Background to HOMOSEXUALITY ISSUE

at 12^th General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia 

The 12th General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia, to be held at the Carlton Crest Hotel, Brisbane from July 21-27, 2001, will discuss a resolution relating to homosexuality. 

In preparation for the General Synod, the Doctrine Panel of the Anglican Church of Australia has released a book of discussion papers about homosexuality. 

The General Synod is expected to discuss a resolution to receive this book and commend it to the church for further study, prayer and discussion. 

Entitled Faithfulness in Fellowship: Reflections on Homosexuality and the Church, the book provides important biblical, theological and scientific data and argumentation of relevance to all churches struggling with the issue of homosexuality. 

Archbishop Peter Carnley, Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, who is also the chairman of the Doctrine Panel, said he hoped that the book “will provoke people to a serious discussion of the issues”. 

“The Doctrine Panel represents a wide range of opinions, and members have worked very harmoniously for the last two years”, Dr Carnley said. 

“We have produced a wide-ranging discussion of the issue of homosexuality and the Church”. 

The preface of the book states: “We have become acutely aware of the complexities of the issues relating to human sexuality, including the fact that the interpretation of the biblical material is not nearly as straight forward as many of us imagine. We have also become acutely aware of the social tragedy of homophobic reactions to homosexual people in the community, and of difficulties experienced by those charged with the handling of such sensitive matters when the lives of other human persons are involved. One cannot study such a subject without becoming aware of the burden of one’s own misapprehensions and unchallenged prejudice”. 

Members of the Panel affirm unequivocally both that “promiscuity is contrary to the Christian ideal of committed, monogamous relationships that reflect the faithfulness of God” and that “the irrational fear of homosexuality and homosexual persons and the persecution which has so often stemmed from that fear are not faithful expressions of Christian witness and are, in fact, an affront to the example of love which Christ set for us”. 

The Panel members have yet to come to a common mind with regard to the blessing of same-gender unions or whether “a gay or lesbian person who is engaged in a committed relationship with a person of the same-gender, displays the appropriate character of life for entry into Holy Orders”. 

Some contributors endeavour to bring some key biblical texts to address these questions. Others express reservations about the exact relevance of the same biblical texts to these essentially contemporary concerns. 

The Primate himself has contributed a chapter on same-gender friendships. He calls on all “to come to a deeper appreciation of the rich spiritual value of genuine friendship and its importance to being authentically human”. 

Members of the General Synod have been furnished with copies of the book. 

In its report to General Synod, the Doctrine Panel called for both the General Synod and diocesan synods not to pass "any substantive legislation on the issues raised in our papers pending continued dialogue in the church". 

"In the current climate, such legislation would only serve to complicate the discussion and cause unnecessary divisions in the church," the Panel report said. 

Faithfulness in Fellowship: Reflections on Homosexuality and the Church is published by John Garratt Publishing, PB, ISBN: 1875938478, rrp: $34.95.