Statement by Uniting Church National Assembly President, Rev Dr Dean Drayton following Channel 9 Sunday Program

23 November 2003

From: National Assembly of The Uniting Church in Australia

Re. Uniting Church – Sydney Anglican Diocese Relationships

The national President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Dr Dean Drayton, confirmed today that he has spoken with the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr Peter Jensen, regarding Uniting Church and Anglican Diocese of Sydney relations on the issue of the ordination of people in same gender relationships.

The two met last Wednesday, following interviews for the Channel 9 Sunday program, which aired earlier this morning. The program examined the issues of the ordination of homosexual people both in an Australian and international context.

Dr Drayton said the meeting was “most cordial and held in a spirit of Christian fellowship.”

Dr Drayton said: “During the meeting Dr Jensen said he supported the Uniting Church’s recently announced process that will allow congregations and presbyteries to engage in Biblical and theological reflection on the issue, leading to the Brisbane Assembly in 2006.”

“I believe this period of response and investigation is a road map leading us forward. It will enable all Uniting Church presbyteries and congregations to engage the issue at a doctrinal and spiritual level,” Dr Drayton said.

Dr Drayton also said that during the meeting with the Archbishop of Sydney “Dr Jensen acknowledged the importance and place of the Uniting Church in Australia, and urged people not to leave but stay within the Uniting Church.

“In the mean time Archbishop Jensen and I have made commitments to keep in touch about these and other matters as we move forward,” Dr Drayton said.

Media Contact
Kim Cain: 0419 373 123

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