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At St John’s, the elders have spent the last five years prayerfully exploring what it means to follow Jesus faithfully in the areas of marriage, divorce, remarriage, sex, sexuality, and gender. Our desire has been to listen well to Scripture, to the Holy Spirit, to one another, and to the lived experience of our church family. The following information summarises the biblical, theological, and pastoral thinking that has shaped the elders’ draft framework.
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We do not impose rules; rather, we clarify the pastoral principles that guide us: faithfulness, covenantal integrity, mutuality, dignity, and Christ-centred discipleship. The framework reflects the elders’ current positions but remains open to ongoing discernment and refinement.
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We recognise that our congregation holds a range of views. This information is written to create shared understanding and language, reduce confusion, and support healthy discipleship as we continue to follow Jesus with integrity, humility, and love.
* Wherever you see Questions and Answers, these are just some of the questions the Elders thought people might have.
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Why has St John’s produced this framework now?
Many in our church family have been asking important questions about relationships, sexuality, and gender. We have previously had no clear or consistent positions on any of these topics. The church needed a prayerful, biblically informed, and pastorally grounded framework to support individuals, leaders, families, and groups in working within the values of St John’s Church.
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Is this a final teaching?
No. The framework expresses the elder’s current convictions and values, and will continue to develop. It is offered in good faith as part of our shared discernment. We expect future Learning Streams, teaching series, and community conversations to shape ongoing refinement.
It's an invitation to ongoing learning and discernment
This draft framework is part of our shared journey, shaped by prayer, study of Scripture, and the lived experience of our church family. It is not final, but marks the start of ongoing reflection and conversation.
Through Learning Streams, sermons, listening spaces, and prayerful discussion, we seek to grow together in wisdom, guided by the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and the example of Christlike love. Our hope is to be a community that honours God while holding space for real human stories, supporting one another in following Jesus honestly, courageously, and faithfully in all areas of life, including sexuality, marriage, divorce, and relationships.
We remain open to the Spirit’s leading, trusting that God will continue shaping us into a church marked by love, integrity, humility, and welcome, and we invite all of St John’s to walk with us in this ongoing discernment.
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Will everyone in the church agree with these conclusions?
No - and that is OK. We are a community that can hold space for theological difference, provided we treat one another with honour, humility, and love. We ask everyone to participate in the life of St John’s with respect, curiosity, and Christlike compassion.
Safeguarding, Child Protection, and Pastoral Responsibility
Before engaging with questions of marriage, sexuality, and gender, we want to affirm that St John’s is committed to creating a community where everyone, especially children, young people, and vulnerable adults, is safe, respected, and protected.
Safeguarding, child protection, and pastoral care are central to our life together and inform all our approaches to relationships and discipleship. Although the practical outworking of safeguarding sits in policies and procedures beyond the scope of this framework, our convictions here are shaped by the same values: dignity, honour, consent, emotional and physical safety, and the protection of the vulnerable.
As our understanding grows, we will continue to develop our safeguarding and pastoral practices, ensuring they remain robust, transparent, and aligned with our calling to reflect God’s love.
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Is everyone welcome to lead at St John’s?
No. Leadership discernment at St John’s is based on character, spiritual maturity, relational integrity, and the fruit of the Spirit. Sexuality, gender identity and marital status, in themselves, do not prevent someone from being considered for leadership.
Let's talk about the Biblical & Theological issues:
At this point you may want to visit the original Learning Stream which started to explore these topics. Access the videos and resources through the link below.
Or you may feel ready to continue.
* Please note: these are private webpages and are 'hidden' from any menu or links on the main site.