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Reflections from IAM’s 30th Anniversary: A Personal Journey During Pride Month
Article by The United Church of Canada 20 June, 2025
At Inclusive and Affirming Ministries’ Cape Town anniversary, Rev. Dr. Japhet Ndhlovu saw a celebration of hopeful progress towards justice.
IAM Celebrates 30 Years of Queer Faith Inclusion in Africa
Article by Nompilo Gwala 21 February, 2025
The Cape Town-based Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM) is celebrating its 30th anniversary as one of Africa’s leading drivers of queer faith inclusion. The organisation champions true diversity within religious contexts and works to build welcoming, affirming and inclusive faith communities for queer people.
“Our Candles Will Not Die”: 100 Days On, Imam Muhsin Hendricks Honoured
Article by Nompilo Gwala 21 February, 2025
One hundred days after the brutal assassination of queer Imam Muhsin Hendricks, a sacred space was created in his memory—one that held grief, celebrated resistance, and dared to imagine a world where queer love and faith not only coexist but flourish.
Imagining a Queer Africa: A Call to Faith, Resistance and Action
Article by Nompilo Gwala 21 February, 2025
Imagining a Queer Africa, a multi-day strategic convening, has drawn together queer activists, faith leaders, scholars, human rights defenders and civil society partners to confront a growing global threat: the anti-gender movement.
First openly gay imam shot dead in South Africa
Article by Daniel Itai 21 February, 2025
Muhsin’s journey with IAM became a longstanding and fruitful one, and so we join multitudes in deeply mourning the passing of a faith leader who has fiercely yet gently championed and guarded LGBTIQ+ rights in South Africa, but also for Muslims across the world.
Anglican Church of Southern Africa Rejects Same-Sex Couples
Article by Roberto Igual 27 September, 2024
In a setback for religious inclusion, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa has voted against blessing or offering prayers for same-sex couples.
Open letter: S. Africa must demand human rights in Uganda and Ghana, not just in Gaza
Article by Colin Steward 7 April, 2024
Seventeen social justice organizations have issued an open letter to South Africa’s international relations minister, urging him to condemn violations of human rights targeting LGBT citizens of Uganda and Ghana.
NGK reik hand na gay geestelikes wat nie roeping kon uitleef
Article by Willemien Brümmer 14 November, 2022
Faith Partnerships Coordinator Louis van der Riet was interviewed by Netwerk 24.
‘‘My queerness is a gift to my community of faith”
Article by Gomolemo Lesejane 15 April, 2022
In the opinion piece “My queerness is a gift to my community of faith” (15 April 2022), Gomo Lesejane reflects on the marginalisation of LGBTQI+ people within religious communities, particularly in Southern Africa.
BREAKING DOWN SOGI – PART 1: HOW MANY MORE FUNERALS?
Article by Greyson Vanguard Thela Friday, December 10, 2021
It is with great sadness that parents, friends, families and civil society has had to increase advocacy strategies due to the increase in the brutalisation of queer bodies. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTIQ) bodies have always been in existence, visibility has now merely increased. Ostensibly, the increase in visibility …
LGBTIQ activists defy threats to challenge the bias of faith-based organisations
Article by Kerry Cullinan – 1 July 2021, 4.30am
African activists show how churches can make space for queer people. Undeterred by threats and claims that they are ‘un-African’, these activists are making Christianity more inclusive.
Ecclesia de Lange, Greyson Thela, Thuli Mjwara and Hanzline Davids, who all live in …
African activists show how churches can make space for queer people
Article by Kerry Cullinan – 1 July 2021, 4.30am
Undeterred by threats and claims that they are ‘un-African’, these activists are making Christianity more inclusive
Ecclesia de Lange, Greyson Thela, Thuli Mjwara and Hanzline Davids, who all live in South Africa, have good reasons …
“Unmute Yourself” – An open letter to SA church leaders on LGBTIQ+ pain
Article by Roberto Igual – May 10, 2021
A group of Christian church members have written a powerful open letter to South Africa’s archbishops, bishops and pastors admonishing them for their shameful silence amid ongoing LGBTIQ+ suffering.
