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This is the current legislation put before the Australian Mission Centre to be voted on November 22nd 2009. A Request to the First Presidency that Ordinations be Authorized regardless of Sexual Orientation Whereas, The Community of Christ has affirmed repeatedly that individuals are called by God according to their giftedness (Doctrine and Covenants 119:8b; 156:9b-c and WCR 1226 Affirmation of Human Diversity), and Whereas, Some members of the church are being denied opportunity to serve in priesthood specifically because of their sexual orientation even when a call has been discerned by the appropriate leaders and when their gifts bear witness to the validity of such calls, which is at variance with this principle of being called according to giftedness, Therefore be it 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. Prepared for discussion and clarification of wording and concept by Mission President Ken Barrows 7 July 2009
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At the Australia Mission Centre Conference on June 7th 2008 140 delegates from around Australia unanimously approved the following resolution presented by the Open Door. We are thrilled with this result and hope to see this legislation be brought to the 2010 Community of Christ World Conference so that the world church can consider and vote on this issue. We are proud of the Australian Mission Centre for taking us one step closer to bringing equality to the church regarding the ordination of those who have been called by God and who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered.
AMCC 2008-1 Sexual Orientation and Ordination
WHEREAS the world views on sexual orientation are very diverse and WHEREAS in some countries diversity of sexual orientation is not even acknowledged, let alone discussed, and WHEREAS all are called according to the gifts of God unto them, and WHEREAS we uphold ordination as a call by God with the common consent of the church in that jurisdiction, and WHEREAS in some parts of the world there are congregations comprised primarily of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and transexual people, and WHEREAS there is very little hope at this time of getting complete agreement on a world wide level on the issue of sexual orientation and ordination, be it
RESOLVED this matter be referred to the Australia Mission Centre Presidency for the purpose of arranging discussion and dialogue within the Australia Mission Centre, that the Australia Mission Centre be given time for prayerful consideration of this matter and be it further
RESOLVED that a resolution on this matter be presented to the 2009 Australia Special Mission Centre Conference to be voted upon and if approved then be it further
RESOLVED that a resolution be presented to the 2010 World Conference, calling for the principle of self determination to guide Mission Centres in the matter of sexual orientation and ordination.
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