WALKING TOGETHER with OPEN HEARTS

Dear People of God in the Diocese of Saldanha Bay

Jesus himself came up and walked along with them
Luke 24:15
I address you in this Ad Clerum on the very specific matter of Human Sexuality and Same
Gender Unions/Marriage.
(i)

HUMAN SEXUALITY
Science, psychology and sociology have long since recognized that Human Sexuality is
far more complex than heterosexual normality may suggest.
Slowly but surely society has begin to realise the truth of the diversity of human
sexuality.
Our own nation has embraced that diversity in its constitution and laws, and in the
legislation of Civil Unions for same-gender couples.

(ii)

OUR PASTORAL GUIDELINES

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa has been debating for the last three years to
formulate Pastoral Guidelines to enable formal ministry to be given to LGBTI people in
our Parishes.
It appears that we as the Anglican Province of Southern Africa have not been able to
formulate any guidelines, that would move us further along, than what the guidelines of
Lambeth 1.10 suggests.

It is therefore, for example, not permissible at the present time for Clergy to:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)

Pray for same gender couples to celebrate their union

Bless the Union/Marriage of same gendered couples
Solemnise the union of same gender couples
Enter into such a union themselves

To do any of these shall result in the withdrawal of the clerics license, or the
requirement to voluntarily hand over the license.
(iii)

THE REVD CANON MPHO TUTU and Professor MARCELINE VAN FURT
It is necessary for me, now, to refer to this couple, because Mpho Tutu is a licensed
cleric and Honorary Canon in the Diocese of Saldanha Bay. I shall keep my comments
to a minimum regarding my personal pastoral relationship with Canon Mpho, suffice to
say in this Ad Clerum that Mpho Tutu has complied with the canonical requirement that
the consequence of her marriage to Marceline van Furt has caused.

(iv)

OUR DIOCESAN RESPONSE

Since returning from our Provincial Synod of Bishops meeting in East London, 14 th
19th February, I have met with the following groupings in the Diocese of Saldanha Bay.
The Diocesan Council, 20th February
The Diocesan Chapter, 23rd February
The Diocesan Finance Board, 24th February
The Diocesan Trust Board, 24th February
The Bishops Forum with the Clergy of the Diocese, 25th February
I also met with the Bishops Executive Committee on 9th February.
To a great or lesser degree at each of these meetings the question about our response
as a Diocese to minister to LGBTI persons was addressed.
At all these meetings the Diocese expressed commitment to work in and with the
Anglican Church of Southern Africa to proclaim the good news that human sexuality is a
complex and a splendid gift of God and that no one is excluded, from the reach of Gods
embrace, by any Gift of Gods endowing
not by their race
or the colour of their eyes
or whether they have one disease or another
or whether they are differently abled
or whether they are
heterosexual
gay
lesbian or
bisexual.

(v)

RESOLUTION from THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL

Our Diocesan Council passed a Resolution that calls for a Task Team to be appointed
to explore these issues and propose a way forward, in time for a resolution to be taken
from the Diocese of Saldanha Bay to the Provincial Synod of A.C.S.A, which meets at
the end of September this year.
A copy of that Resolution and the Names of the Members of the Task Team are
attached to this Ad Clerum.
If you wish to participate in the work of this Task Team, please indicate this to Lizel
Carelse and we shall co-opt you onto the Team.

(vi)

DOCUMENTS for you to READ

I urge you in the Diocese of Saldanha Bay to read the following documents

Proposed Pastoral Guidelines from A.C.S.A

The Windsor Report
Lambeth Conference Indaba Report
The St Andrews Day Statement
The Report of the Working Group in the Province of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa,
New Zealand and Polynesia
The Archbishop of Cape Towns Ad Laos.
Statement from the Synod of Bishops
From the documents, I highlight the following to indicate the intention from the Archbishop and
the Synod of Bishops, to move forward in this matter: I take courage and hope in this
statement from our Archbishop:
we did address the question of whether that decision [Lambeth 1.10] is
immutable, whether it has replaced scripture, and whether a Province of the
Communion or a diocese within a Province may deviate from it
and this phrase from the Synod of Bishops Statement: therefore the draft guidelines affirm
for now
Both these quotations indicate the developmental nature of doctrine and revelation, and our
human understanding.
For now

(vii)

we see through a glass darkly

now I know in part; then I
will know fully, even as I have
been fully known 1 Cor. 13:12

MY POSITION and MY CALL

Here I stand
I think, in this instance, it is important that I declare to you all unequivocally where I
stand on this matter.
The Bishops of A.C.S.A have stated the following
We must confess that we are not of one mind about homosexuality. Our variety of
understanding encompasses:
(a) Those who believe that homosexual orientation is a disorder, but that through the
grace of Christ people can be changed
(b) Those who believe that relationships between people of the same gender should not
include genital expression, that this is a clear teaching of the Bible
(c) Those who believe that committed homosexual relationships fall short of the Biblical
norm, but are to be preferred to relationships that are anonymous and transient.
(d) Those who believe that the Church should accept and support or bless
monogamous covenanted relationships between homosexual people and that they
may be ordained.

My view is captured in (d) above. I wish however to state categorically that I respect the
persons who hold the other views reflected in this spectrum and that I abide by the
position that they Anglican Church of Southern Africa currently holds on this matter.
However I call on us all in the Diocese of Saldanha Bay to walk together with open
hearts, albeit at different speeds.
That we make space in our Diocese
for unity in variety
for unity without conformity
for unity without unanimity
for ambiguity with integrity
This is what I see when a community walks together at different speeds but with open
Hearts.
MORE THAN A MIDDLE WAY Let us Walk together
I am calling us to radical hospitality, to trust the notion, that two distinct views may be held in
integrity not just simply to choose the middle way.
To become Church takes time, resolving matters is best done over time, and however
frustrating that may be, this is exactly what we have to do now. Unity flourishes through
variety and diversity
Unity is not about managing the Church, but discovering each other
Let us not sit on the fence, but let us bravely and courageously take our stand on this matter.
I urge you all to think and pray your way into this Gospel Challenge.

I appeal to you to learn as much about human sexuality and share what you learn with the
souls in your care.
With every good wish
Yours in Christ,

+Raphael