One Man's Web - Sexuality

Being Christian in the Uniting Church

One Man's Web
Posted... 23-8-2003

A decade ago, I found myself wondering why I was so impassioned about gay and lesbian rights in the Uniting Church. We were in the midst of controversy because a well respected and competent youth worker had "outed" himself, and later, sought ordination. I had the task of presenting some information for our parish elders on this issue. I found it consumed me. Why? Because I realised that if the conservative forces who wished to keep gay and lesbian people out of the church won, I would be forced to leave to.

This was no over-reaction. As I remember it, a proposal circulated to force clergy who supported gays out of the church. It was not just an issue of gay and lesbian people, but an issue of agreeing to work with those who were different. This is still the key issue. Some ten years later, after multiple Synods and Assemblies, Assembly 2003 accepted that there are presently irreconcilably different views on sexuality in the church- views held with integrity- and committed us to work together despite this. Some have categorically refused to do this. They are saying the issue is about homosexual people and holiness and obedience to God's will for the church. It seems to me to be about refusing to accept those who are different and refusing to accept that the church is for all people, not just people who agree with them. This assessment is, of course, highly offensive to many of those people, who are acting out of their best understanding.

However, our discipleship demands of us that we understand where stand, and that we start from there to determine how we will work together. Although there is the danger of becoming entrenched in a position by further studying it, I would far rather work with someone who had thoroughly worked out what they believed and been as honest with themselves as they are able. I will also be much fairer to that person if I am not operating on half formed ideas fuelled by fear and prejudice.

It is imperative to address this issue. It is a 'test case' of huge importance, because it deals with issues of sexuality that are at the guts of our being and cut across and can sabotage other aspects of relationship, and destroy a church. I am aware of people who have a mutual (com)passion for justice, who I admire greatly, who would be natural allies and friends, who are absolutely divided by this issue. I find myself becoming contemptuous of people I used to like, which distresses me.

The church offers society a wonderful place of acceptance for all people. I find I am losing my only home, and my family. Will I choose my family with all its pain and oddities, or will I choose to be right, and become part of a political faction? It is reported that Mary Hawkes is threatening tens of thousands of people will leave the church if Assembly Standing Committee does not reverse the decision of Assembly this weekend. We are all hurting, because what is at risk finally, is not our doctrinal purity, but our family and friends and our belonging.

These few pages list some of the resources I have seen. I pray they may be useful. And I pray you forgive my anger and hurt where it no doubt shines through... yet I will not apologise... for even if you find me wrong, you need to hear how the other part of the church hurts.

Grace and Peace
Rev Andrew Prior
Synod of South Australia August 23 2003

Sexuality in the Uniting Church

A timeline

A Study on Sexuality

This study was written in 1990. One of the tragedies of this whole debate is that even after almost 15 years, much of what it contains is still news to many members of the church!

+ What is going on?
Is The UCA Going Soft On Morals?
+ What Does Homosexual Actually Mean?
+ How Do We Read The Bible To Make Decisions?
+ What Does The Bible Say About Homosexuality?
+ What has The Church Said Historically About Homosexuality?
+ What Is The Church's Present Experience Of Homosexual People?
+ What Do Homosexual People Say About Themselves, And Their Experience Of God
+ What Does The Bible Say About Relationships
+What Does God Want Us To Do?
+A Personal Reflection

Personal Commentary

A Personal Postscript This was written well after the original study, but is the concluding part.

Why So much Passion? (Late 1990's)
Common Fallacies Assembly was not stacked etc

A Con job... It's not about leadership October 19 2003

The New Circumcision It's not about theology 9-11-2003

Staying Christian People are not defined by an issue... unfinished... Posted 30-08-2003

Biblical/Theological Studies

Background Theology The study I am linking to here does not directly touch on sexuality issues at all. However, it gives a key insight into much of the theological underpinning of this website. It also illustrates where some anti-homosexual positions are coming from.

Homosexuality and the Bible Dr Walter Wink

A Sexual Ethic? The essence of Dr Wink's article above, which we need to consider in the Uniting Church

Documents

EMU and the Polarisation of the Church "Evangelical" Members of the Uniting Church.

Where we were at in 1997

Uniting Sexuality and Faith (pdf file 1997)

Where we were at in 2000

Validity and Discrimination

Assembly 2000 + Commentary
July 2003

The Original Proposal 84 now superseded

Questions on Proposal 84 which accompanied the release of the proposal

Assembly Standing Committee's Supplementary Report to Assembly 2003