A Time line of the Debate
Much of this detail has been gained from Uniting Network

Pre Uniting Church
The uniting churches support the decriminalisation of male homosexuality. For example:
1970 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church made a statement in favour of homosexual law reform.
1972 General Conference of the Methodist Church made a statement in favour of homosexual law reform.

The Uniting Church is formed
22 June, 1977
The Congregational Union of Australasia, the Methodist Church of Australasia and part of the Presbyterian Church of Australia form the Uniting Church in Australia.

1979
The Victorian Division of Social Justice set up a Task Group on Homosexuality.

1981
A candidate for ordination in the Yarra Valley Presbytery in Victoria told the Students Committee that she was living in a lesbian relationship. The Students Committee asked the Assembly Standing Committee (ASC) for guidance.

1982
The Assembly Commission on Social Responsibility endorsed Sexuality: A gift from God, written by Rev. Chris Budden. The book suggested that the Church stop talking about homosexual people and talk to them. It also questioned if homosexual people must remain celibate.
March: ASC advised Yarra Valley Presbytery ‘that in its view the sexual orientation of a candidate is not and has not been in itself a bar to ordination. A decision on the suitability of a candidate may of course depend among other things on the manner in which his or her sexuality is expressed.’ (82.12)
August: On the basis of this advice the Yarra Valley Students Committee recommended the candidate for ordination. The Presbytery refered the matter to the Victorian Synod Standing Committee, which requested that the ASC reconsider.
September: The ASC re-affirmed resolution 81.12, explaining this in an expanded statement. (82.101)

1983
March: In response to concerns raised about its position on homosexuality ASC setsup a committee to ‘undertake a study of the nature of homosexuality’.

1984
March: Interim report of the Committee on Homosexuality and the Church received by ASC. The Committee was asked to consider whether homosexuals can be members of the UCA.

1985
Homosexuality and the Church released. The Committee stated that homosexuality should not in and of itself make a person ineligible for membership, but was divided on the question of ordination.  July: A motion to establish that ‘celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage’ is the standard of the Uniting Church in Australia in sexual ethics was presented to the Assembly. After debate, the Assembly agreed that the question not be put. 

1986
500 responses to Homosexuality and the Church were received.

1987
Homosexuality and the Church: Responses,  released.
The ASC ‘affirmed that all baptised Christians belong in Christ’s church and are to be welcomed at his table, regardless of their sexual orientation’. (87.46)

1988
A second motion to establish that ‘celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage’ is the standard of the Uniting Church in Australia was presented to the Assembly. Again, after debate, the previous question is moved.

1990
April: In an article in New Times, the newspaper of the South Australian Synod, a youth worker and member of the Synod Standing Committee said that through faith he has ‘dared to think that God might accept me for being "gay".’
June: The South Australian Synod Standing Committee was asked: ‘Is it appropriate for the CYYA (Children, Youth and Young Adults department) to consider the issue of homosexual practice as a valid criterion on which decisions about leadership are made?’
July: The SA Synod Standing Committee decided that it ‘has been unable to confidently discern the will of God on the issue’.
October: The South Australian Synod focused on homosexuality, decided not to legislate on the issue, and encouraged each church council to seek the leading of God in each situation.

1991
ASC released Sexuality: Making Decisions as Christians to provide guidance to the church on sexual ethics. There was a protest about this book from some members of the church.
June: A gay Adelaide man applied to candidate for the Ministry of the Word. His parish and his presbytery Pastoral Relations Committee supported his application.. 
July: For the third time, Assembly refuses to vote on a motion calling for ‘celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in marriage’. The Assembly refused to withdraw the book Sexuality: Making Decisions as Christians from sale. The Assembly resolved to create a Task Group on Sexuality to explore the whole area of Christian sexual ethics and bring a report to the 1997 Assembly.
17 September: Assembly President Rev. Dr D’Arcy Wood wrote a pastoral letter on sexuality, calling on ‘all members of the church to continue to pray and work in a spirit of Christian unity as we address these important issues’.
24 September: Adelaide North West Presbytery decided to defer the youth worker’s application for ordination indefinitely

