At the 10th Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, issues of sexuality were again on the agenda.  The Assembly Standing Committee presented a report and a set of proposals that attempt to clearly define the Church's position regarding homosexuality.  Several amendments were made to the ASC proposals and the facilition group brought Proposal 84 to the Assembly for voting.   The proposal was pass, with a large maojority vote.  The press reported non-factual and misleading information, giving false information about the Church and its decisions.  Frequently, the decisions of the UCA and recent events within parts of the Anglican Church were conflated.  Much of the opinion that was quoted came from conservative, evangelical sources, who were opposed to the resolution, causing fear and misinformed reaction to the resolution.

In response, the President of the UCA, Rev. Dr. Dean Drayton issued a pastoral letter to the Church to explain the decisions of the Church. The Moderators of the UCA also published a joint pastoral letter. These can be read here.  A second letter from the President has been issued to answer emails that he has received since the Assembly.  A Copy is available here.

Our Editorial comment:
In a call for unity, Dean Drayton said, "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."  It is clear that the Church made no new dramatic changes in its policy.  The Assembly's decisions do not represent a huge step forward for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Christians. The Church did, however, seek to address some legal issues and those decisions are yet to be made by the Assembly Standing Committee. 

The Moderators have said that the resolution "clarifies decisions made by previous Assemblies" so it is clear that the resolutions introduce very little that is new.  There is a new direction, of course, for while the resolution, in the words of the Moderators, "reaffirms the position we have always held on church membership" it also provides for instruments of guidance to be developed in relation to implementation of the Church's policy on vilification and harassment and discussing contentious issues.  This is timely and welcome news, indeed. 

Acknowledgement was also given to the fact that not all persons and groups within the Church follow the same ethical standards.  By recognising that two ethical standards are held among members, the Assembly has witnessed to a living diversity.  Neither of the acknowledged ethical standards has been adopted as doctrine by the Church, and the Church has been called "to seek to live together in peace as people of faith, notwithstanding differing view in the matter of same sex relationships."  This sits well with a church that is multi-cultural and diverse in Christian faith and practice, while still acknowledging that we are "bound together by Christ" [03.84.1(c)].

The resolution also raised heuristic issues relating to the "explicit role of presbyteries in the placement of people in specified ministries"  [see 03.84.4(c)]. Those roles and some legal issues relating to discrimination, vilification and harassment are yet to be defined.

Dean Drayton also said, "The real issue is how we get along with others who believe in Jesus Christ but who hold different points of view."

Some members of the UCA appear to have come to a position in which they feel that they cannot continue to live in a church that embraces the diversity of which the President speaks and the Assembly upholds.  However, the Church stands by its prior decisions and calls us into greater unity without a diminished diversity. 

Full text of Resolution 84

Wal Anderson
18/07/03
Web Editor.

Friends of Unity has issued two press releases in relation to Resolution 84. 
At its recent Assembly meeting the Uniting Church in Australia acknowledged two different ethical standards held by its members in relation to sexual relationships.  One is summed up in the phrase "Celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage." The other is "Right Relationship." The Assembly did not endorse either ethical standard.

Friends of Unity, a group within the Uniting Church in South Australia and affiliated nationally, with Uniting Network, holds to the ethic of "Right Relationship" - ... read more here.

The Web site of the national Assembly provides historical background and commentaries on resolution 84 National Assembly.  An intersting set of Questions and Answers is given, anticipating FAQs or queries.  Of the questions asked, few cover the range of questions that FoU may ask, for it appears that only FAQs of the conservative right wing are considered.  We have a different set of questions to ask.  For example, 

1. Can a presbytery reject a call or placement in a case where a congregation's decision is to call a particular gay or lesbian minister?
2. Can a presbytery impose its ethical standards on a congregation, where the congregation has opinion different to that of the presbytery?  For example, if a congregation follows the ethical standard of "right relationship", can a presbytery impose a contrary standard based on "cisafim"?
3. Where congregations, presbyteries and synods have previously decided in principle, to bar the call or placement of gay and lesbain ministers, do those decisions stand?  Who adjudicates such decisions and when?

The decision of the Tenth Assembly to support the World Council of Churches'  Decade to Overcome Violence is welcomed with praise.  The set of commitments within the decision provide a sharp contrast to the behaviour of many people and groups following the Tenth Assembly's adoption of Resolution 84.  It is hoped that the Church can find continuity in its practices, such that this commitment does not fail. 

"Working for peace, justice, and reconciliation at all levels- local, regional, and global" commits the Church to looking to its own home ground as well as to the wider world.  Our own "domestic violence" is considerable at this time, as local and regional groups within the Church default from the call to peace within Resolution 84 and do violence to the Church through threats of withdrawing funding and good will, inciting division and continuing to erect barriers of distinction among members of the Church.  Homophobia is a form of violence that works against peace, justice and reconciliation.

When one continues to denigrate gay and lesbian persons, violence is done against them.

When one seeks to place limits on membership and participation and bar gay and lesbian persons from the Church, violence is done.

When one threatens the Church with financial hardship, division and schismatic practice, violence is done.

When homophobia exists, violence is done.

When gay and lesbian persons are made to feel rejected, despised, hated or evil, violence is done.

We know well that such violence has lead to suicide and to attacks upon persons. 

A commitment to overcoming violence is over due and must be undertaken in all aspects of the Church's life, and especially with regard to issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, marriage, inter-personal relationships, socio-economic status and religious differences. 

We welcome the UCA commitment to overcoming violence.

Uniting Network News   External link.

Moderator Alistair Mcrae (Vic-Tas Synod) responds to Gordon Moyes' article, in The Age. External link.

"Nothing and Everything Has Changed"
Comments on Resolution 84 by Rosemary Hudson Miller, WA Synod Social Jusrice Consultant. External Link.

"An Affirmation"
Comments on Resolution 84 by Wal Anderson and Malcolm Cowan.