SA SYNOD October 2003
Pastoral Letter / SA Synod Ministry, Membership and Sexuality Resolution, October 2003.
26/10: Pastoral letter regarding Synod 2003 from Moderator Rev Dr Graham Humphris
Dear Friends
Over the last five days it has been very evident that Synod 2003 has
been covered in prayer. We have really appreciated the prayers of
thousands of people across our state and nation.
The 400 or so of us who gathered made a number of significant decisions
for the mission of our church. These included faith sharing
initiatives, missional use of property and the involvement of young
people in the church. Further information on these and many other
decisions is on the Synod Website and will be in the November New Times.
We also made several important decisions on Membership, Ministry and
Sexuality. These are referred to in the unconfirmed minutes attached to
this letter. As we discerned the will of God together, I am pleased to
report our conversations were filled with grace and respect. It was
clear we all shared a deep concern for one another and a strong desire
for our church to be effective in mission.
Throughout the Synod meeting we were constantly reminded of the theme,
"Go and make disciples". I am excited about the adventure ahead for our
church as we together seek to fulfil Jesus’ command.
Once again, thank you for your prayerful support.
Please continue to pray.
Rev Dr Graham Humphris, 23 October, 2003
EXTRACT FROM THE UNCONFIRMED MINUTES - MINISTRY, MEMBERSHIP AND SEXUALITY RESOLUTIONS - OCTOBER 2003
It was agreed that the Synod:
1. Acknowledge the high level of anguish and distress experienced and
expressed by Ministers and people within the Uniting Church as they
have grappled with the issues and outcomes arising from Assembly
Resolution 84. This high level of anguish has been exacerbated by:
a. a lack of information about the proposals prior to Assembly;
b. the proposals not being referred to Congregations and Presbyteries;
c. the implications of the proposals not being adequately conveyed to members of the Church;
d. what seems to some people to be a denial by the
Assembly of the ongoing anguish and concern within the Church.
2. Recognise that among the members of this Synod and the Church there are:
a. some who believe that the anguish can only be
ended with a statement that opposes the ordination of people in same
gender relationships;
b. some who feel that Resolution 84 was a proper
expression of the Uniting Church’s position on leadership and sexuality;
c. some who struggle with the issue and believe we
must try to live together in ministry and mission without trying to
make further doctrinal statements at this time;
d. some who struggle to remain within the Uniting Church.
3. Acknowledge ongoing concern within the Church about:
a. the lack of information and the spread of
misinformation leading up to and arising from the Assembly decision;
b. unhelpful and ungracious comments by some people;
c. some people feeling alienated from and within the Uniting Church;
d. the way this issue has distracted the Church from its mission.
4. Request the Council of Synod to consider how the Synod might
financially support Congregations of the Uniting Church which are
impacted financially because of Resolution 84, and to do this on a case
by case basis as identified by Presbyteries.
5. Request the Council of Synod to provide pastoral support for Ministers, leaders and members as it deems appropriate.
6. Recognising that for some there is conflict between the integrity of
their convictions and the requirements of the Code of Ethics, 3.1
Relationships with Colleagues, which requires that they ‘respect the
call and placements of other Ministers’,
a. call upon all Ministers to conduct themselves in
a way that expresses Christian community and commitment to rational
debate based on evidence and argument, not personal attacks and mere
assertion of opinion. (Code of Ethics 3.3(c)).
b. also ask Congregations to conduct themselves in ways that reflect the Code of Ethics for Ministers.
c. ask the Assembly Standing Committee for clarification on the obligation of Ministers in such conflict.
7. In light of:
a. the unforseen response to and significant fallout from Assembly Resolution 84;
b. a pastoral concern for the whole Church;
c. the need to encourage the Church to focus on God’s mission;
d. a desire to maintain the unity of the Church;
strongly urge the Assembly Standing Committee to
refer Resolution 84 to other Councils of the Church to determine their
responses.
8. Suggest that Congregations, Faith Communities and Presbyteries be
the Councils from which the Assembly Standing Committee seeks responses
- such responses to be provided by the last meeting of the Assembly
Standing Committee in 2004.
9. Encourage and facilitate the use of appropriate educational
resources for Ministers, Members, Congregations and Presbyteries
regarding sexual ethics and UC polity.
10.
a. Request the Council of Synod to engage in
conversation with Congregations and Presbyteries who are deeply
concerned about issues surrounding Resolution 84, to explore ways
forward for them to remain within the Uniting Church. Such exploration
to include the possibility of a non-geographic Presbytery or some
similar structure.
b. Request the Council of Synod to report the outcome of these conversations to the next Synod.
UAICC STATEMENT
It was agreed that the Synod include the whole text of the statement
made by UAICC (SA) Regional Committee in the minutes as follows:
"We, the members of UAICC (SA) Regional Committee assert that, as we
understand the gospel and our cultural beliefs, we cannot accept same
sex relationships in leadership positions in the Uniting Church.
We, the members of the UAICC (SA) Regional Committee reaffirm the
statements made by Congress at the National Assembly held in July, 2003.
We have a deep concern that the wider church respect our decision,
cultural integrity and who we are, and we do not wish to be drawn in or
used in further debate on this issue.
We draw attention to the Basis of Union in paragraph two, that the Uniting Church
"…believes that Christians in Australia are called to bear witness to a
unity of faith and life in Christ which transcends cultural and
economic, national and racial boundaries …..recognising that there are
many who have different cultural, economic and racial identities…. It
also accepts the particular challenge to witness with Aboriginal people
who have been dispossessed by our occupation and disadvantaged by our
policies and activities as a nation" [and as a church].
We are saddened that the Uniting Church is willing to put at risk the covenantal relationship with UAICC (SA)."
© Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of South Australia 2001, 2002
http://www.sa.uca.org.au/pages/events/eupdate031023/
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