1992
April: Friends of Unity was created in South Australia

1994
The Sexuality Task Group held a Year of Listening to enable the church to discuss issues of sexuality and sexual ethics.
August: A lesbian applied to candidate for the ministry of deacon in Westernport Presbytery (Vic). She was supported by her presbytery but rejected by the Synod Selection Panel.
September: ASC reminded the Church that applications for candidature are to be decided by presbyteries on an individual basis.
A gay man began candidating procedures in Fleurieu Presbytery (SA) and withdrew when his congregation adopted a policy to never approve a gay person for nomination.  He entered the Adelaide College of Divinity as a private student.
A gay man applied to candidate for the ministry of the Word in Canberra Region Presbytery (NSW). The Presbytery decided to explore the issues.
A gay man applied to candidate for the ministry of the Word and is eventually rejected by Maroondah Presbytery (Vic).

1996
May: Interim Report on Sexuality released for discussion.
9 September: A gay minister came out in Victoria. 
22 September: A deacon told the Victorian Synod that she was lesbian.
23 September: The sole nominee for Moderator failed to receive the 75% vote necessary after the Victorian Synod learned that she lived in a same-sex relationship.

1997
May: Uniting Sexuality and Faith released.
6 July: Debate on Uniting Sexuality and Faith begins at the Perth Assembly. The Assembly Director of Mission came out, as did several other Assembly members..
11 July: Assembly decided not to make a decision on the question of the ordination of people in same-sex relationships. On another matter, the Assembly affirmed that: ‘we can celebrate the uniqueness of every individual and be encouraged to respect our differences; we allow opportunities for each individual to use their gifts within the community of faith’. (97.19.03)

1998
February: A group of Uniting Church members marched in Mardi Gras under the banner ‘Celebrating Diversity’, but without the Church logo in deference to requests from church leaders.  NSW Synod Selection Panel supported the application to candidate of the gay man from Canberra.
July: ASC launched an inquiry into abuses in the sexuality debate.
August: Canberra Region Presbytery decided against the gay applicant’s application. 
November: ASC issued a national call for calm in the sexuality debate.

1999
February: EMU launches the Association of Evangelical Congregations (AEC).
March: ASC asked EMU to withhold promotion of AEC, as it was concerned that some people may be excluded from full participation in AEC congregations.
July: The Presbytery of Maribyrnong Valley (Vic) stated that ‘this Presbytery believes that the fact that a person is living in a stable committed same-gender sexual relationship is not a bar to ordination’.
November: National Diversity Retreat held in Melbourne.
November: ASC advised all Presbyteries that ‘it is not helpful for them to make general statements of principle on patterns of sexual behaviour and their implication for ordination’.
December: A certificated candidate living in a same-sex relationship failed to receive the two-thirds support needed in Maribyrnong Valley Presbytery to be approved for ordination.

2000
Assembly approved a ‘Statement on Unity and Diversity’ (00.25.03) and asked all councils of the church to deal effectively and consistently with instances of harassment and vilification (00.25.04), but decided not to consider any other proposals on sexuality.
A woman in a same-sex relationship was ordained into a Western Australian Synod placement as Mission Consultant, after approval from both her presbytery and the Synod. 

2003
June: The ASC held a Consultation in Adelaide, with participants drawn from the UN, EMU, ethnic communities and other areas of the Uniting Church. Most participants declared themselves able to live in a church containing diverse views about sexuality.
June: The Mt Lofty Presbytery (SA) refuses to approve a decision of a Joint Nominating Committee with regard to the placement because the minister lives in a same-sex relationship.
July 17: Tenth Assembly passes resolution 84, clarifying the status quo.
August 17-18 Assembly Standing Committee Clarifies Proposal 84