Ponsonby Baptist Church Submission to Baptist Assembly Working Party
Introduction: This report, approved by a quarterly meeting of the membership of Ponsonby Baptist Church on 10 August, 2014, is a submission to the Baptist Assembly Working Party established to deliberate on same-sex marriage and issues of local church autonomy. It explains why our church approved a policy in 2013 for same-sex marriages to be hosted in our church buildings and/or led by the minister as the marriage celebrant, as may be judged appropriate on a case-by-case basis. Further, it explains why our church considers this policy to be a responsible exercise of local church autonomy fully consistent with the character and constitution of the Union of Baptist churches; and why it is essential that the freedom to exercise such autonomy must be maintained as a continuing characteristic of the fellowship of Baptist churches.
1. Primary Recognition of the Integrity of Christian Homosexual Persons.
For a long period Ponsonby Baptist Church has acknowledged that sexual identity is not an obstacle to a person’s ongoing faith in Jesus Christ and continuing recognition of his leadership in their life through the active presence of the Spirit. All people are able to share in the life and ministry of our church community and their continuing contribution is respected and valued.
Our church recognises the diversity of viewpoint amongst Christians regarding homosexuality. It does not seek to impose its views on other church communities on these matters. It fully supports the freedom and responsibility of each church community to seek the Mind of Christ in these matters and come to its own judgement in relation to them.
2. Position Regarding Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies.
In June 2013 at a constituted formal meeting Ponsonby Baptist Church approved the following motion: This meeting records its affirmation of the principle that the church may be a venue for marriage, and the pastor may marry any persons whom the law permits to be married.
This decision followed consideration amongst deacons and members of our church of the same-sex marriage legislation of that year. In the context of the understanding as set out in Section 1 above, and in recognition of the leadership of the Spirit of Christ, our church would have judged it improper to deny a homosexual couple the opportunity to seek the Lord’s blessing on their relationship through a legal ceremony held in the church building and led by the minister as marriage celebrant.
Our church thereby disagrees with the motion passed at the last meeting of the Assembly recommending against such action.
3. Responsible Exercise of Local Autonomy.
In holding to its viewpoint on these matters Ponsonby Baptist Church believes it is acting in full accord with the requirements of the Baptist Union constitution. A chief component of this constitution is the statement of the key components of the Christian faith acknowledged by all Baptist churches. An important section of this statement is the critical role played by the Bible in shaping and informing our Christian understanding. The stand taken by our church with respect to same-sex relationships does not undermine proper understanding of this critical role by the Bible. The diversity of historical, cultural and theological perspectives contained in Bible statements requires a depth of understanding and a faithful dependence on the present leadership of the Spirit of Jesus in interpreting their consequences for the patterns of life in our modern context.
The present Union constitution is fully in accord with basic Baptist principles of ‘freedom of conscience’ and ‘autonomy of the local congregation’ (as defined in the Baptist Union Incorporation Act).
These are important principles and essential to the character of the Baptist Union as a congregation of churches, and not a single national church. Top-down direction from Assembly to local churches on matters relating to same-sex marriage ceremonies, whether by way of explicit instruction or recommendation, is a serious undermining of these principles.
In affirming these principles and the exercise of responsible local autonomy our church recognises that other Baptist churches have, or may well come to, a different view to its own on same-sex relationship matters. Our church greatly values its membership of a fellowship of churches which share a strong and common loyalty to the ongoing leadership of Jesus Christ, and provides mutual support for all members; and which at the same time recognises it is the right and responsibility of each individual church to determine the specific outcomes of that leadership in its local context, while continuing to support fully the collective life of the fellowship as a whole. Such a significant balance, between collective and individual identity and responsibility, is also important to the life of each church community and one which our church seeks to maintain in its own community life.
4. Recommended Way Forward for Baptist Council and Assembly on these Matters
It is important to recognise that issues relating to same-sex relationships and marriage are creating important questions for local church communities to work through in ways that are consistent with their Christian faith and understanding. Top-down directives from the national bodies of Council and Assembly will not enable churches to find viable solutions that they can own and honour in their own contexts. Rather these national bodies must encourage and support local churches to work responsibly through these issues, finding workable solutions that they each judge to be in accord with the Mind of Christ in their own situation. Undoubtedly, this will lead to different outcomes across different local churches, but such differences need not undermine the continuing and growing strength of the Union of Baptist churches.
