A working group tasked with developing an apology by the Uniting Church (UCA) to LGBTQIA+ people has advised against the national assembly of the church making a formal apology at their 2024 meeting.
A draft working document by the “Apology to LGBTQIA+ Australians Task Group” has led to the “firm conclusion that offering the words of a formal apology is hollow at best and likely to cause further harm including re-traumatising already abused individuals.”
The task group’s perspective is that change in the Uniting Church, despite becoming the first major Australian denomination to adopt a rite for same-gender marriage, has not gone far enough.
Diversity in the UCA is acknowledged as a strength by the task group but they want a church that completely affirms LGBTQIA+ people. “From the perspective of many LGBTIQA+ people this unity and diversity has been achieved at a considerable price in terms of justice and the hope for lasting reconciliation,” a background and rationale document from the taskl group stated. “LGBTIQA+ people believe that sexuality, gender identity and expression, and physiological sex characteristics should be treated by the Uniting Church in Australia in the same way that race and sex are treated. That is, local churches and presbyteries are not permitted to exclude members, applicants for specified ministries, or placements solely on the grounds of race or sex (and, we hope, other situations such as disability, age, etc).
“The same thinking applies to marriage. LGBTIQA+ people strongly object to the fact that ordained Ministers and Church Councils can refuse an otherwise eligible couple the celebration of marriage solely on grounds of their sexuality, gender identity and expression or physiological sex characteristics. The Task Group believes that the Assembly would not be able to reach consensus on moving beyond the status quo of diversity in 2024, and that a proposal to do so (as would be required by a full and formal apology) would unhelpfully contribute to division in the church and potentially set back efforts to become more inclusive.”
When the UCA adopted a same gender marraige rite in 2018, the decison meant the new rite sat alongside the existing man-woman marriage rite. The task force aims at removing the ability of a UCA minister to choose to only use the traditional rite, and in effect to have only ministers who adopt a progressive view on LGBTQIA+ issues.
The task group report proposed that a “living apology” rather than a “formal apology” should be proposed by the UCA’s Assembly Standing Committee. Rather than a form of words, the “living apology” is a process of change.
The “Living Apology” could include:
• A trauma based framework
• “Continuing reflection on biblical and theological perspectives concerning sexuality, gender identity and expression, and physiological sex characteristics, including the perspectives of queer theology”
• “The importance of the development and use of appropriate liturgical resources which recognise that the church has been an active participant in the stigma, prejudice and discrimination faced by LGBTIQA+ people.”
A timetable for the “Living Apology” could extend to the 2027 Assembly – the peak council of the UCA meets every three years. The taskforce belives the 2024 Assembly could include a “Statement of Commitment” to change or a liturgy of lament. But “Consistent with the [background paper’s discussion] this liturgy should not be worded or seen as a confession or apology. The Task Group believes that that challenge lies beyond 2024.”