Assembly of Confessing Congregations (Uniting Church in Australia)

The Assembly of Confessing Congregations (ACC) is an evangelical or conservative Christian group, an expression of the Confessing Movement, within the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) that formed after the 11th Assembly, on 13–14 October 2006 following a joint summit on 12 July 2006 between the Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church in Australia (EMU) and the Reforming Alliance within the Uniting Church in Australia.[1] The group also includes a number of UCA congregations drawing their membership from various Pacific Islands nations, as well as Chinese, Korean and Aboriginal congregations.[2]

History

Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church in Australia (EMU)

EMU (previously known as Evangelical Ministers of the UCA) was strongest in South Australia where Methodism was the strongest strand coming into the UCA. EMU had gained prominence as a result of their opposition to gay ordination in the lead up to the 1997 Assembly, however while gay ordination was the catalyst in forming this group, EMU focused on the issue of Biblical authority.

The purpose of EMU was stated to be:

  1. Encourage an evangelical contribution to the Uniting Church and
  2. Provide support for evangelical ministers, members, congregations and groups within the Uniting Church.

The Reforming Alliance within the Uniting Church (RA)

The RA within the Uniting Church was established in 2003 in response to the 10th Assembly's decision not to ban outright the ordination of practicing homosexuals.[3]

The Assembly of Confessing Congregations within the Uniting Church in Australia (ACC)

The Assembly of Confessing Congregations within the Uniting Church in Australia (ACC) formed in response to the 11th's Assembly decision to pass a resolution which they believed brought the church closer to accepting ordained ministers in same gender relationships.[4] It was inaugurated on the 13–14 October 2006 at Wesley Mission, Sydney, New South Wales 71 congregations formed the ACC at that time. They promulgated a statement on sexuality in response to this.[5] They declared that the Uniting Church had been "apostate" [6] in their decision making in regards to sexuality and leadership within the Uniting Church, with some Uniting Church members felt that the ACC was a church within a church.[7]

Government

The ACC is composed of congregations that each decided through a formal meeting to join.

Founding document and other documents

A statement of sexuality, The Charter and a Confessing Statement.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Assembly of Confessing Congregations. "History of Assembly of Confessing Congregations within the Uniting Church in Australia".
  2. ↑ "Pacific churches in Australia upset over gay ministers". ABC Radio Australia. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 June 2005. Retrieved 2005-04-24.
  4. ↑ Resolution 108
  5. ↑ Assembly of Confessing Congregations. "Assembly of Confessing Congregations Statement on Sexuality" (PDF).
  6. ↑ Assembly of Confessing Congregations. "The Charter for the Assembly of Confessing Congregations" (PDF).
  7. ↑ Zwartz, Barney (14 July 2006). "Gay clergy split Uniting Church". The Age. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  8. ↑ Assembly of Confessing Congregations. "Assembly of Confessing Congregations Confessing Statement" (PDF).

External links


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