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Ministers, Members and
Councils of the Church
August 25 2003
Dear colleagues in ministry,
Over the last six weeks I have shared with you in ministering
to a church experiencing confusion, anger and pain. It has not been easy.
Last weekend the Assembly Standing Committee, with Moderators and Synod
Secretaries, heard and were in touch with the feelings of the Church.
I believe that the Assembly Standing Committee has made some decisions
that evidence a deep listening and concern for the Church, and will be
of great assistance to us all.
In the attached document are the decisions of the Standing
Committee. It commences with some affirmations of our shared faith and
a statement of apology and regret. The second component to the decisions
is a clarification of Proposal 84. There are three areas where the need
for clarification was seen as urgent.
- Re 84.2 - questions have been asked about whether the Uniting Church
adopted “Right Relationships” and “Celibacy in Singleness
and Faithfulness in Marriage”, and what the standards are for
ministers in this area. Part three of the enclosed ASC decision states
strongly that neither has ever been endorsed by the Assembly. Part 3
(b) draws the attention of the Church to the very high standards that
have been set by the Assembly in this area of Christian behaviour.
- Re 84.3 – it has been asked whether the requirement to consider
candidates for ministry and placements on a case by case basis prevents
a congregation, presbytery or synod from having a stated position about
sexual ethics. Congregations and Councils who wish to state a sexual
ethic may do so after prayerful consideration and study of the Scriptures.
Also there have been many claims that the 10th Assembly did a new thing.
Standing Committee draws the attention of the Church to the fact that
in part three of Proposal 84 the reminder to presbyteries is based on
specific decisions of previous Assemblies.
It is apparent that the meaning of the Assembly resolution
was not effectively communicated by the wording of Proposal 84. The Standing
Committee has responsibility to make clear the meaning of Assembly decisions
and it has powers under the Constitution and Regulations to do so. The
Standing Committee in fulfilling this responsibility has determined to
vary the wording of Proposal 84 and the text of that wording is provided.
The varied wording of proposal 84 is the version upon which discussion
in the Church must be based from this time. I stress that the purpose
of the variation is to clarify the meaning according to the rationale
of the original Assembly resolution. The meaning of the varied Proposal
84 is entirely consistent with the meaning of Proposal 84 that has been
communicated by the Assembly Officers since the 10th Assembly.
I trust that this clarification from the Assembly Standing
Committee will remove the confusion that has existed in the Church since
the 10th Assembly. The Uniting Church has very high ethical standards
for its ministers, and certainly does not hold two mutually exclusive
standards. We are a church within which there are differing opinions on
same gender relationships and where councils, ministers and members are
able to give voice to those different opinions and make decisions about
what that means for ministry in their place. We work together through
a series of inter related Councils that since the time the Uniting Church
was established has given significant responsibilities to congregations
and presbyteries – and those responsibilities continue to this day.
As partners in the service of the Gospel I am thankful
to be united with you through our common faith in the reconciling work
of Jesus Christ. I rejoice in the gifts that you bring to the service
of the Church, and pray that we will know the peace of Christ and the
unity of the Spirit made possible through our common faith in God the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
PS: extracts from various key documents can be accessed
through nat.uca.org.au/home
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ASC DECISIONS ON MEMBERSHIP,
MINISTRY AND SEXUALITY
(in light of concerns expressed on Assembly proposal 84)
The Assembly Standing Committee joyfully acknowledges
that:
“ The Church as the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
confesses Jesus as Lord over its own life; it also confesses that Jesus
is Head over all things, the beginning of a new creation, of a new humanity.”
(Basis of Union, para 3)
We further gratefully acknowledge that:
“ in his own strange way Christ constitutes,
rules and renews [us] as his Church.” (Basis of Union, para 4)
Having prayerfully met in retreat from 22 to 24 August
2003, seeking God’s will and believing this to be God’s guidance,
we resolved that the Assembly Standing Committee:
STATEMENT OF APOLOGY AND REGRET
- Acknowledges with regret that proposal 84 and the way it was reported
has evoked depths of shared suffering among members of the Church, leading
to many members experiencing pain, hurt confusion and anger.
- Apologises to members and ministers that more was not done to make
them aware in advance of the Tenth Assembly that matters of membership,
ministry and sexuality would be considered by the Assembly.
