August 25, 2003

Standing Committee responds to church debate on Proposal 84

The Uniting Church's Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) met over the past weekend to consider issues arising from the 10th Assembly in Melbourne in July.

At the meeting the ASC received petitions from church members and 'attendees' concerning resolution 84. In response (full text below) to widespread debate within the church, of which the petition was a part, the ASC:

§ Apologised to members and ministers that more was not done to make them aware in advance of the Tenth Assembly that matters of membership, ministry and sexuality would be considered by the Assembly;

§ Acknowledged with regret that the way proposal 84 was reported to the church had caused suffering, hurt, pain confusion;

§ Clarified proposal 84 by deleting two paragraphs from the original proposal which referred to two sexual ethics held by members in the church ('Celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage' and 'Right relationships'). ASC said these were used to illustrate some differing views held by church members and neither of them has ever been endorsed by Assembly;

§ Rejected assertions that the concept of 'Right relationships' was adopted by the Assembly;

§ Maintained that each presbytery has the right and responsibility to ordain or place people in ministry on a case by case basis - as has always been the case in the Uniting Church;

§ Said each congregation and church council can state a particular sexual ethic after prayerful consideration and study of the Scriptures - provided there is respect and acknowledgment for those who hold different views and DOES NOT prevent consideration of candidates for ministry on a case by case basis;

§ Declined to recall Assembly, as the Assembly did not endorse or approve 'Right relationships' and therefore did not introduce "new policy for the church"; (see clarification above)

§ Reminded the church it has already agreed to important matters in the areas of marriage, divorce, re-marriage, sexual ethics and that the church has adopted a Code of Ethics and Ministry Practice giving clear guidance for appropriate conduct and accountability for ministers.

The President of the Uniting Church, Rev Dr Dean Drayton said, "The ASC has heard and apologised for the hurt and confusion from people because adequate notice was not given that the Assembly would be considering sexuality issues.

"We have worked hard to clarify the resolution passed by the Assembly by deleting references to 'Celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage' and 'Right relationships'. Assembly has never endorsed either position.

" The ASC gave an extensive hearing to the members of our church on this matter, and ask them to carefully consider our response.

"This kind of respectful listening to each other is vital as we continue on together."

ASC DECISIONS ON MEMBERSHIP, MINISTRY AND SEXUALITY
(in light of concerns expressed on Assembly proposal 84)

The Assembly Standing Committee joyfully acknowledges that:
"The Church as the fellowship of the Holy Spirit confesses Jesus as Lord over its own life; it also confesses that Jesus is Head over all things, the beginning of a new creation, of a new humanity." (Basis of Union, para 3)

We further gratefully acknowledge that:
"in his own strange way Christ constitutes, rules and renews [us] as his Church." (Basis of Union, para 4)

Having prayerfully met in retreat from 22 to 24 August 2003, seeking God's will and believing this to be God's guidance, we resolved that the Assembly Standing Committee:

STATEMENT OF APOLOGY AND REGRET

1. Acknowledges with regret that proposal 84 and the way it was reported has evoked depths of shared suffering among members of the Church, leading to many members experiencing pain, hurt confusion and anger.

2. Apologises to members and ministers that more was not done to make them aware in advance of the Tenth Assembly that matters of membership, ministry and sexuality would be considered by the Assembly.

CLARIFYING PROPOSAL 84

3. (a) Notes that "Celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage" and "Right relationships" referred to in parts 2(ii) and (iii) of proposal 84 were intended to illustrate some differing views held by church members and have never been endorsed or approved by the Assembly or its Standing Committee.

(b) Celebrates that in the Uniting Church we have already agreed on and affirmed important matters regarding marriage, marriage preparation, marriage counseling, divorce, re-marriage, sexuality and sexual ethics (Assembly minutes 97.31.5-97.31.13) and we have adopted the Code of Ethics and Ministry Practice which gives clear guidance about the appropriate conduct and accountability of ministers.

4. In order to clarify the meaning of proposal 84 in accordance with the rationale presented to the Assembly, determines to act under its powers stated in Constitution clause 47 and Regulation 3.6.26 to vary proposal 84 as attached.

