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The Huron Expositor, 1988-09-28, Page 24SA — THE HURON EXPOSITOR, OCTOBER 5, 1988 THANK YOU The Board of Directors of the Seaforth Agricultural Society would liketo thank all those who exhibited, gave specials and donations, helped or participated in any way to make the 1988 Seaforth Fall Fair a success. CONGRATULATIONS The following is a list of draw winners. Gate draw win- ner, cheese basket, Thelma Broadfoot, Seaforth; turkey, Margaret Whit ore, Walton; apples, Tammy Driscoll, Walton; elementary school bicycle draw, Chris Gemmell, Kippen; Guess the weight contest, Pork Draw, first half pig, David O'Rourke, Mitchell; second 1/4 pig, Roy Wildfong, Mitchell; third 1/4 pig, Bob Vandenneucker, Seaforth. Beef - 1/2 beef, Grace Tit - ford, Maplewood Manor; second 1/4 beef, John Driscoll, Walton; third 1/4, Bill Stephenson, Wingham. Homosexual debate taking away from real role of the church The United Church of Canada has been rocked in recent months by controversy sur- rounding its struggle to reach a consensus about homosexuality as it pertains to the church. The issue first arose in 1981-82 and was sent out to the churches for reflection and debate. Information from that reflection and debate was forwarded to General Coun- cil (which consists of elected represen- tatives of United Church Presbyteries across Canada ) and because of the negative reaction was sent out again for study and reflection. In February/March of 1988 a study docu- ment, "Toward a Christian Understanding - of Sexual Orientations, Lifestyles and Ministry" was compiled and again reaction across the church was extremely negative. As a result people - including pastoral charges and presbyterys - began putting in- to process ways of making their views known to the General Council, who ultimate- ly makes the decisions for the church. The General Council listened to their views, reflected on them, and finally shelved its W YTE BROS. FAR S Limited is ready to receive your March report, classifying it as a historic document which no longer reflects the posi- tion of The United Church of Canada. It then formed a Sessional Committee, who examined and studied presentations, and finally in August, when its members were in total agreement, presented a state- ment to the General Council. The new state- ment; adopted by the General Council, reaf- firms the traditional church teaching on the value of marriage and of chastity in the single life. It states the current procedures for selection of members of the Order of Ministry, which require extensive inter- views with the Session of the lcoal congrega- tion, the Education and Students Committee of the Presbytery, and the Education and Students Committee and Interview Board of the Conference, serve the church well. It also declares that any person professing faith in Jesus Christ is eligible to become a member of the United Church and that any member, homosexual or not, is eligible to be considered for the Order of Ministry. That decision has not been very popular. "It's been a very difficult issue, and unfor- tunately many people are hurting over it already, " commented Reverend Cheryl - Ann Stadelbauer-Sampa of the Egmondville United Church. 1988 CORN AND SOYBEANS — 5 SERVICES OFFERED — •Buying *Storing •Custom Drying *Trucking •Custom Combining Whyte Bros. Farms Ltd. R.R. 2 - SEAFORTH 527-114 ATTENTION Seaforth and Area Residents BONUS The Blue Phone Book will be inserted in next week's Huron Expositor Oct. 12 WATCH FOR IT! Extra copies available $1.00 each "...I feel for God, because this must pain him dreadfully." "It pains me a great deal. It's very hard to watch and be a part of. I wish it were over and we could go on with being the church. I think that's more important than working out a minister's sexual orientation." Reverend Stadelbauer-Sampa admitted personally she does not accept homosexuali- ty as God's will or intent, but said she does believe people are blessed by God for ministry and shouldn't be alienated from the church because of their sexual orientation. For that reason, and others, she agrees with the decision handed down by General Council. "This is not an acceptance of homosex- uality as God's will, but a recognition that God has clearly called some people who are homosexual to leadership roles in the church. Our denomination is being honest about what every mainline denomination is doing," she said. "The answer is not a simple yes or no, and it is likely not perfect. But it is the fruit of many hours of labor and much prayer. Peo- ple from one end of this land to another prayed for the General Council that it might discern God's will. The commissioners there prayed they might be open to God's leading. Surely God would not leave such prayers unanswered. Imperfect as It may be, I believe this is a decision in which God and the church worked together. I believe the general council decision was a fair compromise." Reverend Stadelbauer-Sampa said she was disappointed the Huron Perth Presbytery, of which her church is a member, found it necessary September 27 to clarify, and even partly contradict the state- ment sent down by the General Council, with a policy statement of its Om. That statement reads: "We expect members of the United Church of Canada and most cer- tainly our ministers, to believe, practice and promote fidelity within marriage and chastity outside of marriage. Therefore, we believe that self -declared practising homosexual persons are unacceptable and unsuitable as ministers in the United Church of Canada." You get more when you subscribe to The Huron Expositor 4711-71 Huron TAxpositor i -f:,14 52'7.0240 "I'm sure that decision will please con- gregations, but we're trying to please God. The members of the General Council really struggled with God's will, and their decision was the