The Presbyterian GA

The topic of human sexuality dominated the agenda at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, which met June 3-6 in Waterloo, Ont.

Several committees of the denomination’s highest court have been struggling for years to deal with competing requests from the lower courts of the church. Some presbyteries and sessions have asked for the denomination to change its position and allow ministers to preside at same-sex weddings or bless same-sex marriages, while others have asked for a reaffirmation of the church’s current stance, which holds that marriage is only between one man and one woman. Likewise, some of the lower courts are in favour of permitting the ordination of ministers and elders who are in committed, monogamous same-sex relationships, while others hold with the position that only celibate gay and lesbian people should be eligible for ordination.

Two main bodies, the Committee on Church Doctrine and the Justice Ministries department of the Life and Mission Agency, have been tasked with studying the topic, but the reports and recommendations of the two groups have failed to agree on a way forward.

“In our seeking we have found conflict not peace, discord not unity,” the doctrine committee wrote in its report.

The assembly this year was marked with poignant prayers and sermons calling for unity in the midst of disagreement, as fears grow that any decision related to human sexuality could lead to a fracturing of the denomination.

Following a period of small group discussions, listening and debate, the General Assembly voted to turn the matter over to a special committee made up of former moderators from the 2005-2017 General Assemblies, with the request they discern a way forward and report back to the assembly next year.

The court also approved a series of recommendations aimed at creating safe spaces for homosexual or non-gender conforming people to tell their stories of harm done or grace experienced within the church.

A special committee was established last year with the task of listening to the stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people. Called the Rainbow Communion, the listening committee is the first step in a commitment the denomination has made to “repent of homophobia and hypocrisy.”

The steps approved by the assembly this year included suspending indefinitely any censure that could be imposed on ministers or elders because of the church’s current stance on same-sex relationships “in order to allow them to participate freely and honestly in the work of the special committee.”

Individuals and groups are being encouraged to tell their stories to the Rainbow Communion until June 15, 2019.

Other reports and recommendations of note included expressions of concern for the plight of the Rohingya in Myanmar, calls for the government of Canada to strengthen arms trade treaties and seek nuclear disarmament, approve safe injection sites, increase funding for addiction services and set stronger regulations for potentially habit-forming prescription drugs.

The assembly also approved a carbon levy of $20 per metric ton “based on the carbon emissions of ground and air travel for the General Assembly participants” to take effect next year. The funds raised through the levy will be directed to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank’s Climate Fund