After months debate, two bills to legalise same-sex marriage were finally introduced – and rejected – in Parliament last week.

The bills – a private members bill sponsored by Stephen Jones in the House of Representatives and a separate bill sponsored by Labor backbenchers Trish Crossin, Carol Brown and Gavin Marshall in the Senate – were both resoundingly voted down. Jones’ bill was defeated 98 votes to 42. The joint senate bill, 41 votes to 26.

Australian Christian Lobby is claiming victory, going so far as to say the rejection of the bills is the end of the marriage debate. In a statement last week, ACL’s managing director, Jim Wallace said it had “been a long debate” and he believed “the vast majority of Australians were keen to move on.”

But Centre for Public Christianity director Simon Smart – and many other Christian leaders – think otherwise.

“Clearly the question of same-sex marriage is not going away,” he told Eternity.

“Christians must rise to the challenge of bringing a biblically informed perspective to such contested territory. Seeking to persuade our culture of the wisdom of the Christian worldview brings with it the responsibility to combine ethical conviction with compassion, respect and generosity toward those who sit on the other side of the debate.”

Sitting on that other side is Peter Catt and his lobby group, A Progressive Christian Voice (APCV). He says there will be a large number of Christians who are disappointed by the failure of the Federal Parliament to pass the bills, and encourages them to continue lobbying their parliamentarians.

“I would also encourage gay and lesbian Christians, who will be deeply hurt by the Parliament’s failure, to take heart from the fact that the majority of people support and honour them.”

Lecturer in ethics at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Andrew Cameron, acknowledges that hurt, and says Christians shouldn’t be triumphalist about the vote.

“There’s a place to acknowledge that disappointment,” says Cameron. “You can still accept someone’s feelings without agreeing with them.”

While ABC’s Religion and Ethics editor Scott Stephens believes the vote is not the end for the gay marriage debate, he is clearly exasperated by arguments so far.

“The debate surrounding “marriage equality” has reached the point of toxicity, it seems to me,” says Stephens.

“On the one hand, those in favour of same-sex marriage treat the issue as a kind of litmus test, a shibboleth that one must utter to avoid the label “homophobe” or “bigot.” On the other side, those who oppose same-sex marriage seem content, even happy, for this issue to become mired in political hyper-partisanism, for the issue to be an “issue” rather than something that involves people with deep feelings and personal investment. Both positions are corrupt, and signal the lack of real debate – just interested parties shouting past one another.”

While there is consensus among the leaders Eternity spoke to that compassion is required in the debate, what Christians should do next is still contentious between Christians, just as it is in broader society.

President of Australian Christian Churches, Wayne Alcorn says that while the vote is a good result, it’s a timely reminder for Christians to stay vigilant and hold their convictions.

“Legislation never changes the human heart. We need to commend politicians for making a good decision, and not water down our convictions without making them an attack on human beings.”

Scott Stephens, on the other hand, says it’s time for Christians to “sacramentally recognise” civil unions.

“The next step, I believe, is for those who support the extension of “marriage” to include same-sex couples to move away from their insistence that recognition of “civil unions” is a form of entrenched discrimination; and for those who oppose “marriage equality,” especially those who are Christians, to sacramentally recognise civil unions, and thus to celebrate the decision of those same-sex couples to promise fidelity and commitment to one another.”

Perhaps the vote last week will give Christians who oppose gay marriage an opportunity to refine their position. Simon Smart at CPX hopes there will be more thought to how the issue is debated.

“Somehow Christians need to be able to show how a classical view of marriage arises from a biblical understanding of the human person made in God’s image, male and female. This requires careful thought, prayer, service and communication – not easily delivered in a sound bite!”