WHITBY FREE PRFSS, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1988, PAGE 27 AT BAY OF QUINTE CONFERENCE Church delegates veto ordination of homosexuals Ordination of self-declared, practising homosexuals was vetoed, and marriage, responsible heterosexual living and family values were afflirmed by delegates from United Churches across the Bay of Quinte conference of the chiurch. The conference, which takes in an area of' Eastern Ontario Nith boundaries stretching from Ajax to Brockville and north to Algonquin Park, met in Brockville May 26 to 29. Delegates represented 350 United Churches in that area. The basis of discussion andt action was a report commissioned by the national church, entitled "Toward a Christian Under- standing of Sexual Orientation, Lifestyles, and Ministry." The1 report dealt with the ordination of self-declared, practicing homosexuals and with the role of homosexuals in the church and its ministry to them. In spite of strong negative feelings on the part of many delegates to some of the recommendations and rationale of the report, the conference refused to reject the total report. Several delegates said that many of the report's recommendations are in harmony with United Church teachings and traditions. Delegates voted two to one against ordaining or commissioning "self-declared, practicing homosexuals." How- ever, a later resolution stated that "sexual orientation, in and of itself," is not the issue. The conference passed a petitio'n which accepted homosexuality as an "orientation" which, in itself, should not preclude ordination. The petition inpplied thiat élibacy would be the lifestyle of these persons. This did not meet the approval of sonie delegates, who believe that the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, not just an orientation. Many delegates said that their decision to vote against the ordination of self-declared, practising homosexuals was based on the knowledge that others in the church are very much opposed to it. Al petitions which came to conference will be sent to General Council, the national level of the church, to be considered at its annual meeting in Victoria in August. General Council will be told whetherathe conference's stand was concurrence or non-concurrence. Throughout the deliberations, much concern was expressed that persons and congregations would know that their opinions and fears were heard at conference and will be heard at the national level. The confusion, frustrations and some anger which surfaced in the Friday debate on the petitions led to behind-the-scenes searching for some method of bringing delegates together in a consensus statement. As a result, representatives of committees dealing with petitions met and formulated a composite petition. This petition supported the principle that self-declared practising homosexual persons are not acceptable as candidates for the order of ministry, but made the statement that sexual orientation, in itself, is not the issue as much as is what people do with their sexual orientation in daily life. It affirmed marriage and responsible heterosexual living anid family values as worthy Christian standards, while affirming the contributions to church and society that are being made by single persons. The petition called for the United Church to strive for an atmosphere in which self-declared homosexual persons may be received and welcomed while recognizing that the United Church is not of one mind regarding the recommendations of this report. The document ended with a plea for continuing efforts at reconciliation for those who disagree on the question. Later in the conference, a petition asking General Council "to initiate and facilitate a specific process of healing ministry that will support and renew our church and its members in the months following the meeting of General Council in Victoria" passed unanimousIv. Throughout debate on the petitions many points were made by delegates. The report was criticized for lacking "clear definitions of words and phrases like 'orientation,"homosexuality,' and'practicing homosexual'." While there was sone criticism of the way the debate was handled, with some delegates complaining that the wording of petitions was confusing, other delegates praised the way in which their points of view were being heard even by those who held opposite views. As Dr. Richard Boehme of Peterborough said, "We are hearing each other, although we don't always agree." Interpretation of scripture passages dealing with sexual behavior often brought different statements from pastors, lay people and professors. Delegates were told by conference executive secretary Peter McKellar that, when they attend çà &onference or go to General Council, they are.not the echoes of a congregation or presbytery, as if they were members of a political party. They go instead, in their own right, in the light of their own convictions. At one point a delegate reminded the assembly that it should be sensitive to the presence of people vho are homosexuals. Rev. Judith Vaclavik of Peterborough asked delegates to include heterosexuals in their scrutiny of lifestyles. Rev. Vaclavik and Rev. Gale Glover, conference minister. affirmed the report's sensitivity to persons living in committed relationships without a marriage license and persons, often elderly who would otherwise be left-to a life of celibacy, aloneness and loneliness. A double standard for ministers - one forheterosexuals and another for homosexuals - would be the outcome of conference action.' said Rev. Doerksen and Rev. Bill Wells. When one petition urged no further study of the issue of ordaining homosexuals until the next century, delegates voted non-concurrence, because they felt they bad no right to tie the hands of future general councils. Some delegates said we must affirnm minorities in our midst, BLANKET ICOVER AIL (OR A WITH A SIN< such as gys and ebas n learn to live in solidarity with them. Unanimous support was also given to "a full study of the report" and the shaping by congregations of "affirmations concermnig sexual orientations, lilfestyles and fitness for ministry t both respect our present differences and also reflect the inclusive caring ethos of the United Church of Canada." 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