Churches are violent against LGBTIQ+ people …
IAM marks 25 years of LGBTQI+ faith inclusion
Article by Angie Gallagher , November 28, 2020
Over the past 25 years, Inclusive & Affirming Ministries (IAM) has played a major role in moving faith-based communities towards greater inclusion and celebration of LGBTQI+ individuals in their midst.
IAM has not only been preaching its message within the highest ….
Rev. Ecclesia de Lange: “I Lived in Denial of Who I Am and I Settled for a Life of Celibacy and Secrecy”
Article by By Ecclesia de Lange – Sep 22, 2020
Suspended Methodist minister and current director of Inclusive and Affirming Ministries reflects on a journey of becoming vulnerable and courageous
My journey to serve Jesus and be true to myself has been a complex one of full of learning, disappointment, frustration, and ultimately of hope and love …
Same-sex marriages: Dutch Reformed Church’s decision diminished gay congregants’ integrity – court
Article by News24 – March 08, 2019
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has found that the Dutch Reformed Church’s policy against solemnising same-sex marriages, diminished the integrity of gay congregants.
Judges Sulette Potterill, Joseph Raulinga and Daisy Molefe handed …
Dutch Reformed Church did not backtrack on same-sex marriage lightly, court hears.
Article by Zelda Venter, Tuesday 21 August 2018
Pretoria – The decision to no longer recognise same-sex unions in the Dutch Reformed Church was taken at a special synod meeting after four days of intensive debating and praying, counsel for the Church argued on Tuesday in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria.
The Church is opposing an application by several of its members …
Members take Dutch Reformed Church to court
Article by eNCA News, Tuesday 21 August 2018
JOHANNESBURG – Eleven members of the Dutch Reformed Church are taking the church to court …
Churches fight for same-sex marriage
Article by Ilse de Lange, August 20, 2018
An adverse finding against the Dutch Reformed Church could mean that denominations, churches and religious organisations would lose their autonomy.
An organisation representing South Africa’s evangelical churches has been granted leave to make submissions in opposition ….
Civil Union Act
Article by eNCA News , August 19, 2018
LGBTI community on the brink of fairer treatment. Parliament’s home affairs committee has unanimously agreed to amend the Civil Union Act …….
Theology students back queer rights
Article by Carl Collison, August 10, 2018
The Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) is being taken to court after it went back on its decision to allow same-sex unions.
It came as a surprise when, in 2015, the usually conservative church announced it would approve same-sex marriages and would allow ministers…
The #WhyDiscriminate movement could be the spark plug for the NG Kerk to reclaim credibility
Article by Laurie Guam, August 02, 2018
Coming from as painful a history as the Dutch Reformed Church does, how can one justify continued exclusion when it comes to same-sex relationships?
he abbreviation “NGK” is nowadays better known in reference to spark plugs than …
Ecclesia de Lange Going into conversation with the church
Article by eNCA, 13 July 2018
Some time back in a high profile court case lesbian minister Ecclesia de Lange was fired by the Methodist Church…
EN TOE WORD DAAR NIE BAKLEI NIE
Article by Kerkbode, 11 September 2017
“Ek was heeltemal verras. Ek het reggemaak om te baklei, maar dit het glad nie gebeur nie.” Hierdie woorde van een van die gespreksgenote na afloop van ’n werkswinkel oor selfdegeslagverhoudings in die kerk, beskryf iets van die toonaard en gees van daardie gesprek wat onlangs in Port Elizabeth plaasgevind het…
It’s on! Eleven take Dutch Reformed Church to court over same-sex unions
Article by Roberto Igual, 16 June 2017
Eleven members of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC), also known as the NG Kerk, are taking legal action to set aside the shocking decision by the church to reverse its acceptance of same-sex unions.
In November 2016, the DRC’s extraordinary general assembly dismayed the LGBTI community when …
Constitutional Court sends sacked gay minister packing
Article by ERNEST MABUZA, 24 November 2015
Ecclesia de Lange‚ the Methodist church minister who was suspended and later discontinued as minister for her plan to marry her same-sex partner‚ failed in her appeal to the Constitutional Court to set aside her discontinuation.
De Lange announced before her congregation in 2009 that she intended to marry …






