Conferences

April 2012

Official Information related to the Australia National Conference 

In this issue of the Australia Herald we are sharing information related to the upcoming National and Mission Conferences in June. In this particular segment we look at information that is prepared for the Australia National Conference. 

The National Conference will be hosted by the Drummoyne congregation on 2 June 2012 as part of the weekend of events related to the biannual Australia Mission Conference. It will begin on the 2^nd with the opening worship at 9 am. All members of the church who wish to participate may do so. 

Australia National Conference Operational Rules 

The National Conference is not a legislative conference but an effort to determine the level of consent around a specific issue we are dealing with here in Australia. The National Conference will convene using Roberts Rules of Order, but discussion will follow dialogue guidelines rather than legislative procedures.  The conference Rules of Order which guide our proceedings will be as follows: 

1. These operational rules are established under the authority of the church’s bylaws, Article VII, Section 3:  Field conferences or in some cases national or cultural area conferences may be called on the authority of the apostle(s) concerned and under rules approved by the Council of Twelve, with the approval of the First Presidency. Such conferences will be special conferences. Only such business described in the notice of the conference can be considered. 
2. The Field Apostle, or a person designated by the Field Apostle, will preside and/or Chair the National Conference.  The Chair will appoint a Secretary and a Parliamentarian. 
3. All Community of Christ members registered in the Australia Mission may attend and participate in the National Conference with voice and vote. Participation via proxy is not allowed, according to church bylaws.  Guests and ex-officio members may participate with the approval of the Field Apostle, either in person or via pre-arranged taped video.  
4. The National Conference is not a legislative conference, but a polling of opinions around a proposed statement of consent, As such parliamentary procedures involving resolutions, substitute motions, amendments, postponement of consideration, or calling for the question will not be used. 
5. The only parliamentary procedures that will be used are:  “Raise a question of privilege”; “Point of order”; and, “Parliamentary inquiry”.  These procedures will be utilised in organising the conference and preparing for the dialogue session which forms the heart of the Australia National Conference. 
6. The Guide to Good Dialogue will serve as the framework for the dialogue process (see below). 
7. During the dialogue session(s) each person will have one opportunity to share his/her perspective on the question under discussion.  Each contribution will be limited to 2 minutes.  The Chair has the option of adjusting these parameters according to the evolving situation. 
8. The procedure for voting “for and against” a measure will be replaced with a method for determining the level of support for the statement of consent which utilises coloured cards.  This method has been part of the pre-conference dialogue process and has been approved by the Council of Twelve and First Presidency for use in the Australia National Conference. 
9. A two-thirds majority (as indicated by the total number of green, blue, and yellow cards) will be required as the minimum level of consent needed to move forward on the issue under consideration by the National Conference. In the event that a two-thirds majority is not achieved or it becomes obvious that harm would come to the church in Australia through continued discussion of the issue, the conference may consider adjournment without providing a recommendation to the Council of Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency. Should this happen the question will be set aside for a period of time, the length of which will be determined by the Field Apostle in conjunction with Australian church leaders. 

Guide to Good Dialogue 

During the dialogue session the Guide to Good Dialogue will provide the framework for the sharing of perspectives. It consists of the following guidelines: 

• Suspend the urge to decide “right now”
• Listen carefully for points of agreement
• Speak respectfully, using care in your language
• Speak for yourself. Offer your perspective concisely
• Respect confidentiality
• “More” perspectives are better than “few”
• Expect a better outcome than if you had not had the dialogue; trust the process
• Turn mobile phones off or put them on silent ring 

Objectives for the National Conference and Assumptions Underlying the Dialogue Process 

The objectives of the National Conference and several underlying assumptions which have been part of the congregational dialogues sessions are included here to remind participants of what it is we are trying to achieve from this event and some of the foundational pieces which have supported this process. 

The objective of the National Conference is two-fold:  

1. Determine the level of consent achieved on the question of ordaining individuals of same-sex orientation who are involved in long-term, i.e. de facto relationships as a result of the dialogical process, and
2. If there be the required level of consent, present recommendation to the First Presidency and Council of Twelve regarding the formation of policy that will enable the Mission to act on the issue. 

