Thursday, 4 December 2003
The Uniting Network applauds the ASCs decisions to provide a range of resources to promote discussion in churches, Presbyteries and Synods around the issues of sexuality and leadership in preparations for the 2006 Assembly.
However, we wonder why the church seems to have no sense of history, over this decision. The Debate over sexuality has been going on now for 21 years in the Uniting Church, and was present in the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational churches prior to union.
There have been lots and lots of reports, all citing various resources from various and diverse perspectives. Weve had a year of listening , retreats , and Assembly, Synod, Presbytery and Congregational debates. The bottom line is, weve done information to death. The broader community moved away from these kind of debates decades ago. This was because there was overwhelming evidence that different sexual orientations were a normal variation not only amongst human beings, but also in other animal species. The American Psychiatric Association ceased to call it a disorder decades ago and it is no longer listed in its diagnostic criteria manual.
The current reaction to resolution 84 shows a high level of uninformed bigotry amongst a small minority of Uniting Church members. This is no time for the church to cave in to ignorance. The Assembly has made a decision to be inclusive, and to stand by its previous decisions, that sexual orientation is not a barrier to membership of the Uniting church, and that all members are expected to exercise their gifts.
One assumes that this includes gifts in various ministries. Is the church willing to say that when a homosexual person is called to ministry that we will not honour that call? Perhaps we need to ask a more fundamental question: Who makes the call?
We acknowledge that some members and congregations of the Uniting church hold strong cultural taboos around sexual orientation issues. Fifty years ago we may very well have said that mainstream Australian society held similar taboos, but we have moved on from that.
The Uniting Network supported resolution 84, because it allowed for a continuation of this diversity of opinion in the same church, while acknowledging that we are one body in Christ. Of course we are hoping the migrant/ ethnic communities and the UATI Congress will be able to find some safe spaces to discuss the bases of these taboos, and to consider ways of promoting justice and equity for all in the church.
Let us not forget that in some parts of the wider church there remain taboos against women being in positions of leadership, something which we in the Uniting Church would not countenance today.
We acknowledge that there are many people who are in the middle ground on this issue, and who may be willing to consider any resources provided. However, the most vocal people with fixed views are unlikely to be moved or changed by any amount of information. They are also most likely to try and sway people in the middle ground to their view. This is all the more reason for the Assembly to stand firm in its decision. It is likely that some ministers who encourage their people to leave the Uniting Church, may already have fundamental differences with the ethos of the Uniting Church generally.
The Uniting Network is not asking people to adopt our views on sexuality. We are asking the church to live with difference and diversity, something which seems fundamental to being part of the Christian community.
Regardless of what resources the Assembly puts into place, one of the most significant "resources" in often overlooked the church and its people. Our research has repeatedly shown that in every parish in Australia, there will be someone (at least one person) who knows or is related to a gay or lesbian person, or someone who is gay or lesbian themselves.
Everyone has an experience of sexuality. If only it was safe for Christians to say honestly what their experience has been. This was attempted throughout the year of listening, although the number of people who participated in this process was quite small. Uniting Church members stories are the resource we would like to see shared, but they are very risky stories to tell when we cannot be certain that the church truly celebrates diversity. All to often Uniting church people believe that that church fears difference and makes judgments
Our experience over the last 21 years suggests that it is pointless pouring more information and resources into the pot, because generally only those who are open and flexible, and who have dealt with their own homophobia are willing to look at the material.
Those with fixed views, who basically hate homosexual people for whatever fearful reason, are simply not prepared to engage in dialogue, or listen to those who have an informed understanding of the nature of human sexuality in the 21st Century. Of course we GLBT people in the church believe that the issue is important because it one example of the central theme of the gospel, inclusion in the realm of God or all people .
However, we would far prefer to get on with looking at other applications of the gospel in the world, and we think especially of the plight of refugees, racism, poverty, inter-faith dialogues, spiritual emptiness and lack of purpose, aboriginal reconciliation and societal fears over the threat of terrorism. However until the church can deal justly with those within its doors, we are forced to challenge and confront this anathema to the Gospel of grace and peace.
Dr Desmond Perry Ms Elizabeth Yeo National Co-convenors Uniting Network
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~unitingnetwork/
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Stephen Webb Media Officer Communications Unit NSW Synod, Uniting Church in Australia Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: +61 2 8267 4308; Mobile: 0423 259 945; Fax: 9267 4716; Web: nsw.uca.org.au/cu/ & insights.uca.org.au/ ------------------ The Communications Unit publishes the monthly magazine Insights, conducts public relations for the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church, and provides a variety of communications services. These include writing, editing, web consultation and development, desktop publishing and graphic design, public relations and advertising. For a consultation or free estimate on your project call the Communications Unit at (02) 8267 4307.
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