9th Assembly proposals 39-40

39. STANDING COMMITTEE RE APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL SECRETARY (report C8)

That the Assembly appoint Terence Corkin as General Secretary of the Assembly for a period of six years from 1 January, 2001.

Rationale:
See report C8.

40. STANDING COMMITTEE RE "MOVING AHEAD WITH DIVERSITY" (report C7)

40.1 adopt the following Statement on Unity and Diversity and commend it to all synods, presbyteries and congregations:

STATEMENT ON UNITY AND DIVERSITY

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;

· 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);

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;

· 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;

We acknowledge
· that issues regarding committed same sex relationships and ordination were unresolved by the Eighth Assembly in 1997 and remain unresolved;

· that the diversity of viewpoints and the lack of resolution of these issues have resulted in tension within the life of the church;

We regret
· that some people have felt hurt or offended because of the church's acceptance of diversity;

· that some people feel excluded from exercising their gifts of faith and ministry in their local congregations;

We reject
· all forms of vilification and harassment within the life of the church;

We pray
· that God will continue to bless and use the diverse gifts of all church members as we seek to work together to make known God's love and salvation.

40.2 (a) request all councils of the church to take steps to ensure that any instance of vilification and harassment is dealt with effectively and consistently;

(b) request the Standing Committee to issue guidelines to assist councils to fulfil this request;

40.3 request the General Secretary to ensure that further steps are taken to raise awareness throughout the church of the Eighth Assembly resolutions (minutes 97.31.5-97.31.13) regarding marriage, marriage preparation, marriage counselling, divorce, re-marriage, sexuality and sexual ethics;

40.4 noting that:

(a) the Basis of Union states:
"The Uniting Church recognises and accepts as her members all who are recognised as members of the uniting Churches at the time of union. Thereafter membership is open to all who are baptized into the Holy Catholic Church in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." [from paragraph 12] and

(b) the Assembly Standing Committee in 1987 resolved to affirm "that all baptised Christians belong in Christ's church and are to be welcomed at his table, regardless of their sexual orientation" [from ASC minute 87.46] and the Assembly in 1997 noted this policy remains in place [Assembly minute 97.31.15(e)],

remind Church Councils and Presbyteries that subject only to the provisions of Constitution clauses 3-7 and Regulations 1.1.1-1.1.16 persons who are homosexual are eligible to be members of the Uniting Church and that all members are expected to exercise their gifts and fulfil their responsibilities in accordance with paragraph 13 of the Basis of Union.

Rationale:
See report C7 in relation to proposals 40.1, 40.2 and 40.3.

Standing Committee decided in May to bring a proposal to clarify the church's policy on church membership in relation to gay and lesbian people for two reasons:
· participants in the national diversity retreat gave strong support to such a proposal, and it was included in the statement of the national retreat;
· there is need for the Assembly to provide clarification, in light of reports from gay and lesbian people of their exclusion from church membership apparently on the sole ground of their sexuality.

The Basis of Union states the position of the Uniting Church on membership in paragraph 12, in the words quoted in the proposal. Constitution clauses 3, 5, 6 and 7 state the forms of church membership. Regulations 1.1.1 - 1.1.16 state the procedures and requirements involved in admission to the three forms of membership of the Church. In all these authoritative statements about church membership, there is nothing which prevents gay and lesbian people from being admitted to membership. The Standing Committee's 1987 resolution expresses and supports this understanding, and the 1997 Assembly noted that the Standing Committee resolution remains in place as Church policy.

Admission to church membership normally requires the approval of the Church Council. In considering candidates for confirmed membership the Church Council is entitled to take into account facts about the candidates' Christian faith and discipline. A Church Council has the right to reject a candidate if, after careful and prayerful consideration, they are concerned that aspects of the candidate's faith and discipline render the candidate unsuitable for confirmed membership (cf. Constitution clause 6 and Regulation 1.1.9). But the fact that a candidate is gay or lesbian is not grounds for disapproval of their request for admission to membership. Thus proposal 40.4 reminds the Church that this is Church policy.

There are expectations on all members of the Church in terms of their faith and life and their participation in the life of the Church. Basis of Union paragraph 13 states that every member is gifted by God for service in and through Christ's church. In reminding the Church of our policy on membership it is appropriate to refer also to the Church's expectation of its members.

Proposal 40.4 is addressed both to Church Councils and to Presbyteries, because Presbyteries have oversight of pastoral charges and of Ministers and have specific functions in relation to appeals against termination of membership.