Changes

Here is the current and proposed language for our Book of Order concerning ordination:

• Amendment 08-B would remove the current language of G-6.0106b: Those called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage of a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of Word and Sacrament.”
• In its place would be new G-6.0106b: Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the Constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church. Each governing body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate’s sincere efforts to adhere to these standards.

Here’s what I think is wonderful about this “new” language.  As we talked about in Nora Gallagher’s book in reference to homosexuality in the church…we had a conversation about the authority of Scripture.  What I think this second amendment and its language says is that we value living lives obedient to Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the historical tradition of our churd.  It says “yes” to all of these things while also recognizing that all God’s people are called to service.  Those who are called to serve specific purposes and seek ordination adhere to these “standards.”  And what better way to express our faith and God’s call than through Christ, the Bible and our traditions.  Even that order illustrates the value that we give to each…beginning with Christ, of course!

And so when people say that the conversation hinges on the authority we give Scripture, well, I disagree.  Those of us who believe that this change to the Book of Order and our ordination standards should occur value Scripture and its authority just as much as the next person.  To say otherwise would be to say that we are reading what we want in the Bible or that somehow we put the Bible’s authority lower than someone else.  I don’t know about you, but I disagree with the latter!

• What do you think about the change in language that our denomination is voting on right now?