NQ Resolutions to Special Synod

Resolutions of Presbytery of North Queensland to Special Queensland Synod, November 2003
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That the Synod

1. Affirms the existing Resolutions of the Queensland Synod (including Resolution 96.113 and 91.117i) as the policy and practice of the Queensland Synod;

2. Disassociates itself from the ordination of practising homosexuals in specified ministries;

3. (a) Upholds the principle that the UCA should only ordain for ministry people who are practising celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in recognised heterosexual marriage; and

(b) Requests the Council of Synod to do whatever is within its power to implement this policy in all Queensland Presbyteries and the Synod;

4. Requests the Council of Synod to

(a) Review existing procedures for the pastoral care and discipline of persons in ministry or leadership found not to be practising “celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in loving heterosexual marriage”;

(b) Assess the adequacy of existing procedures that deal with such persons in ministry or leadership;

(c) Recommend to the Assembly any changes to existing regulations, policies or procedures to ensure that the practice of homosexuality is “grave conduct unworthy of a minister” (Regulation 7.8.2d) for the purpose of applying the discipline processes.

Rationale:

The numbered paragraphs in this rationale relate to each of the numbered proposals.

1. At the October 2003 meeting of the Presbytery of North Queensland the following Resolution was passed:

“The Presbytery of North Queensland
• Reaffirms the resolutions of the 1996 Queensland Synod (including 96.113 and 91.117(i)) on sexuality as the policy and practice of the Presbytery of North Queensland
• Calls on the Special Queensland Synod to affirm the 1996 Queensland Synod resolution as the policy and practice of the Queensland Synod”

This proposal not only affirms the Queensland Synod Minute 96.113 but establishes it as our “policy and practice.”

2. At the October 2003 meeting of the Presbytery of North Queensland the following Resolutions were passed:

“• Calls for Assembly Standing Committee to refer the issue of practising homosexuals in specified ministries (re Proposal 84) to congregations and Presbyteries to get the mind of the Church ;

• Does not recognise the validity of the ordination of practising homosexuals in specified ministries as alluded to in Proposal 84 and rejects it;
• Calls on Synod to disassociate itself from the ordination of practising homosexuals in specified ministries as alluded to in Proposal 84.”

Proposal 2 to the Synod is brought on three grounds:

(a) ‘Resolution 84’ is inconsistent with the teaching of the Biblical witnesses and therefore breaks the Basis of Union;

(b) The refusal of both Assembly and Assembly Standing Committee to refer the proposal to the other councils of the church for concurrence as a matter vital to the life of the church, represents a break in the inter-conciliar nature of the Uniting Church;

3. At the October 2003 meeting of the Presbytery of North Queensland the following Resolutions were passed:

“• Upholds the principle that UCA should only ordain for ministry those who are practising celibacy in singleness and faithfulness in recognised heterosexual marriage
• Confirms that this Presbytery will not ordain practising homosexuals or permit them to be in leadership
• Refers this position to the Synod for a process to implement this policy in all Presbyteries and Synod

• In consideration for one another we call for a National Moratorium on all Presbyteries from ordaining practising homosexuals until the next Assembly”

(a) We believe this is in accord with the Approved Synod motions on sexuality in 1991,1996 and as we propose in 2003.

(b) We believe that there is a difference between orientation and action. We believe that homosexual acts are condemned in scripture but we want to uphold the principle of love and care for all.

(d) We believe that this should be strongly upheld and honoured in our Councils. New candidates and Ministers from other Synods are often unaware of our stance in Queensland.

(e) The Assembly proposal has brought so much pain and confusion to many people in our Congregations. The gospel values of consideration and care for one another is behind the Presbyteries call for a Moratorium. This call is a request for all Presbyteries throughout Australia to consider the whole of the Uniting Church members and ministers when they are considering candidates for ordination. Their action will have bigger implications than their own Presbytery.

4. Jesus came to bring all broken people to wholeness through forgiveness, healing and deliverance. Synod holds that "a practising homosexual lifestyle is incompatible with Christian principles"
(91.117(i)). In a leader (in specified ministry or otherwise) that is “grave conduct unworthy of a minister” (Reg. 7.8.2d) and the Synod must respond accordingly.
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Note: At the Special Synod, the first proposal had been taken up in other resolutions that were passed. The Legal Reference Committee gave an opinion that the second was incompetent since it implies the non-recognition of an ordination elsewhere in the Uniting Church. The third was lost narrowly. The fourth was defeated by a slightly greater margin.

Although on the Saturday, Synod had affirmed the traditional orthodox position on sexuality quite strongly, for some inexplicable reason, this was not translated into further actions that ought reasonably to have followed on from Saturday’s stance. The intent of NQ’s fourth proposal wasn’t, as some groups were told, to instigate a “witch-hunt”, but to establish appropriate pastoral procedures for leaders whose lifestyle is, we affirm, “incompatible with Christian principles”.