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a EE TN TE ETE YY. TR has LA ER (a3 ' Ordination of self-declared, practicing homosexuals was vetoed, and marriage; responsi- ble heterosexual living, and fami- ly values were affirmed by delegates from United Churches: at the Bay of Qunite Conference of the church. 2. The conference, which takes in an area of Eastern Ontario with boundaries stretching from Ajax to Brockville and north to the Algonquin Park, met in Brockville May 26 to 29. Delegates represented 350 United Churches in that area. The basis of discussion and ac- tion was a report commissioned by the national church, entitled "Toward a Christian Understan- ding of Sexual Orientation, Lifestyles, and Ministry." The report dealt with the ordination of self-declared, practicing homosexuals and with the role of homosexuals in the church and its ministry to them. In spite of strong negative feel- ings on the part of many delegates to some of the recommendations and rationale of the report, the conference refused to reject the total report. Several delegates said that many of the report's recommendations are in har- mony - with United Church teachings and traditions. : Delegates voted two to one against ordaining or commission- ing "self-declared, practicing homosexuals". However, a later resolution stated that "sexual orientation, in and of itself," is not the issue. During the coference, delegates considered 153 resolutions or peti- tions, of which 47 asked that the Denture Therapy Clinic total report be rejected. Conference passed a petition which accepted homosexuality as an "orientation" which, in itself, should not preclude ordination. The petition implied that celibacy "would be the lifestyle of these per- sons. This did not meet the ap- proval of some delegates, who believe what the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, not just an orientation. Many delegates said that their decision to vote against the or- dination of self-declared, practis- ing homosexuals was based on the knowledge that others in the church are very much opposed to it. , All petitions which came to con- ference will be sent to General Council, the national level of the church, to be considered at its an- nual meeting in Victoria in August. General Council will be told whether the conference's stand was concurrence or non- concurrence. Throughout the deliberations, much concern was expressed that persons and con- gregations would know that their opinions and fears were heard at Conference and will be heard at the national level. The confusion, frustrations and some anger which surfaced in the Friday debating on the petitions led to behind-the-scenes sear- ching for some method of bring- ing delegates together in a con- sensus statement. As a result, representatives of committees dealing with petitions met and formulated a composite petition. This petition supported the prin- ciple that self-declared practicing 1330 Ritson Rd. N., - (Ritson at Taunton) Oshawa, Ont. L1G 676 JOANNE DEKKING, D.T. Monday to Saturday 436-9888 MACKEY & BAILEY BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Saturday Mornings - 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon | Oshawa Rd., Port Perry Lake Scugog Lumber Building 16) 989-7391 TED E. BEAR's TOY SHOP - is changing faces - PAINT a FACE $1 00 Each SATURDAY, JUNE 4th 1:00 to 3:00 PM at -- TED E. BEAR's TOY SHOP 189 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY 985-8011 homosexual persons are not ac- ceptable as candidates for the order of ministry, but made the statement that sexual orientation, in itself, is not the issue as much as is what people do with their sexual orientation in daily life. It affirmed marriage and responsible heterosexual living and family values as worthy Christian standards, while affir- ming the contributions to church and society that are being made by single persons. The petition called for the United Church to strive for an at- mosphere in which self-declared homosexual persons may be received and welcomed while recognizing that the United Church is not of one mind regar- ding the recommendations of this report. 'The document ended with a plea for continuing efforts at reconciliation for those who disagree on the question. Later in the conference, a peti- tion asking General Council *'to initiate and facilitate a specific process of healing ministry that will support and renew our church and its members in the months following the meeting of General presents... 8 / Al A000 | ua a THE KINSMEN CLUB OF PORT PERRY Scugog m REL -- Z| rm ------ vay ab | : ¢ Per Night PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, May 31, 1988 -- 3 Church meeting says no to homosexual clergy Council in Victoria™ passed -- unanimously. Throughout debate on the peti- tions many points were made by delegates. The report was criticiz- ed for lacking "clear definitions of words and phrases like 'orien- tation', 'homosexuality', and 'practicing homosexual'." While there was some citicism of the way the debate was handl- ed, with some delegates com- plaining that the wording of peti- tions was confusing, other delegates praised the way in which their points of view were being heard even by those who held opposite views. As Dr. Richard Boehme of Peterborough said, "We are hearing each other, although we don't always agree." Interpretation of scripture passages dealing with sexual behavior often brought different statements from pastors, lay peo- ple and professors. Delegates were told by Con- ference Executive Secretary Peter McKellar that, when they attend Conference or go to General Council, they are not the echoes of a congregation or presbytery, as if they were members of a political party. 79" COST: $ 8.00 per person in advance $10.00 per person at the door Tickets available at: Marlin Travel, Port Gifts, Custom Picture Framing, Cine-max, AA Records - Lindsay & Oshawa Proceeds to be used towards the further development of .our community parks. *Held under the authority of a Special Occasion Permit. Memorial Arena PORT PERRY, ONTARIO June 3 & 4, 1988 °: | cxxxxxxxxxxxxx FEATURING FRIDAY, JUNE 3rd HOTEL CALIFORNIA & RUMBLE SEAT Tribute to the Eagles and John Cougar CL By) SATURDAY, JUNE 4th DAVID WILCOX Guitar player extraordinaire returns with TUNES FROM "BREAKFAST AT THE CIRCUS" AREA ARBRE AERA ELLER AREER EEE BE They go instead, in their own right, in the light o i on- victions and their listening to other points of view. At one point a delegate remind- ed the assembly that it should be sensitive to the presence of peo- ple who are homosexuals. Rev. Judith Vaclavik of Peter- borough asked delegates to in- clude heterosexuals in their scrutiny of lifestyles. Rev. Vaclavik and Rev. Gale Glover, Conference Minister, af- firmed the report's sensitivity to persons living in committed rela- tionships without a marriage license; persons, often elderly who would otherwise be left to a life of celibacy, aloneness and loneliness. A double standard for ministers - one for heterosexuals and another for homosexuals - would be the outcome of Conference ac- tion, said Rev. Wayne Helliker, Rev. Alan Doerksen and Rev. Bill Wells. When one petition urged no fur- ther study of the issue of ordain- ing homosexuals until the next century, delegates voted non- concurrence, because they felt they had no right to tie the hands of future general councils. m. to a.m.