Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church in Australia
Encyclopedia
The Evangelical Members within the Uniting Church in Australia (EMU) is a conservative lobby group within the Uniting Church
(UCA). They were previously known as Evangelical Ministers of the UCA.
EMU espouses Evangelical
views and is an example of the Confessing Movement
. They are strongest in South Australia
where Methodism
was the strongest strand coming into the UCA. EMU has gained prominence as a result of their opposition to gay ordination in the lead up to the 1997 Assembly.
While gay ordination was the catalyst in forming this group, EMU had a broader charter than homosexuality. It was recognised that at the heart of many issues confronting EMU, the fundamental issue was one of Biblical authority. That is, what authority did the Bible have in the church? Was it an outdated book that was out of step with current cultural expectations, or was it, in fact, the Word of God to the church and the world?
The purpose of EMU was clearly stated from the beginning:
1. Encourage an evangelical contribution to the Uniting Church and
2. Provide support for evangelical ministers, members, congregations and groups
within the Uniting Church.
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
(UCA). They were previously known as Evangelical Ministers of the UCA.
EMU espouses Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
views and is an example of the Confessing Movement
Confessing Movement
The Confessing Movement is an Evangelical movement within several mainline Protestant denominations to return those churches to what the members of the movement see as theological orthodoxy....
. They are strongest in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
where Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
was the strongest strand coming into the UCA. EMU has gained prominence as a result of their opposition to gay ordination in the lead up to the 1997 Assembly.
While gay ordination was the catalyst in forming this group, EMU had a broader charter than homosexuality. It was recognised that at the heart of many issues confronting EMU, the fundamental issue was one of Biblical authority. That is, what authority did the Bible have in the church? Was it an outdated book that was out of step with current cultural expectations, or was it, in fact, the Word of God to the church and the world?
The purpose of EMU was clearly stated from the beginning:
1. Encourage an evangelical contribution to the Uniting Church and
2. Provide support for evangelical ministers, members, congregations and groups
within the Uniting Church.