1. GROWING IN PRAYERFULNESS
PART 2
KNOWING WHAT TO PRAY

2. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:26-27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

3. The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

4. Marriage and the Uniting Church
The Uniting Church in Australia currently understands marriage as “the freely given consent and commitment in public and before God of a man and a woman to live together for life”.
We acknowledge that there is a diversity of opinion in our Church community on the issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and same-gender marriage.

5. Marriage and the Uniting Church
We have always tried to maintain a respectful conversation on same-gender marriage between the councils of the church and to work constructively across our membership.
In recent years important work on the theology of marriage in the Uniting Church has been undertaken through the Assembly Doctrine Working Group.

6. Marriage and the Uniting Church
We are committed to being an inclusive Church that embraces LGBTIQ people as full members and to culturally appropriate discussion about relationships and marriage across our diversity. We are engaging in respectful conversations with one another, guided by the Spirit, sharing our stories and understanding of marriage and same-gender relationships in culturally appropriate ways.

7. Marriage and the Uniting Church
The Uniting Church will not be recommending any position to its members in relation to a postal plebiscite, should one take place. The Uniting Church has developed a range of resources to assist members to think through and discuss the issues surrounding marriage.

8. Marriage and the Uniting Church
Earlier this year Uniting Church President Stuart McMillan spoke of his hopes and expectations about the way Uniting Church members should conduct respectful conversations on marriage in his “Conversations from the Heart” statement.