The following statement is from the Uniting Church SA Moderator, Rev Sue Ellis, and CEO/General Secretary Rev Nigel Rogers.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As mentioned in yesterday's pastoral statement (available online here), the Business Committee met earlier today to discuss papers and correspondence related to the upcoming meeting of the Uniting Church in Australia, Presbytery and Synod of South Australia. We wish to update you on the outcome of this meeting.
For pastoral reasons, the Business Committee have decided to withdraw Proposal 6 from the agenda for the upcoming meeting. Proposal 6 refers to the 21 letters and emails addressed to the Presbytery and Synod SA regarding same-gender marriage*.
This correspondence was originally posted on the Uniting Church SA website, along with other reports, papers and proposals. The correspondence document was removed from the site as its content was causing deep hurt and pain for some members of our Uniting Church community.
We have received a number of emails and messages about the marriage conversation within the Uniting Church. We have also been made very aware of social media feeds that have been pastorally insensitive, despite the call for respectful conversations.
The Assembly of the Uniting Church is the body which determines policy and doctrine of all matters regarding the Uniting Church. The authors of all of the letters and emails that came to the Presbytery and Synod will be contacted and asked to send their letters and comments to the Assembly Standing Committee. The debate on same-gender marriage will be conducted from 8-14 July in Melbourne as part of the 15th Assembly meeting, not on the floor of our Presbytery and Synod meeting.
The Assembly leaders have requested all Synods to allow them space to facilitate working group discussions on the three questions shared in the pastoral statement yesterday (online here). Our Presbytery and Synod had agreed to this, and it will be the Assembly leaders who will present this to our gathered members before forming working groups. The feedback from the working group conversations will be brought as a report to the Presbytery and Synod meeting. This report will then go to the Assembly Standing Committee.
Our church continues to have a broad range of views about sexuality and same-gender marriage. We have always sought to live peacefully with our differing opinions on this matter and to discuss these issues with understanding of each other’s viewpoints. The fact that we are unable to reach consensus at any of our meetings tells us that the Holy Spirit has not given us a common mind on this matter as yet. We continue to live together in the unity we have, which is Jesus Christ, the head of the church.
Some letter writers and social media feeds have been severely critical of the Space for Grace process - even claiming it did not allow for Biblical reflection. This is inaccurate and misleading, as a reading of the Space for Grace Facilitator's Guide (online here) demonstrates how the process values respectful listening and Bible studies (see Step 8).
Finally, it has come to our attention that a group has been contacting congregations and individuals to gather in a vigil at the Presbytery and Synod meeting. Our Synod welcomes the prayers of all people. James 5:16 states: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”. The Business Committee has directed that this prayer vigil be held at a different location.
Once again, I encourage you to continue to pray for compassion and grace for all those attending the Presbytery and Synod meeting. Please pray that respectful conversations will be held, and that people feel acknowledged and heard, especially where there are differing opinions.
Grace and peace,
Rev Sue Ellis Rev Nigel Rogers
Moderator CEO/General Secretary
Uniting Church SA Uniting Church SA
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*Same-gender marriage is the term used by the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly, a decision made in response to the difficulties of translating the more common term of same-sex marriage for some Indigenous and CALD communities. Please see 3.2 in the Assembly Report here.