Church apologises, but will stand by gay clergy decision
By Kelly Burke, Religious Affairs Writer
August 26, 2003
The Uniting Church in Australia has issued an apology and regret to its members in the wake of continuing resistance from conservative members over the issue of homosexual clergy.
But the church's standing committee, which formulated the statement in Sydney at the weekend, still stands by the resolution of the church's national assembly, which last month formalised the right of each presbytery to decide whether or not to ordain and appoint ministers in committed same-sex relationships.
The standing committee has said in a statement that the church probably could have handled the controversy more sensitively, but it also says the church will not recall the national assembly, as its critics have demanded.
A petition circulated by the conservative organisation Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church in Australia and signed by 20,439 church members was presented to the standing committee on Friday, resulting in the apology and clarification of the resolution.
But the organisation's national chairwoman, Mary Hawkes, said: "Fundamentally what the church has decided is wrong. And this weekend hasn't changed anything."
Lindsay Brash wrote:
G'day All,
Here's one headline I would like to see on a major daily newspaper:
Uniting Church Makes Peace
The Uniting Church's Assembly Standing Committee has taken bold steps to deal with hurt and confusion following a decision at last month's national Assembly. Leaders of the major factions have applauded the move as a valuable step forward.
Last Friday, ASC received a petition of 20000 signatures concerned at the possible ordination of practising homosexuals. While ASC declined to recall the Assembly, as the petition demanded, they took seriously the issues raised and the numerical strength of the petition.
Meanwhile, journalists across the country have apologised for publishing misleading and sensationalist accounts.
[Hey, it's a fantasy, right!]
Kind regards,
Lindsay Brash.
At 09:34 AM 26/08/03 +1000, aleggett wrote:
Why? What are they going to say? UC reverses decision on ordination of Gay?
That would be just as false as last time and we start to look like a wishy
washy church that that bows to whims of those who use blackmail and
intimidation as a means of controlling the councils of the church.
I would prefer if the media stayed out of it all together.
Allan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Stuart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED] com. au'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 9:16 AM
Subject: RE: Amended Resolution 84
I look forward to these changes being splashed across the national papers
;-)
Tom
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