The assumptions undergirding this dialogical process that serve as the backdrop for the dialogue are: 

1. The church has allowed for the ordination of individuals of same-sex orientation for nearly 30 years so long as they are celibate.
2. Scripture informs a person’s thinking but should not be used to stress a point or convince others out of their perspective. (See Scripture in the Community of Christ found at www.CofChrist.org/OurFaith/scripture.org )
3. The Australia Mission has a legislative history of affirming the worth of persons and supporting full involvement based on giftedness rather than on one’s sexual orientation.
4. Section 164 provides principles to guide discussion on difficult matters which cannot be dealt with at the World Conference level and authorises the formation of National Conferences to deal with such matters. We conduct this conversation with input from the First Presidency and Council of Twelve. Our role is to work toward consensus. Their role is to fashion policy that is reflective of the consensus achieved. (See Section 164: 5-9)
5. Should it be obvious that the issue is so contentious that harm would come to the church in Australia should we put forward the recommendation then we may consider shelving the dialogue for a period of time.
6. Seek first to understand and then to be understood. 

Statement of Consent 

The heart of the National Conference is the statement of consent. It has been the focus of the congregational dialogue sessions leading up to this gathering and will serve as the focal point for the dialogue at the National Conference itself. What we will attempt to do in the conference dialogue sessions is determine the level of consent we can achieve related to this statement. This is the sole purpose of the Australia National Conference. The statement of consent reads: 

We support the ordination of individuals called by God through the processes established by the Community of Christ who are in long-term committed homosexual relationships, i.e. de facto relationships, and recommend that the First Presidency and the Council of Twelve Apostles proceed to prepare and implement policy allowing these calls to be considered, and, if approved, for ordinations to proceed within the Australia Mission. 

Congregational Dialogue Sessions

In preparation for the conference, members have been asked to enter into a time of prayer, discernment and reflection, in a spirit of openness.  A reflection guide of spiritual practices to assist individuals and congregations in Australia has been available on the World Church website:  www.cofchrist.org/australiaConf.   During the past year, congregational dialogue sessions have been held in congregations throughout Australia, to provide opportunity for people to share their feelings, experiences and reflections on these topics.  In each dialogue session, participants were polled to ascertain their level of support for the statement of consent. 

To date all but one of the congregational dialogue sessions have been finalised. When completed, seventeen of our twenty-three congregations will have engaged in a dialogue session. Six congregations chose to opt out of further conversation at this time feeling ready to move directly into the National Conference. In addition, the participants at Discover 2012 engaged in the dialogue as part of their experience. 

The tally taken at the congregational dialogue sessions will not factor into that taken at the National Conference; however it does show some indication of where people were at the time of the dialogue sessions. Of the 246 participants at the congregational dialogue sessions to date, 217 (88%) have registered as being in favour (green, 156; blue, 44; & yellow 17) with the remaining 29 (12%) registering against the recommendation (orange, 13; red, 12; and 4, white). One congregational dialogue session is still scheduled to occur as this article goes to print.   

Method Used to Determine the Level of Consent 

At the National Conference, once the dialogue sessions are completed on the above statement and everyone who wishes to share a perspective has done so, a poll will be taken of the assembly using the system of coloured cards referred to above. Each participant will be asked to select a coloured card that best represents their opinion on the statement of consent and hold it up until counted. A count of each colour will be recorded. For purposes of deciding whether the recommendation moves forward or not, the colours green, blue and yellow will represent being in favour while orange, red, and white will represent being not in favour. The operational rules for this National Conference require that there be a total of 2/3 in favour in order to move the recommendation to the First Presidency and Council of 12. 

1. Red – No Support, opposed
2. Orange – Minimal support with major unresolved concerns
3. White – Undecided, confused, or requiring more dialogue
4. Yellow – Support, but still with some concerns
5. Blue – Significant support, with few concerns
6. Green – High level of support, no significant concerns 

The Outcome of the National Conference is Unknown:

The final outcome of the National Conference is still open.  The question under consideration does not have a pre-determined outcome.  Every voice is needed at the conference, in order to obtain an accurate survey of how the church members feel on this issue.  Please encourage every member to attend, and participate in the dialogue and the poll at National Conference.   

