Membership, Ministry and Sexuality (proposal 84)

Assembly Minutes 97.31.5 - 97.31.13 (cited in August 2003 ASC resolutions)

97.31.05 to affirm the joys and responsibilities of God's good gift of sexuality;

97.31.06 to reject judgmental attitudes in sexual ethics and witness to the renewing grace of God in this as in all areas of human behaviour;

97.31.07 to recognise the importance of responsible sexual behaviour and that all practices of sexuality which are exploitative and demeaning are unacceptable and contradict God’s purposes for us;

97.31.08 (a) to recognise that the work of the Task Group on Sexuality is another step in the Church's exploration of issues of sexuality and that Uniting Sexuality & Faith is a resource for study, discussion and dialogue;

(b) to acknowledge the diversity of human relationships in which Uniting Church members are involved and the different Biblical, theological, ethnic and cultural responses of groups within the Church to these relationships;

97.31.09 to establish the policy that Uniting Church marriage celebrants help couples seeking marriage to understand marriage as expressed in the statement (see minute 97.31.12) including discussion of expressing their sexuality as a positive and joyous celebration, and encourage them to undertake marriage preparation programs where available;

97.31.10 to request congregations to encourage Uniting Church couples to take advantage of appropriate relationship enrichment and education programs;

97.31.11 to encourage synods, presbyteries, and congregations to identify suitable resources for individuals, couples and families for professional counselling and support, recognising the special needs of those who have experienced divorce or abuse;

97.31.12 to approve the following policy Statement on Marriage:

“The Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia declares that

1. Marriage

Marriage for Christians is the freely given consent and commitment in public and before God of a man and a woman to live together for life.
It is intended to be the mutually faithful lifelong union of a woman and man expressed in every part of their life together.

In marriage the man and the woman seek to encourage and enrich each other through love and companionship.
In the marriage service

• the woman and man make a public covenant with each other and with God, in the company of family and friends;
• the couple affirm their trust in each other and in God;
• the Church affirms the sanctity of marriage and nurtures those who pledge themselves to each other in marriage and calls upon all people to support, uphold and nurture those who pledge themselves to each other in marriage.

Where sexual union takes place the partners seek to express mutual delight, pleasure and tenderness, thus strengthening the union of their lives together.
In marriage, children may be born and are to be brought up in love and security, thus providing a firm foundation for society.

2. Separation, Divorce and Re-marriage

• An inability to sustain the marriage relationship breaks the commitment to be together for life and may be painful for the couple, the children in their care, as well as for parents, friends and the Church community.
  In cases of the irretrievable breakdown of marriage, the Church acknowledges that divorce may be the only creative and life giving direction to take.
  The Church has a responsibility to:
• (a) care for people, including children, through the trauma of the ending of a marriage;
  (b) help people where appropriate to grieve, repent, grow in self-understanding, receive affirmation, grace and forgiveness;
  (c) support them as they hear God's call for new life.
• The grace and healing of God are available to people who are divorced, which may free them to marry again.”

97.31.13 to request the Commission on Liturgy to facilitate the development of pastoral liturgical resources both to recognise the end of a marriage and assist in the process of affirmation, grief, repentance and moving on in God's grace;

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