Proposed Motions to Diocesan Synod 2012 1.

Preamble It is established in the tradition of the Anglican Church, that a Diocese is Episcopally led and Synodically governed. The Bishop holds the apostolic authority in all matters pertaining to faith and order of the Church. The Synod, who consists of official representatives of the Diocese from the various local parishes and churches is the highest governing body of the Diocese. The Standing Committee, who is elected from the Synod, is mandated to execute the functions of the Synod in the governance of the Diocese in between Synod sittings. All affairs of the Diocese are therefore, to be determined and decided within this traditional framework of the Anglican Church. The Church is the community of Gods covenantal people. She is, among others, characterized by mutual love for one another (John 13:34-35). However, she is also characterized by mutual commitment to one another in relationships. Without commitment, love cannot be effectively expressed. Without commitment, love is meaningless. That commitment must be evident by mutual respect and honour. As a Church, we must be committed to uphold the integrity of the institution. We must be committed to respect the due processes which are within the boundaries of our institution and our Constitution. In the past many months, the affairs of the Diocese have been discussed in the public arena, in particular over the internet and on the blogs. Comments and questions have been posted by people who remained anonymous. The discussion of issues relating to the affairs and life of the Church on the blogs is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable. This had in fact usurped and disregarded the due processes within our Diocese and the Church. Some of the postings include audio recordings of private conversation conducted in good faith, private correspondences, distorted reports or biased views, which are malicious in nature. We are deeply saddened by the irresponsible postings on the blogs. The actions of the bloggers have greatly tarnished the image and witness of the Church. These postings have caused much pain and confusion to the Church which the bloggers professed to care and love. In the premises, we propose the following motion to this current Synod : That we, the Diocesan Synod of the Sabah Anglican Church, strongly and totally denounce all malicious postings over social medias in relation to the life of the Sabah Anglican Diocese, her leaders and members. We call upon all members of the Anglican Diocese of Sabah to discuss the affairs, issues or disputes through the propel channels available within the framework of the Church. 2. Preamble Our Diocesan Bishop is appointed, according to our Constitution, by the House of Bishops of the Province of Southeast Asia, and not by way of election. The Scriptures tell us that all authorities are appointed by God (Romans 13:1). We recognize that the Diocesan Bishop is the spiritual authority appointed by the will of God. It is therefore of paramount importance that our life as a Church must reflect this Scriptural truth in relationship with our Bishop. We believe that by submitting to any spiritual authority, we in fact, submit out of reverence for God, who has appointed that spiritual authority. When in disagreement with spiritual authority, we

should persuade with the very spiritual authority we disagree with, and pray for Gods will be done. A spiritual authority is ultimately accountable to God. Our response should reflect full confidence in the God to whom the Church belongs. We believe that those whom God has appointed, He will also enable. In recent months, with the affairs and issues of the Church and our leaders being discussed in public arena, it is necessary for us as a Church to reiterate and affirm that our Diocesan Bishop is the authority appointed by God over our Diocese. In the premises, we propose the following motion to this Synod: That we, the Diocesan Synod of the Sabah Anglican Church, hereby affirm that the Right Rev. Datuk Albert Vun Cheong Fui is the spiritual authority appointed by the will of God through the House of Bishops having episcopal oversight over the Anglican Diocese of Sabah and we express our full confidence in his leadership. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment (I Corinthians 1:10) 3. Preamble With the recent speculations that this Synod will discuss and deliberate, among others, the possibility of disassociating the Sabah Diocese from the Anglican Communion, it is in our opinion, necessary for us to express the will and mind of the Diocese. In the premises, the following motion is proposed to this Synod: That we, the Diocesan Synod of the Sabah Anglican Church, hereby reaffirm our commitment to the life, ministry and mission of the Anglican Communion in its orthodox expression of the Christian faith.