fruit of much prayer. This tells me something about what people feel about prayer. I'm sorry the Presbytery felt. the need to clarify the issue, and work it out fur- ther in a way that is not in accordance with the decision of the General Council," said Reverend Stadelbauer-Sampa. She noted further that the United Church has in place a rigorous testing program for clergy, a system which like others has its flaws, but which works hard to ensure those who become ministers are qualified for the job. She said she knows homosexuals whom God has blessed and added the church would be poorer if they left. She said people have a preconceived idea of who and what homosexual persons are, and added, a lot are being governed by the street stereotype. "There is a notion in people's heads that homosexuals are tied to sexual offenders, that homosexual people will use their sex- uality inappropriately. But you're just as likely to encounter a hetersexual person who is that way. The homosexuals we're talking about have moral standards - most are involved in monogamous relationships. I think part of the problem is the whole no- tion of who homosexuals are," she said. She said she is saddened by the negative publicity the church is getting over this issue, and agreed people have "certainly not been loving and gentle" in their attitude. She said some of the problem has arisen because a lot of her colleagues across the church have been irresponsible about shar- ing information with their parishioners. "I'm really love this church and I'm devastated by the way people are acting in this debate. People are stamping their feet and talking of withdrawing from the church, and I'm sorry there are people who feel that way. There is so much our church does so well and it is most painful to me that people feel they have to leave the church, when 95 per cent of the time this issue will not even touch their lives. For people to say they'll leave the church over this makes about as much sense as saying they'll leave the coun- try if free trade is passed." Reverend Stadelbauer-Sampa reiterated that General Council is not asking its church members to accept homosexuality as God's will, and is certainly not asking them to pro- claim it, but it is asking that they allow homosexuals the freedom to use whatever gifts God has given them. 1, ...more important than working out a minister's sexual orientation." "The United Church encourages, accepts and celebrates diversity. It allows freedom for individuals to sort out what they feel. I've had trouble with this issue myself, but there's a passage in Acts, where it describes people who didn't fit into the mould, yet were given the gifts of the spirit. And if God has given a homosexual the gift of the spirit, who are we to argue with him," she said. "I've sat back and watched the United Church - the church I love and have chosen to represent - be bashed, and it's been hard to be apart of. But I'm not going to roll over and play dead. I feel for the people hurting and I feel for God, because this must pain him something dreadful." "I just wish people would put this issue to rest and get back to doing the important things of the church - because to me, this just isn't important." NOMINATIONS NOTICE TO THE MUNICIPAL ELECTORS 'TOWNSHIP OF GREY" NOTICE Is hereby given to the Municipal Electors of the Township of Grey In the County of Huron, that Nomination Papers may be flied in the office of the undersigned commencing Thursday, October 13th, 1988 until Monday, October 17th, 1988 between the normal office hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for the purposes of nominating persons for the following offices: A. Reeve, Deputy -Reeve, 3 Councillors, for the Township of Grey. B. 1 member of the Huron County Board of Education for the Electoral Division of the Township of Grey and the Village of Brussels. C. 1 member of the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board for the Electoral Division of the Townships of Tumberry, Howick, East Wawanosh, Morris & Grey, the Villages of Brussels & Blyth and the Town of Wingham. ELECTORS ARE HEREBY REQUIRED to take notice and govern themselves according- ly and further take notice that the manner in which the said nominations shall be filed Is set forth in the Municipal Elections Act. Nomination forms and full particulars of pro- cedures to be followed may be obtained from the undersigned. If a greater number of candidates than required to fill the offices are nominated and, make the required declarations, notice of the time for holding the polls, Including the ad- vance polls and notice of the last day for making applications for a certificate to vote by proxy is shown below. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE 1. A nominee may withdraw from a nomination at any time before 5:00 p.m. In the afternoon of Tuesday, October 18th, 1988. 2. Nominations must be signed by at least ten electors and the nominee must make a declaration of consent and qualification. 3. Where the number of candidates for an office is not sufficient to fill the number of vacancies to which candidates may be elected on the Wednesday following nomination day, October 19th, 1988, the clerk may between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. receive and certify additional nominations for the office In respect to which there was an Insufficient number of candidates. SHOULD AN ELECTION BE REQUIRED the same shall be held on Monday, November 14th, 1988 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. ADVANCE POLLS will be held on Saturday, November 5th, 1988 and Thursday, November 10th between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the Grey Township Municipal Office. DEADLINE FOR OBTAINING CERTIFICATE TO VOTE BY PROXY IS NOVEMBER 14th, 1988 at 5:00 p.m. I Brad Knight Returning Officer Township of Grey