Kuala Lumpur Statement

More than 80 delegates from Anglican churches of the two-thirds world, including many Bishops and Archbishops, met in Kuala Lumpur from 10th to 15th February 1997 for the Second Anglican Encounter in the South. The formal statement from the Encounter is entitled A Second Trumpet From The South (Trumpet II) which is also available, together with the opening address by the Chairman, The Most Revd Joseph Adetiloye, Archbishop of Nigeria. The Kuala Lumpur Statement below was produced by one of the
working groups. It has subsequently been endorsed by other bodies within the Anglican Communion.

Statement on Human Sexuality

1. God's glory and loving purposes have been revealed in the creation of humankind. (Rom1:18, Gen 1:26, 27) Among the multiplicity of his gifts we are blessed with our sexuality.
2. Since the Fall (Gen 3), life has been impaired and God's purposes spoilt. Our fallen state has affected every sphere of our being, which includes our sexuality. Sexual deviation has existed in every time and in most cultures. Jesus teaching about lust in the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5:27-30) makes it clear that sexual sin is a real danger and temptation to us all.
3. It is, therefore, with an awareness of our own vulnerability to sexual sin that we express our profound concern about recent developments relating to Church discipline and moral teaching in some provinces
   in the North - specifically, the ordination of practising homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions.
4. While acknowledging the complexities of our sexual nature and the strong drives they place within us, we are quite clear about God's will in this area as expressed in the Bible.
5. The Scripture bears witness to God's will regarding human sexuality which is to be expressed only within the life long union of a man and a woman in holy matrimony.
6. The Holy Scriptures are clear in teaching that all sexual promiscuity is sin. We are convinced that this includes homosexual practices, between men or women, as well as heterosexual relationships
   outside marriage.
7. We believe that the clear and unambiguous teaching of the Holy Scriptures about human sexuality is of great help to Christians as it provides clear boundaries.
8. We find no conflict between clear biblical teaching and sensitive pastoral care. Repentance precedes forgiveness and is part of the healing process. To heal spiritual wounds in God’s name we need his
   wisdom and truth. We see this in the ministry of Jesus, for example his response to the adulterous woman, "…neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." (John 8:11)
9. We encourage the Church to care for all those who are trapped in their sexual brokenness and to become the channel of Christ’s compassion and love towards them. We wish to stand alongside and
   welcome them into a process of healing within our communities of faith. We would also affirm and resource those who exercise a pastoral ministry in this area.
10. We are deeply concerned that the setting aside of biblical teaching in such actions as the ordination of practising homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions, calls into question the authority of the
    Holy Scriptures. This is totally unacceptable to us.
11. This leads us to express concern about mutual accountability and interdependence within our Anglican Communion. As provinces and dioceses we need to learn how to seek each other's counsel
    and wisdom in a spirit of true unity, and to reach a common mind before embarking on radical changes to Church discipline and moral teaching.
12. We live in a global village and must be more aware that the way we act in one part of the world can radically affect the mission and witness of the Church in another.