Resolution
On the issue of homosexuality
Introduction
1. Our history as a church shows we have had
significant disagreements over interpretations of faith and practice. Examples include: participation in secret societies, purchase of war bonds,
participation in military service, divorce and remarriage, pregnancy outside of
marriage, charismatic expressions, ordination of women, and modes of baptism.
2. While our forebears have left us with many
positive examples of how to deal with difficult issues, our history also
reveals that at times we have dealt with these differences in unchristian ways.
The problem has often been faulty process, ranging from hasty decisions to
indecision. This has resulted in needless pain, loss of faith, and the fragmentation
of the Body of Christ. Past experience teaches us that
careful process is necessary when discussing disagreements in the church.
3. The CMC recognizes an issue that is causing
division among us. Some congregations understand that God has called them to
invite and include gay and lesbian believers into church membership, whereas
other congregations understand that God has called them to resist the
acceptance of homosexuality within its churches and in society.
4. In approaching this issue, we desire to learn
from both positive and negative experiences of the past. As we discern God’s
will for the community of faith, we say “yes” to procedures that promote
redemption, restoration and peace, and we say “no” to procedures that
demonstrate condemnation and rejection. Our goal is to work in a context of
patient discernment, so that the church may be faithful to “the way, the truth,
and the life” revealed in
Assumptions
1. The CMC accepts the Bible as God’s word written,
and as its guide for faith and life.
2. The CMC accepts the statement, “Vision: Healing
and
3. The CMC accepts the Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective as a statement of
its convictions, and notes the following articles as particularly applicable to
the present issues: “Scripture” (Art.4), “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Art.9),
“Church Discipline” (Art.14) and “Marriage, Family, and Singleness” (Art. 19).
4. The CMC accepts the “Resolution on Human
Sexuality,” a statement of the General Conference Mennonite Church (1986) and
the Mennonite Church (1987), as its current understanding of God’s will
regarding human sexuality.
5. On the matter of obligations between
congregations and conferences, the CMC follows its current Constitution and Bylaws which states the following: “Individual congregations
shall retain full privileges of self-determination in their own program.
However, membership in the Conference implies the responsible support of
resolutions and programs developed together” (Sec.III).
Resolution
Moved by the CMC General
Board,
1. that we renew our common commitment of
faithfulness to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
according to the light that God has given us in the Scriptures and through the
Holy Spirit, and that we call for and acknowledge the integrity of the same
commitment on the part of those who disagree with us;
2. that we re-affirm our
convictions as stated in “Vision: Healing and
3. that we encourage one
another to become “communities of grace, joy and peace, so that God’s healing and
hope flow through us to the world,” not excluding those whose sexual
orientation is homosexual;
4. that we encourage one
another to uphold the Biblical call to faithfulness, chastity and
self-discipline in all sexual relationships; and that we encourage the sexually
and relationally broken to healing and wholeness in
5. that we continue to
dialogue on those matters wherein we disagree, and that we call upon the
leaders of the CMC to facilitate and lead in this dialogue; and
6. that we urge congregations and
conferences, when they make decisions and take actions, to strive to enhance
rather than hinder their relationship with congregations and conferences of the
CMC.