The church has taken a step which it hopes will lead it out of the impasse over questions about the ordination and blessing of folk who are in same gender relationships.
A commission of eminent people, led by former Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, met for the first time on Saturday to begin the task of clarifying the choices the church faces over these issues ”“ and identifying the implications of those choices.
The commission’s task is to summarise the Biblical and theological work done by the church over 30 years on these matters ”“ and to present a final report to the 2014 General Synod which outlines the various options, and suggests the implications of each of those options.
As a non-Kiwi the only member of the Commission of whom i have heard is Prof. Paul Trebilco. I have no idea of his views on this matter but he is a brilliant NT scholar. He’s know for his work on “groups” in Asia Minor – thus books on Jewish Communities in Asia Minor, the christian communities in Ephesus from Paul to Ignatius, little commentaries on 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, and a new book (I haven’t read) on early Christian self designations. Each of his big books has been ground breaking – not in the sense of the “new thang” – but because he has asked questions of the texts that have been innovative and interesting. If I had to guess, I would imagine that he is an evangelical but I may be mistaken.