National Conference in Australia:
Continuing the Dialogue

by Susan Skoor, Council of Twelve Apostles and Ken Barrows, Australia Mission Centre president
Herald, November 2011

Australia’s journey of conferring on matters of sexual orientation began long before national conferences were conceived.

In June 2008, a mission center conference resolution called for discussion, dialogue, and prayerful consideration within the Australia Mission Centre about ordaining people in same-gender, long-term, committed relationships.

Australian law identifies people involved in loving, long-term, committed relationships as being in a de facto relationship, irrespective of sexual orientation. Law sets legal provisions, rights, and responsibilities for de facto partners, similar to those of married couples.

During the two years following that conference, Evangelist Ken Robinson led conversations in every congregation across Australia to explore the issues of sexual orientation and ordination. That phase culminated at a special mission center video conference in November 2009. Groups gathered in eight locations.

All church members who wished to attend one of the sites were welcome. The
purpose was to consider a motion that concluded:

Resolved, That this World Conference ask the First Presidency to consider allowing for the ordination of individuals regardless of their sexual orientation in those jurisdictions of the church where such priesthood calls are received, or have been received and duly processed and approved by the appropriate leaders and where such ordinations are accepted by the will of the congregation, and/or Mission Centre, or World Conference.

The delegates of the Australia Mission Centre Conference affi rmed this resolution by a majority estimated at
85 to 90 percent. Leaders submitted it to the 2010 World Conference as G-16 Request to Authorize Ordination. It was among many resolutions dealing with same-gender issues.

Before consideration could occur, however, World Conference delegates approved counsel that became Section 164 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This section provides principles to guide discussion on difficult matters relating to ethical behavior and relationships.

7 a. A worldwide prophetic church must develop cultural awareness and sensitivity to distinguish between
issues that should be addressed by the World Conference and those that are best resolved nationally or in
other ways.
b. Fundamental principles of ethical behavior and relationships should be addressed by the World Conference.
The Conference should not decide specific policies for all nations when those decisions likely will cause serious
harm in some of them.
c. However, timely resolution of pressing issues in various nations is necessary for the restoring work of
the gospel to move forward with all of its potential. Therefore, let the proper World Church officers act in
their callings—as already provided in church law—to create and interpret church policies to meet the needs of
the church in different nations in harmony with the principles contained in this counsel.
d. Where possible and appropriate, convene national or field conferences to provide opportunities for
broader dialogue, understanding, and consent. In those gatherings, let the spirit of love, justice, and truth
prevail.

Because of the counsel in this revelation, the chair appropriately ruled out of order the resolutions dealing
with same-gender issues. Subsequently, many Australians proposed a national conference to discuss ordination and same-gender relationships.

A new phase of dialogue began when the First Presidency and Council of Twelve Apostles approved the proposal for a national conference. Details then began to emerge from planning.

The Australia National Conference will start June 2, 2012, at the Drummoyne Congregation in Sydney. The regularly scheduled Australia Mission Centre Conference will follow June 3, 2012. All members of the Australian Community of Christ are welcome. It will not be a delegate conference.

Facilitators are holding discussion sessions in congregations to help people prepare. They challenge church
members to live out the enduring principles in everyday life and to establish and maintain loving relationships
consistent with the values expressed in Section 164.

Daily life, however, is complex, and tensions arise in the practical application of these guidelines. Ambiguity
abounds. The process explores these tensions, attempting to find a way for disciples and the church to respond faithfully.

Divergent viewpoints are critically important. They often illuminate areas that need further deliberation. They also help identify the limits beyond which consensus is not possible. The level of support for ordaining individuals in same-gender de facto relationships is not known. The outcome is not predetermined.

Should it become obvious that harm would come to the church in Australia if we recommended altering
policy, then Australians would continue dialoguing at whatever pace and in whatever direction the people are
willing to go.

The Australia National Conference will not occur in isolation. International guests will be present to share
perspectives. An awareness of being part of the global Community of Christ impacts the discussion. As the Australians continue to prepare and participate in this important conference, church members throughout the world are invited to join in prayer, seeking God’s will through scripture, tradition, experience, discernment, revelation, and the practice of common consent.

May God bless the journey and guide the response.