For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one … that he might … reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it (Eph 2:14-16).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

The early church faced what they saw as insuperable difficulties. But two groups of people, who thought they could never be one, became one people through Christ.

These two groups found their common faith in Jesus Christ. Our unity is based on our faith in the Triune God – and on our determination to carry out the work of Jesus Christ in our community.

Yesterday the Uniting Church’s national Assembly reaffirmed presbyteries’ role in determining who is suitable for ordination, candidature for ministry or placement in ministry on a case-by-case basis.

The real issue is how we get along with others who believe in Jesus Christ but who hold different points of view.

We made the decision after a great deal of prayer and reflection – and after a gracious debate in which people spoke and listened to each other with respect.

We are a diverse church. We have a whole variety of congregations – largely Anglo-Celtic churches, big city ones, small rural communities, the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, and migrant-ethnic congregations. Our diversity is a blessing from God.

Some media reports have given the impression that Assembly has done something dramatically new. The proposers of the motion stressed that the decision is not really new. It simply clarifies what is already Uniting Church practice.

I urge all members of the Uniting Church – and all people of goodwill – to continue to pray for our church.

I encourage people to read the actual words of the Assembly’s decision – and to read them carefully. I enclose them with this letter. They are also on the Assembly’s website.

The decision affirms the integrity of what you hold – and it invites you to respect the integrity of those viewpoints which are different from yours.

It invites you to discover the depths of what Jesus Christ makes possible as he holds us together as a uniting people.

My prayer for our church is that God will grant healing to those who have been hurt in this debate – and that God will grant us grace to live together in unity as we work to carry forward Christ’s mission in the world.

Grace and peace

Dean Drayton
Assembly President

(Undated document copied from  http://assembly.uca.org.au/assembly2003/newsmedia/stories/pastoralletter.htm )

The decisions of the 10th Assembly mentioned by Dean Drayton can be read here.               TOP

A pastoral letter from the Moderators of the Uniting Church in Australia

18th July 2003

Dear Friends in Christ,

I write this letter, along with the other Moderators of the Uniting Church, following decisions made at this meeting of the National Assembly in relation to sexuality, membership and ministry. The media coverage has generally been sensationalist and, at times, inaccurate.

I am aware that some of our members may be alarmed or angered by what they think has been decided. Therefore it is very important that we convey to the whole church accurate information. Please make this letter and the attached Resolution 84 freely available.

The resolution clarifies decisions made by previous Assemblies:

It reaffirms the position we have always held on church membership.

In relation to ordination the Presbyteries, as always, make decisions on the suitability of candidates on a case by case basis. 

It recognises that parts of our church have as their   basic Christian standard ‘celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage’. Others operate on a Christian standard that has come to be referred to as ‘right relationships’ as described in the 1997 Report - Uniting Sexuality and Faith.

It calls us to continue ‘to live together as people of faith’ with these differences.

The proposal attempts to help the Uniting Church be a place where all its members can participate in the mission and ministry of Christ through the Church, seeking to live up to the high expectations of our Christian calling. I pray this will be your experience.

 A group of Uniting Church leaders will meet in the next fortnight to produce a more detailed resource for our members in relation to these issues.

I urge members to respond to one another with respect and understanding; with the dignity and love due to brothers and sisters in Christ.

And above all pray that the church can witness powerfully to Jesus Christ whose grace is sufficient to hold us together. 

Yours sincerely,

Rev. Alistair Christie
(Moderator, Synod of NSW)

Rev. Alistair Macrae
(Moderator, Synod of Victoria & Tasmania)

Rev. Gemmel Sherwood
(Moderator, Synod of Western Australia)

Rev. Allan Kuchler
(Moderator, Synod of Queensland)

Rev. Lindsay Faulkner
(Moderator, Northern Synod)

Mrs. Jan Trengove
(Moderator, Synod of South Australia)

 Read the President's Pastoral Letter.