This past weekend the Indiana region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination voted to remove sexuality as one of the criteria they will use to say they recommend a candidate be ordained into Christian ministry. What this does do is allow individual congregations more freedom in ordaining who they see fit to ordain - a move to being true to the history of the denomination where each church is free to make it's own decisions.
This statement is neither for or against the ordination of homosexual individuals. And while I'm happy that this is a step in the right direction, in the effort to find equality, I want the denomination to get on board with this discussion. I want to see the denomination, like others, stop saying that it is going to discern the issue of homosexuality and the life of the church and bring the issue up in a serious, balanced manner for talk and debate at the general/national level. I honestly see that this is an issue that needs to be discussed on the general level. We, as a denomination, are willing to look at "green" issues, fair labor and migrant worker issues - why can't we talk about this issue too? Why can't we look to other sister denomination, who has taken a national stance on this issue but also allows individual congregations to make decisions about living it out. Some have fully embraced it, others hate it and refuse. But are fine and faithful responses - but they're responses because there was real discussion and movement on the issue.
Fear seems to be a big reason why the denomination won't discuss the issue. I've heard and keep hearing that we can't afford to talk about this issue because we don't want others to leave. The truth of the matter is, being a prophetic voice means having tough conversations and to risk changing relationship with someone else. If people can't agree to find any common ground and feel that they can't live with someone else then maybe we need to be willing to say "I/we send you off with my blessing." Sometimes we have to be willing to risk in order to be faithful. I've also been reading accounts from several places that said that once they made the decision about being open and affirming congregations/denomination that their numbers have not dropped as much as feared. This has also led to new people coming in. Maybe having this conversation and taking an official stand will be more attractive to people who want to know where a denomination stands. It at least would bring some national attention to the denomination and isn't all publicity supposedly suppose to be good?
I just pray that my denomination will be honest with its self and be willing to take on hard decisions and topics. I wish that we could both find ways to honor our historical roots but also move in the 21st century. I wish that we would stop hiding behind to word "discernment" and realize that discernment needs to lead to action/change. I pray that the denomination at the general level will be a better model for faithful living. So let it be.
This statement is neither for or against the ordination of homosexual individuals. And while I'm happy that this is a step in the right direction, in the effort to find equality, I want the denomination to get on board with this discussion. I want to see the denomination, like others, stop saying that it is going to discern the issue of homosexuality and the life of the church and bring the issue up in a serious, balanced manner for talk and debate at the general/national level. I honestly see that this is an issue that needs to be discussed on the general level. We, as a denomination, are willing to look at "green" issues, fair labor and migrant worker issues - why can't we talk about this issue too? Why can't we look to other sister denomination, who has taken a national stance on this issue but also allows individual congregations to make decisions about living it out. Some have fully embraced it, others hate it and refuse. But are fine and faithful responses - but they're responses because there was real discussion and movement on the issue.
Fear seems to be a big reason why the denomination won't discuss the issue. I've heard and keep hearing that we can't afford to talk about this issue because we don't want others to leave. The truth of the matter is, being a prophetic voice means having tough conversations and to risk changing relationship with someone else. If people can't agree to find any common ground and feel that they can't live with someone else then maybe we need to be willing to say "I/we send you off with my blessing." Sometimes we have to be willing to risk in order to be faithful. I've also been reading accounts from several places that said that once they made the decision about being open and affirming congregations/denomination that their numbers have not dropped as much as feared. This has also led to new people coming in. Maybe having this conversation and taking an official stand will be more attractive to people who want to know where a denomination stands. It at least would bring some national attention to the denomination and isn't all publicity supposedly suppose to be good?
I just pray that my denomination will be honest with its self and be willing to take on hard decisions and topics. I wish that we could both find ways to honor our historical roots but also move in the 21st century. I wish that we would stop hiding behind to word "discernment" and realize that discernment needs to lead to action/change. I pray that the denomination at the general level will be a better model for faithful living. So let it be.
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