Biblical & Theological

Biblical & Theological Exploration

The following pages outline the biblical, theological, pastoral, and practical considerations informing the St John’s elders’ draft frameworks on marriage, divorce, remarriage, sexuality, and gender.

They aim to clarify the principles, discernment, and Scripture-based reasoning behind these statements; showing how we aim to walk relationally and pastorally with individuals and couples.

This draft is not a set of rules or a final teaching, but a transparent statement of our current values and convictions, offered as part of ongoing discernment. Like all supporting documents, it may be updated as we continue Learning Streams and reflect together.

The elders have engaged this subject slowly, humbly and prayerfully. Our conversations have aimed to listen

first, to Scripture, to each other, and to the lived experience of people in our church, rather than to rush to verdicts. We have prioritised education, careful Bible reading, repeated drafts of our thinking, and creating space for testimony and pastoral stories.

Throughout, we have tried to model the posture we hope the wider church will adopt: patient listening, mutual respect for conscience, rigorous study, and a commitment to walk with people pastorally even where we disagree theologically.

We offer these draft frameworks out of that same spirit: not as finished pronouncements but as an honest record of where our discernment has reached so far and as an invitation for the whole church to join the process.

For each topic there is a guide that aims to share the journey the elders have been on.

INCLUDING:

The Draft Statement for that area
Biblical and Theological Themes
Historical and Pastoral Context
What We Mean (Plain Language)
What This Does Not Mean
Pastoral Approach
Implications for Church Life
How This Reflects St John’s Vision & Values

In addition, for those who would like to read further, there are two levels of information.

Each page includes all the topics, so we recommend going through the guide for each topic first.

The first includes

Key Biblical Texts and how Christians interpret them
Questions to explore, and
Why St John’s elders have landed where they have

The second is an

In depth Biblical and Theological resource, representing the scope of the studied and discussed work undertaken together as elders.

As part of our extended discernment process around marriage, sexuality, and gender, we engaged deeply with Scripture. People in our church hold a range of biblical interpretations, and Christians across traditions have read these passages differently for centuries.

Each guide's purpose is to support deeper understanding, and does not attempt to persuade readers toward a single viewpoint. Instead, it seeks to:

Honour the Bible as God’s living word
Acknowledge sincerely the different ways Christians interpret these passages
Provide clarity about why faithful believers do not all reach the same conclusions
Show how the Elders have come to focus on covenant, mutuality, faithfulness, the fruit of the Spirit, and the example of Jesus as central ethical guides
Equip those who want to study the Scriptures more deeply
Model humility and openness to ongoing learning

Before we go to the first area, we want to take a moment to consider how we read scripture together.

How we

read scripture together

Across our communal study and discernment, several principles consistently shaped our approach:

1. Jesus at the centre

We read the whole Bible through the lens of Jesus’ character:

his compassion
his welcome of those pushed to the margins
his challenge to legalism when it burdens people
and his call to relationships marked by faithfulness and love
orientating our lives to Jesus’ loving leadership

2. Covenant and Christlike character

Scripture repeatedly emphasises:

mutual commitment
honesty
self-giving love
justice
and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).

3. Understanding historical context

We recognise that:

ancient marriage practices were different from modern ones
the Holiness Code in Leviticus included many laws Christians no longer follow
Paul’s writing in Romans interacted with Greco-Roman assumptions about procreation and social order
Greek terms like arsenokoitai and malakoi are difficult to translate and historically tied to exploitation

4. Acknowledging diversity within the Christian tradition

Faithful Christians have interpreted the key texts in different ways. We honour that diversity rather than pretending Scripture is simple where it is complex. Specifically at St John’s we also recognise there will be a diversity of views, experiences and perspectives, we are not looking for uniformity.

What we are looking for is:

deep, thoughtful reflection
a genuine willingness to listen and learn, particularly from others with different understandings and experiences
a love and respect for one another in how we interact
recognition that Jesus’ heart is always for relationships

What do we mean when we say that St John’s has a high view of Scripture?

