Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
Home............
  Site Search
 
   » A-Z listing
OLD HOME » Who Are We? » Church Organisation » Judicial Commissions » October 2003 » Memo: Judicial Commission Decision

 » Print Version

Memo: Judicial Commission Decision - Council of Assembly Meeting

MEMORANDUM

TO: Presbytery Clerks and UDC Secretaries, Ministers, Parish and Session Clerks

FROM: Shirley Fergusson, Convenor, Council of Assembly

DATE: 20 November 2003

SUBJECT: Judicial Commission Decision - Council of Assembly Meeting


The Council of Assembly met on 14-15 November 2003 in Wellington.

1. In response to the recent Judicial Commission decision, the Council received 38 letters. Eleven letters were from Sessions, three from Presbyteries and the balance from concerned Church members. The decision allowed for Deborah Gordon, a lesbian woman, to be assessed as an applicant for the School of Ministry.

  • The Council acknowledges that there has been a range of responses to this decision. The letters communicated hurt, pain, confusion and anger; that for some members their understanding of the position of the Church on the matter has been overturned; that the process itself was not well understood and some members feel their voice was not heard in the Church's processes.
  • The Council affirms that the process used to hear the Appeal was in accordance with the regulations and practice of the Church in such matters, and was carried out with integrity.
  • The Council assures members that there are procedures for lodging objections before people are licensed, ordained or inducted for ministry.

2. Twenty-three of the letters requested that there be an urgent additional assembly to resolve issues raised by the Judicial Commission.

  • The Council had extensive discussions and considered the factors for and against holding such an Assembly. On balance, the Council felt that holding a special Assembly would not necessarily resolve the issues. It has asked the Moderator to initiate a process of committed conversations within the Church before the September 2004 Assembly.
  • The Council hopes that these conversations will provide a clear way forward that respects, as far as possible, the integrity of the diverse views in the Church on homosexual persons in leadership.

This statement is offered to you to share, as you deem helpful in your situation.


Shirley Fergusson

Convener, Council of Assembly
 
 

  
 

 

 

home page   |   email the webmaster   |   A to Z Index   |   return to top