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This E-Mail letter was widely circulated in both the
Northern and Southern Province and represent at least one clergyman's view
of the pointless resignation of 10 Board of World Mission staff over
disagreements with the Northern Synods actions regarding homosexuality. |
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Greetings, all. The resignations of Mission Board staff appears to result because of a profound disagreement with Northern Synod actions regarding homosexuality .Those actions affect us all when committed and dedicated persons choose to leave their areas of ministry in the Church. We can continue to debate and discuss the Moravian "umbrella," and perhaps we should. The issue at hand is not even doctrinal, as I understand it, and certainly does not raise to the level of requiring everyone to agree. We are arguing over an "auxiliary," a "non-essential," and have been doing it for some time, to the detriment of debate over other "weightier" matters. I believe that all of us read scripture selectively, at least I know that I do. For me this means that we treat some passages as more important than others. We reject some understanding of Scripture as normative for us, and accept others. For example: we accept modern descriptions of the universe and reject the "firmament over the flat earth" understanding that held sway into the 16th century .The Church's contention with Galileo and others based on its understanding of scripture should help all of us speak quietly and softly about "absolute truth." For example: we pay no attention to scripture's food prohibitions, though they were defining experiences for Peter and others. For example: we pay little heed to scripture's strictures on divorce. For example: we reject scriptural notions of women's roles that subordinate women and emphasize scripture that promotes the inclusion of everyone in decision making and in ministry. Given what we know about human personality and gender development, I also reject Scripture's condemnation of what we term homosexuality. I believe that the church is correct in welcoming all persons including homosexuals into the life and ministry of the church. How wonderful it would be if we could now step out in front of society and officially accept and preside over gay and lesbian unions and accept gay and lesbian clergy with their partners. Rev. Aden Ward |