Sexuality is not a civil rights issue for the Uniting Church, its new President, Professor James Haire, said today.

Speaking to Adelaide media on the second day of the church’s triennial national assembly, Professor Haire canvassed the prospect of debate on the issue of the ordination of practising homosexuals.

He said sex had been discussed for a long time in the Uniting Church. "There was a report on sexuality at the Perth assembly three years ago but the issue was not finally settled," he said.

"There are proposals before this meeting in Adelaide to continue the discussion and perhaps move to decisions, but there is no certainty that will happen."

Professor Haire was concerned that people understood the real significance of the discussion.

He said for Christians the presenting issue might be the ordination of practising homosexual people. However, he said, lying behind that was the question of how Christians understood the Bible and, behind that again, how they understood and used theology.

"For the Church," he said, "sexuality is not a civil rights issue.

"The church would support in civil society all non-discriminatory legislation, but this is a problem within the church where the question is ‘How do we take the Bible seriously? How do we understand God? As well as the situation of individuals."

Professor Haire admitted the issue was controversial within the church. "In our traditions we demand transparency and openness. We do everything in public. We like open discussion. This means a rocky road for us. It causes problems in the community. Some people find it threatening.

"But I think people in the broader community have a sneaking respect for the way it is done."

Assembly 2000, SA (July 16, 2000)