DEAR FRIENDS AND CONGREGATIONAL FAMILY,

We would like to personally communicate with you about the Remits that were passed at the 2021 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

REMIT B: DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE
The Presbyterian Church in Canada holds two parallel definitions of marriage and recognizes that faithful, Holy Spirit filled, Christ centred, God honouring people can understand marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or as a covenant relationship between two adult persons.

REMIT C: ORDINATION OF LGBTQI PERSONS (MARRIED OR SINGLE)
That congregations and presbyteries may call and ordain as ministers and elect and ordain as ruling elders LGBTQI persons (married or single).

In the context of this report, a “remit” can be understood as an action (eg adopting the definition of marriage as a covenant relationship between two adult persons) officially assigned to an organization (in this instance, all congregations within the Presbyterian Church in Canada).

These two remits are now included in the polity (laws) of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. This decision has been many years in the making, and it is the responsibility of the session to implement the implications of these significant decisions into the life of St Andrew’s.

The session recently met to share our own journeys and understanding of this significant decision that reflects a significant majority of the Presbyterian Presbyteries across Canada. Listening thoughtfully to each other helped us in our own understanding. Here are a few of the thoughts shared:

• The Remits are about what it means to value and respect all individuals, without regard to sexual orientation.
• How do we decide what Scripture says, when we view it through current culture? What does science say? Genetics? What is eternal truth? Difficult questions.
• Often words of scripture are hard to understand (one passage says one thing, another passage may seem to be in conflict). But what we do know is “the greatest of these is love”.
• Everyone needs to work out their own conscience, which is a continuing journey. Important that this journey is with love and without judgment
• Personal experience about a family member who is gay; coming to an overwhelming knowledge that God loves this person.
• Over the thirty years of discussion on the topic, after prayer, I come to the realization that it is time to let the younger people make decisions; I am now in favour of both remits.
• Personal stories of gratitude expressed by family members of LBGTQI persons upon hearing that a relative is fully welcome and included in the church.
• We are all made in the image of God.

What does this mean to us, here at St Andrew’s? It means that we welcome all people to our congregation regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental ability, income, or political beliefs. We can state that we are an affirming congregation.

What do we need to do? We need to reflect this in everything that we do and say. We need to fully include everyone in the life of our church. We need to intentionally reflect this in all of our communication: Facebook, TWASA, the LINK, website, bulletins. This work needs to begin without delay.

What does this mean to you? Maybe you have concerns and difficulty with understanding and accepting these remits?

It is okay to have a hard time. These were decisions not taken lightly, by individuals and by the governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church. Many of us may have struggled as we anticipated and grappled with issues implicated in these remits.

Maybe you want to read more, as you seek a greater understanding? Perhaps you may want to talk about how you are feeling. Here are a few suggestions:

• Talk to an elder
• Talk to Pastor Mitch Coggin (Transitional Minister) or Rev. Wayne Stretch (Interim Moderator)
• Refer to the Presbyterian Church in Canada website and other Presbyterian church websites. In particular, the following might be helpful:

The Final Report of the Rainbow Communion (which can be accessed as a video, verbal or written presentation) sourced from the experiences of the storytellers: Rainbow Communion: Special LGBTQI Listening Committee – The Presbyterian Church in Canada

Bible study guide: ” Thinking together about human sexuality and sexual orientation in The Presbyterian Church in Canada” .

On behalf of the Session of St Andrew’s,

COLINA TITUS
Session Clerk

“There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3: 28