Home page Assembly '97 Documents News		Pastoral letter from the Queensland Moderator and an indication where the Queensland Synod is at. Moderator's Pastoral Letter to the Church, 14-7-97 Dear friends in Christ, The National Assembly of the Uniting Church, held in Perth over the past week, was the subject of unprecedented interest, both from within and beyond the church. As you know, this was due principally to the fact that the meeting was considering issues of human sexuality and debating the recommendations of the Task Group on Sexuality appointed by the 1991 Assembly. My primary purpose in writing is to inform you of the decisions of the Assembly and the significance of these for our situation here in Queensland. I do so, conscious of the concerns which have been expressed by many people within our Synod since the release of the Interim Report and following the publication earlier this year of "Uniting Sexuality and Faith". In order that you can be as fully informed as possible, I am sending with this letter copies of the resolutions of the Assembly and those adopted by our own Synod in 1991 and 1996. You will see that the Assembly approved a number of statements dealing with sexuality, relationships, marriage and divorce, but was unable to come to any conclusions on the recommendations dealing with matters relating to homosexual orientation and practice. It was clear that there were significantly differing convictions on these issues within the membership of the Assembly. However, as the Assembly did not adopt any resolutions that were in direct conflict with the decisions of our own Synod, we are now bound in Queensland by the Synod resolutions of 1991 and 1996. That is why a copy of those resolutions has been included with this letter. It must be understood, however, that the Assembly could, at some future time, make decisions in regard to these matters which would be binding on the Synods and Presbyteries. In the meantime, as you will see from the Assembly resolutions, three of our former Presidents are going to make recommendations to the Assembly Standing Committee as to how best to facilitate a continuing conversation on those issues which remained unresolved at the end of the Assembly meeting.. The Assembly dealt with many other matters of significance, not least to major changes in the structure and oversight of congregations. Information on these decisions will be communicated to you all in the coming weeks. A copy of a Statement to the Church issued at the end of the Assembly has been sent to all parishes and this will convey to you something of the spirit of the Assembly and the wide range of issues that were considered. The next issue of "Journey" will also include articles on the Assembly. As the situation in Queensland in regard to "Uniting Sexuality and Faith" is now clarified, it is my hope and prayer that as a whole church we will give our attention to the main reason for our existence. Our worship, witness and service in the name of Christ should be the focus of our life together. We are all called to confess Christ crucified and be his faithful servants. Let us now give our time and energy to that primary calling, never forgetting that we are to welcome in Christ's name all those who come seeking the fellowship of christians and a caring community within which to worship. Grace and peace, David Pitman, Moderator, Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church. Queensland's Proposal to the Eighth Assembly 25. SEXUALITY (Synod of Queensland) 25.1 That the Assembly affirm (a) that Christ calls and empowers us to be celibate in singleness and faithful in marriage; (b) that homosexual practice is contrary to the teaching of Scripture which has been affirmed by the church historically and ecumenically; and 25.2 that the Assembly determine (a) that self-avowed, practising homosexuals are not to be accepted as candidates, settled in designated ministries, or appointed to any positions of leadership; (b) that ceremonies that celebrate homosexual relationships shall not be conducted by Ministers of the Uniting Church, nor held in Uniting Churches. Rationale The Assembly Task Group on Sexuality seeks "to present a framework to assist the church and its members to make faithful decisions with regard to sexuality". While no brief statement or series of statements can embody such a framework in its entirety, the notices of motion from the Queensland Synod try to uphold some of the essential moral anchors of such a framework. The 1996 Synod believed that any ethical framework emanating from the Assembly's consideration of sexuality needed to contain unequivocal moral parameters in the areas of faithful relationship, leadership in the church, and the responsible pastoring of others. Whether the moral boundaries are called "right relationships" or "traditional morality", there need to be certain moral norms that emerge from a community of faith obedient to the Gospel. A community without such norms quickly loses sight of its purpose and identity. These notices of motion express the common mind of the Synod at this point in the church's history.

"The Uniting Church affirms that it belongs to the people of GOD on the way to the promised end." Basis of Union, Revised edition published 1992