Projected Timeline, if a Change in Policy is requested: 

If the results indicate that two-thirds or more of the church members in Australia wish to change the policy, a recommendation to that effect will immediately be sent to the First Presidency and Council of Twelve.  Working collaboratively, those two quorums will draft a detailed interim policy and consider all the questions and implications that may result from a change in policy in Australia.  That will take time.  The first opportunity for the two bodies to get together is September, 2012.  Further discussion and editing of a draft will take place in December.  The interim policy will be developed, approved, and implemented within one year following the National Conference. 

Because what we are attempting is a brand new procedure, the policy will be an interim policy only.  During the succeeding two years, as we live with the interim policy, we can identify the adjustments and modifications that may be required.  Questions will arise, and situations will require additional thought and consideration.  After two years, the interim policy will be reviewed and refined.  The resulting final draft will be approved by the Council of Twelve and First Presidency, then presented and implemented in Australia.   

If a Change in Policy is not requested: 

If the tally does not warrant that the recommendation move forward then the issue will remain as is for the time being. No further dialogue sessions are planned or anticipated in the near future on this issue should this be the outcome.   Re-opening the official dialogue process will occur at a future date with the approval of the Field Apostle, in consultation with the Australian leaders and staff.  

Implications of Ordaining Individuals who are living in a Same-Sex/Gender De Facto Relationship:

If the Australian church recommends a policy that allows persons in same-sex de facto relationships to be ordained to priesthood if called by God, those ordinations can take place only for members of the church residing in Australia.  Members residing outside of Australia cannot be called and ordained by Australian pastors or leaders, even if the pastor or leader discerns a call for that individual.   

Calls for individuals who are living in a same-sex/gender long-term committed relationship will be processed according to the long-established procedures of the church, based on 1) a call from God, 2) discernment by the supervising minister, 3) approval through the appropriate administrative line, 4) a sustaining vote at the appropriate jurisdictional conference, 5) appropriate education through Temple School courses, and 6) ordination by qualified Community of Christ priesthood members. 

Community of Christ, from its beginning, has never limited priesthood authority to one jurisdiction following ordination.  A person ordained in any one jurisdiction has the authority to provide priesthood ministry and perform the sacraments—according to the policies of the church—anywhere in the world.  However, it is important to remember that our emphasis on common consent also extends to the acceptance of ministry among the members of the church.  No one can force anyone to accept ministry.  Ministry must be both offered and accepted in order to occur.  If a congregation or an area is unable or unwilling to accept ministry from an individual, that should be communicated in a gentle, pastoral manner, and accepted in the same spirit.   

Priesthood members will not be required by the church to perform ordinations against his or her will.  The priesthood member always has the right to decline to participate in an ordination or refer the priesthood candidate to another priesthood member in a gracious and pastoral manner.  

Following the National Conference: 

Regardless of the outcome of the Australia National Conference, there will be some who feel that they have not been heard and who feel marginalised as a result. All members are invited to uphold one another in prayer throughout this process and to share compassionately with each other. How we move through this process is as important as what we are considering.  In this, Doctrine and Covenants 122:17b provides an appropriate reminder: Let nothing separate you from each other and the work whereunto you have been called.  

There is one more thing. This will be the first National Conference in the history of the church. It represents a new way of addressing issues which are pressing in one area but which are unspeakable or could invoke harm to members if considered in other areas of the world where church members live and work. Others will be watching us as we confer together on this issue which is important to us. If the outcome is favourable to your perspective, please show restraint in how you speak of that to others in emails, Facebook messages, on Twitter and through other means of social interaction. If the outcome is not favourable to your perspective, then please be measured and careful in the way you speak so as to avoid harm. Each of us is accountable for the words we speak to one another.  

May the Good Spirit bless our conferring together is our prayer. 

