Ordination still a hot topic at General Assembly
By James D. Berkley, The Layman, May 30, 2012
One might think that the General Assembly issue of ordination standards would be quiet this year, following the decades-in-the-making victory a year ago by gay advocates. The ordination castle that had been stormed so unsuccessfully so many times in years past suddenly proved vulnerable and then fell in 2010-2011. Now practicing homosexual persons ostensibly can be ordained. So this coming General Assembly ought to be quiet about ordination matters, right? Think again.
The force that conquers a castle must also defend it. Once those opposed to the ordination of sexually active homosexual persons had to remain vigilant to fight back an assault at any time from any direction. Now the roles are reversed, and gay-liberation advocates must defend the ground they gained last time around – again, no matter what form of opposition might arise. Their counterparts do have a number of sorties planned against the rainbow castle walls.
Toggle back to “fidelity and chastity.” An overture (7-06) would simply remove the vague new language about ordination in G-2.0104b and replace it with the former language of fidelity in heterosexual marriage and chastity in singleness. Two other overtures (7-03 and 7-05) would add fidelity and chastity into the previous paragraph (G-2.0104a), accomplishing the same end.
Tighten up the new language. The present G-2.0104b (which replaced G-6.0106b) appears purposefully vague, not providing any actual standards. Overtures 7-01 and 7-12 would require obedience to Scripture where now only guidance is suggested. Overture 7-02 would add the need to adhere to standards and speaks of the requirement of a “chaste and obedient life.” Overture 7-16 reaffirms what other standards do remain, even with the loss of “fidelity and chastity.” Each such approach seeks to live with the new by making it clearer and stronger.
Clarify current options. Given the new reality of local option, how can sessions or presbyteries make clear what they will and will not allow? Overtures 7-10 and 7-11 seek to establish that a council cannot be found delinquent simply because it does not ordain practicing homosexual persons. Overture 7-08 would add a new paragraph (G-2.0104c) to specify that it is permissible for a council to publish its ordination expectations, making clear where it stands. These two approaches would assure councils the ability to retain their standards.
Consolidate the win. Other business items, if approved, would strengthen the pro-LGBT position and frustrate any attempt to return to the previous policy. Overtures 7-09 and 7-13 would allow ordination candidates to hide their ordination-standards viewpoint when examined, possibly causing conservative councils to ordain dissidents unknowingly . Overtures 7-17 and 7-18 enjoin Presbyterians to quit arguing over the ordination matter—now that the tables have turned. Overture 7-21 and 7-22 handle questions arising from the change in policy, aiding those who prefer the new.
While those fighting to change the ordination policy and those fighting to maintain it have switched roles in the last two years, the battle continues.
Other business items deal with speeding up the call process (7-19), returning to minister and elder terminology (7-04), reassessing the effectiveness of ordination exams (7-07), clarifying that candidates for ministry must be examined (7-20), giving United Methodist Church clergy blanket approval to officiate at the Lord’s Table (7-15), and changing how members of the presbyteries’ Cooperative Committee on Examinations for Candidates are elected.