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P.E. Church Net

CHRISTIAN NEWS
2nd September 2003

REPORT FROM ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF PORT ELIZABETH SYNOD 2003

The opening

A hundred and fifty-three members of Synod plus Diocesan staff, visitors and invited guests packed St Katharine’s Church in Uitenhage for the opening of Synod.

A wonderful celebration of the Eucharist was held, during which the preliminary business of Synod took place. Three bishops were among the invited honoured guests: Bishop Michael Coleman of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Elizabeth, Bishop Ka Siboto of the Ethiopian Episcopal Church and Bishop Jika of the Charismatic Ethiopian Church. Bp Jika is the Secretary of the East Cape Council of Churches and was also representing IDAMASA. Other honoured guests included Prof Ds Naudé of the Dutch Reformed Church, as well as Dawid Loff of the United Congregational Church.

Professor Naudé thanked the Diocese for inviting him and, in a deeply moving moment, he shared that during the Apartheid years the church to which he belonged had been on the wrong side of what God required of His Church but, after a time of deep repentance during the 1990’s, they now worked closely with other churches to bring about God’s reconciliation in this land.

The Archbishop of Cape Town, Njongonkulu Ndungane, sent greetings via the Bishop’s Office.

Synod is the highest decision making body of the Diocese and many reports of various committees and bodies were received and discussed. Also many measures to change the Acts of the Diocese and motions on various concerns were passed.

Cathedral

Synod accepted a Motion reiterating the decision made by Diocesan Council to make the Collegiate Church of St Mary the Virgin the Diocesan Cathedral, and asked the Bishop's Commission to continue investigating the implications of this decision.

Iindaba noted with surprise that not one lay representative asked what it will cost the parishes to look after the cathedral!

Human Sexuality debate

"Marriage, as designed by God, is the union of man and woman."
"We need to uphold the principles laid by God's Word, not with a condemning attitude, but in a more caring and compassionate manner, with the gift of understanding."
- Bp Bethlehem in his Charge

A very moving debate was held on the motion on ‘Human Sexuality” proposed by the rector of St Katharine’s, Uitenhage, Craig Dunsmuir, and seconded by Canon Robert Penrith.

A few members of Synod spoke for the motion, but Synod was moved when a senior member of one of the parishes stood up and began by saying, “I am homosexual, and I support the motion 100%.” He went on to share his testimony of his struggle with his sexuality and how, having rejected the church for many years, he gave his life to Christ some 20 years ago. Through his walk with the Lord he came to the understanding of God’s requirement of him, and all humans - abstinence from sex outside of marriage. He appealed to the clergy and members to be strong in their teaching of God’s requirements so as not to leave others in the wilderness, as he had been left, not knowing the truth for so many years. He had many members in tears with his testimony and Synod applauded his courage in coming out and sharing it.

Sexuality - a gift from God

In proposing the motion Craig said that sexuality is a gift from God and is given with instructions on how to use it. He spoke on various aspects of the Genesis account of creation saying, “ Genesis 2 speaks of the union of husband and wife. The Biblical context for expressing our sexuality is marriage. Our sexuality is therefore linked backwards in time to God’s work in Creation, and is fundamental to who we are - we can’t divorce ourselves from it.” He went on to say, “Our sexuality is also linked forward in time to our future hope of salvation. Marriage stands as a sign of the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church (Paul in Ephesians). He is the bridegroom, the wedding feast is prepared, He is coming one day to bring His Church into complete union with God.

“All people are sexual beings - we can express our sexuality in two ways: in marriage or in singleness (As a single person I often find myself forgotten in this debate!). If we are single, then our expression is either celibacy (a formal, and usually lifelong, commitment) or abstinence (an intentional choosing not to engage in sexual relationships, until the choice is made to enter into the only Biblical alternative given - marriage).

“But whether we are single or married - we are all called to consider an old-fashioned word: Chastity. As singles or spouses we would see purity in the expression of our sexuality, and so be the pure Bride of Christ in anticipation of God’s final consummation.”

He closed in speaking of the pastoral work needed because Biblical principles are not being adhered to, saying, “Sexual promiscuity and perversion is common, cohabiting is a way of life for many, extra-martial affairs happen,” and much more.

