Reports have emerged that conservative factions within the Uniting Church are urging for ministers to no longer be allowed to perform same-sex marriages.
Last year the church announced it will support a diversity of views of same-sex marriage, allowing ministers to decide for themselves if they wish to conduct ceremonies.
Reverend Hedley Fihaki of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations told the ABC that it is an issue of faith.
“Same-sex marriage is just one of those issues,” Fihaki said, “I think there’s a division not just between the Assembly of Confession Congregations and the Uniting Church, but … between evangelicals as a whole and the Uniting Church.”
Fikahi attributes the church’s affirming view of same-sex marriage leading to many members leaving the church, and joining the conservative Assembly of Confession Congregations.
“The new decisions that have been made by the [Uniting Church] seem to suggest that it can be other lords, other sexual practices and still be okay.”
Last year eight Uniting Church ministers signed an open letter denouncing same-sex marriage, while other individual churches have removed Uniting Church identifiers from their logos since the decision.
Minister and bisexual woman Avril Hannah-Jones says she stands by the church, recognising that the debate has been an ongoing one within the Uniting Church congregations.
“I think the leadership has a really difficult job to balance the different opinions… I would like it to be more proactive about issues of harassment, but I understand that’s an issue for them,” Hannah-Jones said.
“It feels as though they’re arguing in some way that God made a mistake when someone like me was created … and that can be incredibly painful. They’re honestly seeking to do God’s will, which is what people like me are also doing.”
The Uniting Church in Australia president Diedre Palmer released a statement to the organisation’s website, claiming comments given to the ABC were “in no way authorised by the Uniting Church.”
“The Uniting Church in Australia Assembly’s decision to recognise two statements of belief on marriage remains in place,” Palmer wrote.
“This decision allows ministers and celebrants authorised by the Uniting Church the freedom to conduct or to refuse to conduct same-gender marriages. I want to reasure all members of the Uniting Church – your rights to follow your beliefs on marriage will continue to be respected and protected.”
Here in WA last year, Star Street Uniting Church celebrated marriage equality in the church with a special event featuring the Gay and Lesbian Singers of WA.
The Reverend Ian Tozer spoke about why he as a minister wanted to be allowed to wed same-sex couples. While Reuben Edmonds, the Chair of Living Proud who worships at the church, spoke about the negotiations that led to the church’s decision to allow same-gender weddings in their buildings.
OIP Staff
