What does it mean to be inclusive?

Ko te Karaiti te pou herenga waka:
Whakapaingia te Atua tō tātou Kai-hanga, Whakapaingia te Atua tō tātou Kai-taurima, Whakapaingia te Atua tō tātou Kai-ūnga ki te ao whānui.

Christ is our mooring post:
praise God our creator, praise God who has adopted us, praise God who sends us into the wide world.

We believe that as a Cathedral, and the mother Church of the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, we are called by God to be a safe harbour,
where all of us can approach Christ our mooring post, and where all God’s people should be celebrated and welcomed as made in the image of God.
We don’t always get things right, but we’re trying to follow Christ, who came that all of us should have life, and we invite you to join us on the journey…

Gender and Sexuality

“God created humankind in God’s image: in the image of God, God created them; male and female God created them.” (Genesis 1.27)

We believe that all people are created in the image of God, and that the diversity experienced in God’s creation reflects the wonderful diversity of the Creator of all things. We believe that God calls both women and men fully and equally to membership and leadership within the church and society, and to be fully part of the sacramental life of the Church, including the sacrament of ordination to the diaconate, priesthood and episcopate. By the active inclusion of all God’s people, the life of the Church and community is enriched and enlivened.

We believe that human sexuality is a gift of God to be cherished and honoured. It is an intrinsic part of who we are as human beings, and an expression of God’s glorious diversity in creation. We believe that God blesses those who seek to live in permanent, faithful and stable relationships, regardless of their sexual orientation and that such relationships are as much an example of God’s love in the world as heterosexual relationships. Anything which seeks to suggest that there is something inherently wrong or sinful in those who are takatāpui and LGBTQI+ or which seeks to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression; is, we believe, wrong.

We acknowledge, with sadness, that certain religious teachings have often caused and continue to cause deep pain and offense to takatāpui and LGBTQI+ New Zealanders. We acknowledge, with profound regret, that some of these teachings have created and continue to create oppressive systems that fuel intolerance, perpetuate injustice, and result in violence and abuse. We ask for forgiveness from those whose lives have been damaged and destroyed on the pretext of religious teaching.

We also recognise the diversity of takatāpui and other expressions of gender and orientation as unique offerings from mātauranga Māori and its Pacific roots, and we seek most of all to live according to the challenge of Jesus Christ in the Gospels: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13.35)

Useful Link: The Global Interfaith Commission on LGBT+ Lives