Holy Scripture teaching

As seconder, Robert also spoke from Scripture. He concluded by saying, “As with all of God’s gifts, he tells us how to exercise these gifts through the teaching of Holy Scripture and I therefore call on this Synod to hold firm to the doctrine of the inspiration of Holy Scripture and the acknowledgement of the eternal truths contained therein.” He spoke briefly on the fact that from scripture come the Doctrine of Creation, the Doctrine of Fall and the Doctrine of Sex. On the latter he said, “The true expression and fulfilment of the gift of sex is found only within the context of a lifelong covenant relationship between one man and one woman. Our sexuality is open to misuse. We all struggle with unnatural lusts because of our fallen human nature, but we find restoration in Jesus.”

The Motion, as carried unanimously by Synod:

That this Synod

Noting the current confusion and unilateral action in the Anglican Communion over the issue of Human Sexuality; and

noting further the stated pastoral position of the CPSA that the church ministers to all people, without discrimination, whether heterosexual or homosexual;

Resolves

1 To affirm and abide by the 1998 Lambeth Resolution (1.10) as the expressed mind of the Anglican Communion;

2 To uphold the affirmation of Holy Matrimony as expressed in Canon 34 of the CPSA - “that marriage by divine institution is a lifelong and exclusive partnership between one man and one woman”.

3 To request our bishop to lead the Synod of Bishops in expressing support for our Metropolitan who, together with all the Archbishops of the Anglican Communion, declared that:

“The question of public rites for the blessing of same sex unions is still a cause of potentially divisive controversy. The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke for us all when he said that it is through liturgy that we express what we believe, and that there is no theological consensus about same sex unions. Therefore, we as a body cannot support the authorisation of such rites” (Primates' Pastoral letter to the Anglican Communion, Gramado, Brazil - May 2003).

4. To place on the agenda of Provincial Standing Committee a resolution upholding: the Lambeth resolution, the affirmation of Canon 34, and the Primate’s letter of 2003.

Two views of Synod

Nicolette Leonard, assistant-priest, at St John the Baptist, felt that being a full member of Synod has its advantages.

My first Synod as a member of the clergy is actually my second Synod, since I attended the 2000 Synod as a self-supporting clergy observer. This time I am a ‘legitimate’ and voting member, and, of course, that means ‘power’ to be able to change and influence church policy matters in our diocese. It is again a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow clergy and other people from all over the diocese.

I enjoyed the debate today, especially the ones on Freemasonry and on changing the name of the diocese. I hope the motion on self-supporting clergy representation carries. However, I feel there has been a lot less debate than at the last Synod.

Stephen Fouché rector of Holy Trinity United, Thornhill, was present at our Synod for the first time.

Asked how he, a Methodist Minister, was enjoying the formality of the way our Synod is conducted, he said, “First off, it is a real privilege to be here, to learn how to do God’s business ‘Anglican’ style. I found it just as tedious as the Methodist Synod, interspersed with some real ‘hot’ issues that are common to all of us Christians. The ‘tedious’ has to be kept in the ‘tedious’ file only by way of someone who is doing a good job on some seemingly inconsequential work.

“It always amazes me how our Great God works through the mundane and very ordinary issues of life. When He finds us faithful in the small, He can then release us in the all.

“Thank you for the warm welcome and good fellowship. Lovely to have been here.”

A busy woman

In her report to Synod, Diana Nkesiga, Chaplain to University of Port Elizabeth and PE Technikon, gave details of the many and varied aspects of her ministry.

Diana is very involved in HIV/AIDS workshops, counselling and support of the students. She encourages the members of ANSOC and is 'Mother Confessor' to many of the students and staff members who come to her with their problems. Some of them are infected with HIV or are affected by having family members who are HIV.

Diana organised a massive AIDS prayer walk on 15 May which involved neighbouring churches and all the student bodies in around the campuses. Through an e-pap drive seven bales of this fortified cereal were handed over to the AIDS home-based Care group chaired by Tandi Xundu.

She runs Sunday services, Bible Studies on both campuses as well as supporting her husband who is the rector of Zwartkops River Valley Parish and looking after their two sons.

Reproduced with permssion of Iindaba

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