Position on Marriage and Sexuality

 The issue of marriage and sexuality has been on the agenda for many years in the wider Anglican Church of Polynesia, Aotearoa, New Zealand. As a result the Nelson Diocese adopted the statement on Marriage and Sexuality in 2004, reconfirming it in 2012, upholding a biblical and orthodox understanding (see here for the full statement nelsonanglican.nz/diocese-resources). St Stephens continues to affirm this Diocesan statement, believing that marriage is between a male and a female, God ordained from the beginning and reaffirmed by Christ himself.

In 2018 a proposal (known as Motion 29) was presented to all Dioceses in the province that was seen as a way forward through the disunity that was rising amongst the New Zealand Anglican churches. Among other things, Motion 29 gave the Bishops the responsibility of allowing or disallowing blessings of same sex relationships within their Diocese. Although Nelson Anglican has always made it clear that it would not allow same-sex blessings in this Diocese, a special Synod in March 2018 voted in favour of Motion 29 for the province. St Stephens spoke and voted against this motion as un-biblical and a detriment to true unity of the wider body of Christ.

It became clear fairly quickly how problematic Motion 29 was and perhaps a growing understanding of the precedent that voting for such a motion gives. For this reason a number of proposals (motions) were passed at the Nelson Diocese Synod later in 2018. These re-affirmed our biblical understanding of marriage and sexuality and declared that we were now in “impaired fellowship” with those dioceses, churches and bishops that continue in the unbiblical endorsement and blessing of same-sex relationships. St Stephens voted in favour of these motions – seeing them as a clearer statement of orthodox faith while still giving room for the consideration of our pastoral and evangelistic imperatives towards those with differing views on marriage and sexuality.

Since this Synod in 2018 there has been much discussion about what exactly “impaired fellowship” means in a practical sense. Given there is still no official diocese statement about it, the following is provided to clarify what St Stephens understands by “impaired fellowship”. Practically speaking it means that we would not allow any person, Bishop, Priest or Deacon to preach, teach, lead services or administer communion at St Stephens if they engage in or endorse the blessing of same-sex relationships as is allowed for under Motion 29.

Of course this does not at all preclude us from welcoming, caring for and ministering to those that choose to believe or understand marriage and sexuality differently. We want to speak the truth in love, always pointing people to the good news of Jesus.