5. Informs the Church that congregations and councils of the Church who wish to state a sexual ethic may elect to do so after prayerful consideration and study of the Scriptures providing that
· there is respect for and acknowledgment of those who hold a different view;
· such statements do not prevent the consideration on a case-by-case basis of individuals related to candidature, ordination or commissioning, and placement, according to proposal 84.3.

MINISTRY AND MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITING CHURCH
(Proposal 84 as varied by the Assembly Standing Committee, 24 August 2003)

"The Assembly Standing Committee, acting with the powers of the Assembly, resolved:

1. To note the following extracts from Assembly minute 00.25.03:
(a) we celebrate that the Church's faith is in the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that the Church's work and unity are built upon the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ;
(b) we affirm the authority of the Scriptures as defined in the Basis of Union, acknowledging that within the Church there is a range of views on questions of Biblical interpretation on various matters of Christian faith and practice;
(c) we affirm we are bound together by Christ, and because we love the Uniting Church as part of the one holy catholic and apostolic church we will continue to work together in our diversity as servants of the living God.

2. Noting that:
(i) within the Church people of faith have wrestled with integrity to interpret Scripture in relation to the issue of Christian sexual ethics and have on some issues come to mutually exclusive positions;
(ii) membership of the Uniting Church is open to all persons subject only to the guidance of the Basis of Union, the Constitution, the Regulations and policies of the Assembly,
to call upon members of the Church to seek to live together in peace as people of faith, notwithstanding differing views in the matter of same gender relationships.

3. To remind Presbyteries of the decisions of previous Assemblies that:
(a) in considering issues related to candidature, ordination or commissioning for specified ministries, and the placement of persons in specified ministries, decisions should only be taken on a case by case basis; and
(b) a decision on the suitability of an applicant or candidate depends upon a wide range of criteria and may include consideration of the manner in which the applicant's or candidate's sexuality is expressed.

4. To request the Standing Committee:
(a) to provide guidance for Congregations and Presbyteries on how to conduct discussions on contentious issues in ways that comply with the Church's policy on vilification and harassment;
(b) to seek advice for the Church on the legal implications of the relevant legislation, eg anti discrimination legislation, anti vilification legislation, etc; and advise councils of the Church of this advice; and
(c) to amend, on the advice of the Legal Reference Committee, Regulation 2.7.16(l) to make more explicit the role of presbyteries in the placement of people in specified ministries."

Notes of the variations made by the Standing Committee to Proposal 84
· in part 1(a) the words "We celebrate" have been added, in order to be fully consistent with the resolution of the Ninth Assembly;
· in parts 1(b) and (c) the words "we affirm" have been added, in order to be fully consistent with the resolution of the Ninth Assembly;
· in part 2 line 1 "Recognising" has been replaced by "Noting";
· in part 2 clauses (ii) and (iii) have been deleted;
· in part 2 part (iv) has been renumbered as part (ii);
· in part 2 last line "same sex" has been replaced by "same gender";
· in part 3 line 1 the words "of the decisions of previous Assemblies" have been added.

Terence Corkin, Assembly General Secretary
24 August 2003

RESPONSE TO PETITION

The Standing Committee resolved to:

1. (a) Receive the petitions signed by approximately 24,000 members and "attendees" and acknowledge with deep regret their "deep spiritual and emotional dismay and concern";

(b) advise the signatories of the petitions of Standing Committee's decisions in relation to Proposal 84;

(c) strongly reject assertions within the petitions and affirm that:
(i) the concept of "Right relationships" was neither adopted nor recognised by the Assembly;
(ii) the Assembly has not placed the Uniting Church outside of the One , Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church;
(iii) the Assembly has acted faithfully in accordance with the Basis of Union;
(iv) the leadership of the Assembly did not mislead the Assembly;
(v) those who adhere to resolution 84 have not separated themselves from the Uniting Church.

2. Acknowledge the request to recall the Assembly for the purpose of referring proposal 84 for concurrence and engaging in a service of repentance. The ASC declines to accede to this request, noting the following:
(i) the clarification offered by the ASC of Proposal 84, in particular that the 10th Assembly did not endorse or approve "right relationships";
(ii) proposal 84 did not introduce new policy for the Church;
(iii) councils of the Church are free to discuss matters of ministry, membership and sexuality and to bring proposals to other councils of the Church as appropriate.