CLARIFYING PROPOSAL 84
3. (a) Notes that “Celibacy in singleness and
faithfulness in marriage” and “Right relationships”
referred to in parts 2(ii) and (iii) of proposal 84 were intended to
illustrate some differing views held by church members and have never
been endorsed or approved by the Assembly or its Standing Committee.
(b) Celebrates that in the Uniting Church we have
already agreed on and affirmed important matters regarding marriage,
marriage preparation, marriage counseling, divorce, re-marriage, sexuality
and sexual ethics (Assembly minutes 97.31.5-97.31.13) and we have adopted
the Code of Ethics and Ministry Practice which gives clear guidance
about the appropriate conduct and accountability of ministers.
4. In order to clarify the meaning of proposal 84
in accordance with the rationale presented to the Assembly, determines
to act under its powers stated in Constitution clause 47 and Regulation
3.6.26 to vary proposal 84 as attached.
5. Informs the Church that congregations and councils
of the Church who wish to state a sexual ethic may elect to do so after
prayerful consideration and study of the Scriptures providing that
- there is respect for and acknowledgment of those who hold a different
view;
- such statements do not prevent the consideration on a case-by-case
basis of individuals related to candidature, ordination or commissioning,
and placement, according to proposal 84.3.
--------------------------------------------
(see page 2 for the varied proposal 84)
MINISTRY AND MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITING CHURCH
(Proposal 84 as varied by the Assembly Standing Committee, 24
August 2003)
This wording of Proposal 84 is to be used in all future discussions
on this matter.
“The Assembly Standing Committee, acting with
the powers of the Assembly, resolved:
- To note the following extracts from Assembly minute 00.25.03:
(a) we celebrate that the Church’s faith is in the triune God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that the Church’s work and unity
are built upon the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ;
(b) we affirm the authority of the Scriptures as defined in the Basis
of Union, acknowledging that within the Church there is a range of views
on questions of Biblical interpretation on various matters of Christian
faith and practice;
(c) we affirm we are bound together by Christ, and because we love the
Uniting Church as part of the one holy catholic and apostolic church
we will continue to work together in our diversity as servants of the
living God.
- Noting that:
(i) within the Church people of faith have wrestled with integrity to
interpret Scripture in relation to the issue of Christian sexual ethics
and have on some issues come to mutually exclusive positions;
(ii) membership of the Uniting Church is open to all persons subject
only to the guidance of the Basis of Union, the Constitution, the Regulations
and policies of the Assembly,
call upon members of the Church to seek to live together in peace as
people of faith, notwithstanding differing views in the matter of same
gender relationships.
- To remind Presbyteries of the decisions of previous Assemblies that:
(a) in considering issues related to candidature, ordination or
commissioning for specified ministries, and the placement of persons
in specified ministries, decisions should only be taken on a case
by case basis; and
(b) a decision on the suitability of an applicant or candidate depends
upon a wide range of criteria and may include consideration of the
manner in which the applicant’s or candidate’s sexuality
is expressed.
- To request the Standing Committee:
(a) to provide guidance for Congregations and Presbyteries on how
to conduct discussions on contentious issues in ways that comply with
the Church’s policy on vilification and harassment;
(b) to seek advice for the Church on the legal implications of the
relevant legislation, eg anti discrimination legislation, anti vilification
legislation, etc; and advise councils of the Church of this advice;
and
(c) to amend, on the advice of the Legal Reference Committee, Regulation
2.7.16(l) to make more explicit the role of presbyteries in the placement
of people in specified ministries.”
Notes of the variations made by the Standing Committee
to Proposal 84
- in part 1(a) the words “We celebrate” have been added,
in order to be fully consistent with the resolution of the Ninth Assembly;
- in parts 1(b) and (c) the words “we affirm” have been
added, in order to be fully consistent with the resolution of the Ninth
Assembly;
- in part 2 line 1 “Recognising” has been replaced by “Noting”;
- in part 2 clauses (ii) and (iii) have been deleted;
- in part 2 clause (iv) has been renumbered as clause (ii);
- in part 2 last line “same sex” has been replaced by “same
gender”;
- in part 3 line 1 the words “of the decisions of previous Assemblies”
have been added.
Terence Corkin
Assembly General Secretary
24 August 2003
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