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What do we mean when we say that St John’s has a high view of Scripture?

In St John’s Church, we view Scripture as a living, Spirit-inspired guide for discipleship and transformation. We emphasise learning to be more like Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit, and our teaching reflects a dynamic, relational engagement with the Bible, seeking to get to know the God of the Bible, and therefore we do not read Scripture with a rigid or literalist approach.

We value Scripture highly, viewing it as a

dynamic story we are invited to live into and in which we encounter God, the inspiration for the Bible. We read the Bible in the light of the time and context in which it was written, seeking to understand the historical, cultural, philosophical and spiritual understandings of the authors rather than reading it as a static rulebook. As much as possible, we engage with Scripture together in various corporate ways to seek discernment about its application through our ongoing conversation with God’s Word.

Rather than a doctrinally fixed “statement of faith” about the Bible, St John’s embodies a practical, relational, and inclusive view of Scripture - one that welcomes dialogue, nurtures discipleship, and seeks transformation in community.

View of Scripture

Core Emphases

Christ-focused lens: We consistently frame Scripture as pointing towards Jesus and shaping discipleship in everyday life, believing that Scripture is a guide for following Christ in the midst of real-world challenges.
Spirit-guided engagement: We stress the role of the Holy Spirit in helping believers understand and apply Scripture, making it dynamic and relevant rather than fixed.
Transformational purpose: Our emphasis is on encounter and change — Scripture is meant to transform people into courageous, inclusive, outward-facing, loving disciples.
Accessible and communal: We include all-age teaching and creative formats for all ages, showing that Scripture is for the whole community to explore and wrestle with communally and across the generations.
Space for questions: Our sermon series (like Faith through the Lens of Doubt and Difficulty) show that we value honest engagement with Scripture rather than suppressing uncertainty and questions.

Approach to Scripture

Jesus-centred interpretation:

St John’s approaches Scripture through a Jesus-centred lens rather than treating all parts of Scripture as having equal weight. One of the names for Jesus is ‘The Word’ - John 1 states,’ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’ This means that we believe Jesus is the fullest revelation of who God is.

The whole Bible is inspired and authoritative, yet some parts reveal God’s character with greater clarity than others, and Jesus holds the whole story together. His life, teaching, and self‑giving love guide how we understand every passage, especially when we encounter texts that feel complex or difficult. In this way, Scripture leads us to Jesus, and Jesus helps us read Scripture faithfully.

Authority: St John’s approaches Scripture as God-inspired, Spirit-guided and Christ-centered rather than as the inerrant, literal word of God.

Interpretation: St John’s approaches Scripture as open to discernment, dialogue, and contextual application rather than being fixed and resistant to reinterpretation.

Purpose: St John’s approaches the purpose of Scripture in terms of transformation, discipleship and invitation rather than providing doctrinal clarity and moral boundaries.

Community Role: St John’s approaches Scripture in a way that is participatory, accessible and intergenerational rather than hierarchical and entirely teacher-led..

Implications of Our View

Inclusive discipleship: Scripture is used to foster communities where questions, doubts, and diverse experiences are welcomed.
Practical relevance: Sermons and series connect biblical texts to everyday struggles (e.g., resilience, service, joy, work, etc).
Progressive tone: Our approach resonates with churches that value courageous, contextual engagement with faith rather than strict doctrinal enforcement.

How This Reflects St John’s Values

Everyone gets to play: We expect that God will use Scripture to speak to anyone, not just to those in leadership and with theological training.
Culture of honour: We are inspired by Scripture to foster relationships shaped by grace, truth, and respect.
Pursuing God’s will together: We engage Scripture deeply and walk in humility, holding space for the Spirit to guide.

Over the last few years, we have been exploring together through our sermon series,

how we read and understand the Bible. Here are some of those teachings: