Why do the Bishops and Commission support repeal of s59?
By | May 3, 2007
It’s pretty obvious, both by our straw poll here, public polls in general, and the voice of some in the Anglican Church, that not everyone was in favour of the repeal of section 59. If the current straw poll on our site is anything to go by, it seems there is a pretty mixed reception amongst visitors to our site about the modified bill that is set to be passed in a few weeks time.
So, if General Synod haven’t voted on section 59, and there is a significant mood against repeal, why did/do the Bishops and the Social Justice Commissioner speak out?
In the 2006 General Synod, a number of justice related motions were voted upon and passed. One of the most relevant is a motion concerning violence.
46. Human Violence
1. Motion: Dr J Plane Te Paa
That this General Synod / te Hïnota Whanui:
a. Commits itself to working for the elimination of family violence and all forms of violence between God’s people.
b. Requests that all Ministry Training and Theological Education programmes within this church give priority to understanding the causes of family violence, and that they include studies and reflection on ways of reducing any and all acts of violence between God’s people. These programmes should include opportunities and resources for faith communities to become more fully informed in order that effective and enduring transformative work can occur.
c. Requests that all Episcopal units work in close association with the Social Justice Commissioner in developing, piloting and implementing these programmes, which should seek in turn to draw upon the work already done in this area through the Decade to Overcome Violence and other initiatives.
As a consequence of the church’s official position on violence as expressed in this motion, the Bishops and the Commission support s59 repeal, and are very happy with the way in which the bill has now progressed.
Support of repeal echos the church’s official stance on violence.
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“Would to God that all the Lord's people were Prophets.” Num. 11:29
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