54. MINISTRY IN THE UNITING CHURCH (Assembly Standing Committee)

That the Assembly

1. note the following extracts from Assembly minute 00.25.03

a) 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) 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 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.

2. a) recognise that within the church people of faith have wrestled with integrity to interpret Scripture in relation to the issue of Christian sexual ethics and have come to mutually exclusive positions;
b) recognise that there are members of the church who have reached the conclusion that "celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage" is a faithful Christian standard for Christian sexual ethics;

c) recognise that there are members of the church who have reached the conclusion that "right relationships" as outlined in Uniting Sexuality and Faith is a faithful Christian standard for Christian sexual ethics;

d) commit ourselves to seek to live together in peace as people of faith, notwithstanding our differing views in the matter of same sex relationships.

3. remind Councils and members of the Church that, subject only to the guidance of the Basis of Union, the Regulations and policies of the Church, membership is open to all persons;

4. remind Presbyteries that

a) in considering issues related to candidature, ordination or commissioning for specified ministries; and the placement of persons in specified ministries that decisions should only be taken on a case by case basis;
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;

5. request the Standing Committee to:

a) 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) 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;

c) amend, on the advice of the Legal Reference Committee, the Regulation 2.7.16 (l) to make more explicit the role of presbyteries in the placement of people in specified ministries.

Rationale

The report outlines the basis on which this proposal has been developed. The intention of this proposal is to make clear some matters that have been subject to uncertainty and dispute within the life of the Church.

The Church has had before it at the last two Assemblies proposals that sought to make a decision on the church’s understanding of same sex relationships and the place of a person in the life of the Church. On neither occasion did the Assembly decide to make a decision that would be binding on the whole church. In the process the Assembly made some strong affirmations about human relationships not being exploitative and the foundations of the unity of the Church.

To press for an authoritative decision on the place of persons in same sex relationships in ministry at this Assembly is no more likely to lead to a decision. Once again there is the potential to embroil the Church in debilitating debate and continue the tensions and distractions of the last few years. The Church needs to find a way of living together with different but genuine and faithful views on the issue of same sex relationships in the Church.

The proposal makes statements on membership in the church, the way presbyteries are to exercise their functions in dealing with candidates and placements and provides room for individual conscience and action within a broad respectful community where divergent views are held.

The proposals when taken as a whole make some very important statements about us as a church. They say we are a church that can be humble enough to recognise when it does not have all the answers, is gracious enough to live in fellowship with people of faith who hold differing opinions, and which is hopeful in the power of the Spirit and the gospel to sustain unity in a diverse group of people who seek to move on in the fellowship of Christ.