This general approach, as set out in the paragraph above, can be carried forward by the Working Party in the context of the following recommendations.
(i) That the Council and Assembly cancel the motion passed in 2013 recommending that local churches not host wedding ceremonies for same-sex marriages, and that church pastors not act as celebrants for such marriages; and replace it with a motion acknowledging that it is the responsibility of each local church to determine its policy on these matters.
(ii) That in recognition of the importance of current questions facing local churches relating to same-sex relationships and marriages, the Council consider the appointment of a part-time and fixed-term staff member to facilitate and support local churches in consideration of these matters, leading to their own decisions regarding them. Such facilitation and support would not be based on seeking a pre- determined outcome for a particular church decision, but would respect the church’s responsibility to come to its own decision. The staff member could also encourage inter-church consultation and shared views on these matters thus encouraging a sympathetic understanding of commonalities and differences in these views. Such a staff member would need to have a clear and open understanding of the diversity of views with respect to these matters and be fully supportive of the right of each local church to exercise its responsible autonomy with respect to them.
Acceptance of these recommendations would enable the Baptist Union to play a positive role in supporting local churches to work through these issues in ways leading to responsible outcomes appropriate to their specific situations. Exercise of this role would strengthen the shared life and faith of the Union of churches notwithstanding the likely diversity of responses to the issues.
Can we find a way to manage our differences and avoid doctrinal and relational discord? Faithfulness to the leadership of the Spirit of Jesus calls us to do so.
We warmly invite you, the Working Party, to visit us on a Sunday morning, to speak to us and allow us to speak to you. Otherwise we would wish to meet and speak with you at a suitable alternative time and venue in Auckland. You can contact us by calling our church number or emailing our church administrator.
Yours faithfully
Geoff Henshaw, on behalf of Ponsonby Baptist Church
Introduction: This report, approved by a quarterly meeting of the membership of Ponsonby Baptist Church on 10 August, 2014, is a submission to the Baptist Assembly Working Party established to deliberate on same-sex marriage and issues of local church autonomy. It explains why our church approved a policy in 2013 for same-sex marriages to be hosted in our church buildings and/or led by the minister as the marriage celebrant, as may be judged appropriate on a case-by-case basis. Further, it explains why our church considers this policy to be a responsible exercise of local church autonomy fully consistent with the character and constitution of the Union of Baptist churches; and why it is essential that the freedom to exercise such autonomy must be maintained as a continuing characteristic of the fellowship of Baptist churches.
1. Primary Recognition of the Integrity of Christian Homosexual Persons.
For a long period Ponsonby Baptist Church has acknowledged that sexual identity is not an obstacle to a person’s ongoing faith in Jesus Christ and continuing recognition of his leadership in their life through the active presence of the Spirit. All people are able to share in the life and ministry of our church community and their continuing contribution is respected and valued.
Our church recognises the diversity of viewpoint amongst Christians regarding homosexuality. It does not seek to impose its views on other church communities on these matters. It fully supports the freedom and responsibility of each church community to seek the Mind of Christ in these matters and come to its own judgement in relation to them.
2. Position Regarding Same-Sex Marriage Ceremonies.
In June 2013 at a constituted formal meeting Ponsonby Baptist Church approved the following motion: This meeting records its affirmation of the principle that the church may be a venue for marriage, and the pastor may marry any persons whom the law permits to be married.
This decision followed consideration amongst deacons and members of our church of the same-sex marriage legislation of that year. In the context of the understanding as set out in Section 1 above, and in recognition of the leadership of the Spirit of Christ, our church would have judged it improper to deny a homosexual couple the opportunity to seek the Lord’s blessing on their relationship through a legal ceremony held in the church building and led by the minister as marriage celebrant.
Our church thereby disagrees with the motion passed at the last meeting of the Assembly recommending against such action.
