Assembly '97 News Home page Documents next story		Secret Assembly Business blocks bridge to homosexuals Part the fourth Just when things were going swimmingly and it looked liked there might be some forward movement, at least by agreement, the Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and representatives from migrant/ethnic congregations made statements. SEXUALITY TASK GROUP REPORT — STATEMENT BY CONGRESS The UAICC wishes to acknowledge the thoughtful, dedicated work of the TO on Sexuality and thank each of the members for their contributions. We strongly endorse the findings and faith statements for most of the report and recommendations. Our Concern in the main is centred around the section dealing with Homosexual lifestyles. The UAICC would like to make the following comments: There is a need to separate out justice issues from the moral question in respect of homosexuality. We believe that both the UAICC and UCA must throw its full weight against all forms of injustice experienced by those practising a homosexual lifestyle. However, the moral question as to whether homosexual practice is a 'sin' or not needs to be separated from questions of social discrimination and injustice. 2. Western culture in the main, does not attribute importance to non-rational knowledge or the concept of the supernatural and spiritual. Current Western culture is heavily focused on scientific rationalism, individualism and materialism, together with their associated value systems. Much of the values of today's Australian society, it seems, are determined largely by consumer organisations and the advertising world, All of the latter forces pay little heed to the values presented by Christ in his teaching and those of the early Church and totally ignores indigenous traditional cultural practice and social values. We note that reference has been made in the ATG on Sexuality's Report to five traditionally accepted sources for determining God's will in matter of faith, namely: Scripture Church tradition Reason Experience Culture The UAICC believes that its position if determined by these five criteria, would lead it to vote against the practice of homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle for leadership of its churches. It believes: · that scripture, in the main, points in this direction · that church tradition has also supported this position · that logic, reason and experience suggests that the concept of male and female sexual relationships should continue to be the basis of society · that the widespread cultural opposition to homosexuality in Aboriginal traditional life. developed over 40,000 years, also supports this view As a consequence of the UAICC obligations under traditional culture and social practices we humbly call on the Assembly Task Group to fall from Proposals 10 to 13. STATEMENT TO ASSEMBLY from Migrant-ethnic representatives Preamble I We appreciate the work of the Task Group on Sexuality. They have served the Church well on a difficult assignment. II We adhere to the ecumenical principle * In matters agreed, unity; * In matters of difference, liberty; * In all things, charity. Therefore we offer these comments and suggestions in a spirit of unity and of love for the Uniting Church. III While there have been suggestions of some congregations separating from the Uniting Church, it is the view of most of us that such separation must be avoided. Comments 1. Although the Uniting Church claims to be and is a multicultural church, the Task Group was not successful in involving migrant-ethnic people to any significant extent in their deliberations. 2. Decisions of the Assembly on sexuality, as on other issues, will affect the life and mission of the migrant-ethnic congregations. It is not correct, then, to say that the sexuality debate is of no concern to migrant-ethnic people. Comments to the effect that the sexuality debate is for the mainstream" of the Uniting Church imply that we are outside the mainstream, and we reject this idea. 3. We want the Assembly to know that the sexuality debate has caused tensions in migrant-ethnic congregations, and some proposals presently before the Assembly have the potential to cause even greater tension. 4. As sexuality relates to family and the nature of communities, the migrant-ethnic people, with their particular cultural and family patterns, have some different approaches to offer to the whole Uniting Church. The sexuality debate involves the issue of the use of Scripture, and we wish to engage with the rest of the Church in the consideration of the right use of Scripture. Proposals 1. We recommend that no major decisions on (homo)sexuality be made at this Assembly, for two reasons: a) More time is needed, particularly in the migrant-ethnic communities. The Western desire for quick decisions may cause damage in this instance. b) Majorities are not always right. and the process of discerning God's will needs more prayer, reflection and discussion. 2. When further work is done on sexuality in the name of the Assembly, the role of migrant-ethnic representatives need careful consideration. A truly multicultural church should act in a multicultural way. ********************************************

"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