Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I greet you in the name of Jesus the Christ, our Chief Elder.

The PEC, at its meeting held in Trinidad from July 4–6, 2014, agreed that our province should be reminded of our position on homosexuality.

In light of the recent resolution of the Moravian Church in North America—Northern Province, on the ordination of homosexuals, lesbians and persons in covenanted relationships, it is important that we share again, Resolution16 of the 29th Provincial Synod held in St. Kitts in 2009.

“WHEREAS the Synods of the EWI Province have been in continuous reflection on the matter of homosexuality [cf. 23 Synod Resolution #26 (’93) and the 27th Synod Resolution #1 (’03)] and

WHEREAS the Resolution of Unity Synod 2002 on homosexuality (cf. COUF #908) suggests that “the church is not of one mind on the issue of homosexuality” and that “honest differences of opinion exist within the Unity based upon our varied understanding of Scripture”, and

WHEREAS our study of scripture leads us to conclude that the practice of homosexuality is not to be condoned (cf. Rom. 1: 26 – 27; 1 Cor. 6: 9; Lev. 18: 22, 20: 13a; 1 Tim. 1: 9 – 10) and

WHEREAS we remain unconvinced that homosexuality is genetic in origin,

BE IT RESOLVED that we re-affirm that, as the church, we are called to love and care for all humanity;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we re-affirm that, as the church, we must love the sinner but stand in opposition to all sin and therefore we stand opposed to:

 1. The ordination of known and/or practicing homosexuals;

2. The marriage of persons of the same sex

3. Acts of violence against homosexuals which include gay bashing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the EWI Province seeks to affirm and preserve the unity of the Moravian Church (Unity of the Brethren), mindful that, should the Unity not stand in one mind on the matter of Homosexuality, the result could be the fracturing of the Unitas Fratrum.”

This is a proactive statement on the subject matter which was passed at the Synod in 2009.