“One of the significant motions that was passed at our recent synod was one endorsing an apology to LGBTIQA+ people for harm caused to them and their loved ones by the church.
The motion came after a request from Synod in 2022 for a listening process to be developed so that the LGBTIQA+ community could assist us in finding the right words for a meaningful apology. A working group was formed and undertook that task over a period of two years. During their work they heard many stories from many different people and the experiences shared in those stories became the basis of the apology.
After some good discussion, Synod overwhelmingly supported the motion.
As I remarked in my Synod address, an apology is just one part of a journey of healing – it does not end a process or a conversation. The work ahead of us is to live into the apology and make it real: this will mean changes to behaviours, language and policies among other things.
There are many LGBTIQA+ people within our Diocesan family. Most of us know people, or have family or loved ones, who are part of the LGBTIQA+ community. Most of us have some idea of the pain they have experienced in large and small ways because of people or structures within the church. This apology says that we are sorry for that pain and commit ourselves to doing things differently in future.”
Archbishop Jeremy Greaves, Diocese of Southern Queensland. Ad Clerum July 30, 2024
About The Author