Ken Barrows, President

Australia Mission 

Susan Skoor, Apostle

Canada and Pacific Field

Australia Mission Conference Official information

In accordance with provisions adopted by the 1993 Australia Regional conference we are including here items for business that will be on the agenda at the upcoming biannual Australia Mission conference on 3 June 2012. ARC1993-12 requires that reports and items of business be in the hands of the Mission President no later than forty (40) days prior to the first business session. Our target is to have all new items of business received at the Mission office by 15 April in order for them to be sent to delegates within the time frame specified (Mission officers and official committees are exempted from this requirement provided they give as much notice as practicable).

List of motions and reports for 2012 Australia Mission Conference

1. Items covering the internal functioning of the Australia Mission:

Sustain Australia Mission President

Resolved, that this conference sustain Kenneth A. Barrows as President of the Australia Mission Centre

Sustain Australia Mission Financial Officer

Resolved, that this conference sustain Paul Ferrett as the Financial Officer of the Australia Mission Centre

Sustain Australia Mission Field Ministers (Congregational Support Ministers)

Resolved, that this conference sustain the Australia Mission funded field ministers, namely: Wendy Ballard; Robert Thompson; Ben Smith; Kassandra Unger; Alicia Mitchell; Daniel Hartford; Emily Hartford; and June Stephenson.

Mission Conference dates for 2014

Resolved, that the Australia Mission conference convene on 6-9 June 2014 (with alternate date of 30 May -1 June 2014) at a location to be determined by the Mission Presidency in consultation with Mission pastors and the Mission Council.

Sustain Mission Historian

Resolved, that this conference sustain Margaret Morris as the Australia Mission Historian and Archivist.

Approval of Priesthood calls

Resolved, that this conference approve the following priesthood calls:

            Emily Hartford to the office of Elder

            Kassandra Unger to the office of Elder

            Alicia Mitchell to the office of Elder

            Erin Bonnefin to the office of Elder

            Daniel Hartford to the office of Priest 

2.      Items covering a National Scope: 

Three separate motions contained within the Saints Care report: 

Resolved, That this conference ratify the new constitution for Saints Care Ltd. 

Resolved, That this conference sustains current directors Rick Sarre, Anne Sutton, Anne Bonnefin and Lisa Yen.

Resolved, That the conference appoint up to two directors from a compiled list of names including Ken Robinson, Malcolm Stephenson, Richard Gillard, Liz Rayner, Leon Clifford and Ben Smith together with other eligible nominations.

3.      Items for recommendation to the 2013 World Conference 

Request to the First Presidency

Whereas, long-term, committed relationships between individuals of heterosexual orientation is defined and protected under law across Australia; and, 

Whereas, In 2007 the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that of the 116,322 couples in Australia who registered for marriage that year, 76.8% had indicated that they had lived together prior to registering their marriage; and, 

Whereas, increasingly church members, young and old, are choosing to live together in de facto relationships as part of their relationship formation process; and 

Whereas, some of these individuals have priesthood giftedness, aptitude and a sense of calling; therefore be it, 

Resolved, that this conference request the First Presidency to formulate policy allowing for the ordination of individuals of heterosexual orientation who are living in long-term committed relationships (i.e. de facto relationships in Australia but referred to by different terms in other countries) which are recognised and provided for in law with rights and responsibilities attending to each party, who are called to priesthood responsibility in accordance with the current practice within the church; and, be it further

Resolved, the World Conference request that this policy formation be expedited so as to allow for ordinations which have been considered and would be approved, to proceed beginning September 1, 2013 in those jurisdictions where these relationships are legal and culturally appropriate. 

Delegates to World Conference 

Whereas, it is the right of the Australia Mission Conference to elect delegates to a World Conference; therefore be it 

Resolved, that this list of names be selected as delegates and alternates to the 2013 World Conference in the order they appear; and, be it further 

Resolved, that the Mission Presidency is authorised to add names to this list in the order they are received up to the total number of delegates and alternates the Australia Mission is able to have based on instructions received from the World Church Credentials committee; and be it further 

Resolved, that this motion rescind AMCC 2006-3.  

Delegates                                                                    Alternates