3. Responsible Exercise of Local Autonomy.
In holding to its viewpoint on these matters Ponsonby Baptist Church believes it is acting in full accord with the requirements of the Baptist Union constitution. A chief component of this constitution is the statement of the key components of the Christian faith acknowledged by all Baptist churches. An important section of this statement is the critical role played by the Bible in shaping and informing our Christian understanding. The stand taken by our church with respect to same-sex relationships does not undermine proper understanding of this critical role by the Bible. The diversity of historical, cultural and theological perspectives contained in Bible statements requires a depth of understanding and a faithful dependence on the present leadership of the Spirit of Jesus in interpreting their consequences for the patterns of life in our modern context.
The present Union constitution is fully in accord with basic Baptist principles of ‘freedom of conscience’ and ‘autonomy of the local congregation’ (as defined in the Baptist Union Incorporation Act).
These are important principles and essential to the character of the Baptist Union as a congregation of churches, and not a single national church. Top-down direction from Assembly to local churches on matters relating to same-sex marriage ceremonies, whether by way of explicit instruction or recommendation, is a serious undermining of these principles.
In affirming these principles and the exercise of responsible local autonomy our church recognises that other Baptist churches have, or may well come to, a different view to its own on same-sex relationship matters. Our church greatly values its membership of a fellowship of churches which share a strong and common loyalty to the ongoing leadership of Jesus Christ, and provides mutual support for all members; and which at the same time recognises it is the right and responsibility of each individual church to determine the specific outcomes of that leadership in its local context, while continuing to support fully the collective life of the fellowship as a whole. Such a significant balance, between collective and individual identity and responsibility, is also important to the life of each church community and one which our church seeks to maintain in its own community life.
4. Recommended Way Forward for Baptist Council and Assembly on these Matters
It is important to recognise that issues relating to same-sex relationships and marriage are creating important questions for local church communities to work through in ways that are consistent with their Christian faith and understanding. Top-down directives from the national bodies of Council and Assembly will not enable churches to find viable solutions that they can own and honour in their own contexts. Rather these national bodies must encourage and support local churches to work responsibly through these issues, finding workable solutions that they each judge to be in accord with the Mind of Christ in their own situation. Undoubtedly, this will lead to different outcomes across different local churches, but such differences need not undermine the continuing and growing strength of the Union of Baptist churches.
This general approach, as set out in the paragraph above, can be carried forward by the Working Party in the context of the following recommendations.
(i) That the Council and Assembly cancel the motion passed in 2013 recommending that local churches not host wedding ceremonies for same-sex marriages, and that church pastors not act as celebrants for such marriages; and replace it with a motion acknowledging that it is the responsibility of each local church to determine its policy on these matters.
(ii) That in recognition of the importance of current questions facing local churches relating to same-sex relationships and marriages, the Council consider the appointment of a part-time and fixed-term staff member to facilitate and support local churches in consideration of these matters, leading to their own decisions regarding them. Such facilitation and support would not be based on seeking a pre- determined outcome for a particular church decision, but would respect the church’s responsibility to come to its own decision. The staff member could also encourage inter-church consultation and shared views on these matters thus encouraging a sympathetic understanding of commonalities and differences in these views. Such a staff member would need to have a clear and open understanding of the diversity of views with respect to these matters and be fully supportive of the right of each local church to exercise its responsible autonomy with respect to them.
Acceptance of these recommendations would enable the Baptist Union to play a positive role in supporting local churches to work through these issues in ways leading to responsible outcomes appropriate to their specific situations. Exercise of this role would strengthen the shared life and faith of the Union of churches notwithstanding the likely diversity of responses to the issues.
Can we find a way to manage our differences and avoid doctrinal and relational discord? Faithfulness to the leadership of the Spirit of Jesus calls us to do so.
We warmly invite you, the Working Party, to visit us on a Sunday morning, to speak to us and allow us to speak to you. Otherwise we would wish to meet and speak with you at a suitable alternative time and venue in Auckland. You can contact us by calling our church number or emailing our church administrator.
Yours faithfully
Geoff Henshaw, on behalf of Ponsonby Baptist Church
