, but we are talking about something which is part of us, and we need to talk fairly about it. To be fair in the way how we go about with other human being. 26."

Reverend Winston Halapua says it's not helpful to not talk about the important things in life.

The meeting will be held in the first week of May.