Indiana Jerusalem Council Responses

 

1.  What values do we hold in common – values that inform our capacity to live with profound differences in the interpretation of scripture?

 Comments:

• Jesus is Lord. He is the authority over and above scripture
• Priesthood of the believer
• Local church autonomy – balanced with the associational principle
• Mercy, grace and love
• Salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ
• Our mission to disciples – proclaiming the Gospel
• Being salt and light in the world
• Valued diversity
• Caring for the least of these – religious freedom
• Justice as a value
• Idolize diversity
• Whosoever will may come
• Value the authority of scripture
• A value we have had in the past as a bridge people between theological positions

 2.  What else would you like to say to the Ministers Council Senators regarding the proposed amendment to the Bylaws?

 Comments:

• What happens next?
• What is exit strategy?
• How would this amendment effect churches, associations, regions, and ministers?
• How will/would Executive Committee ensure that Senators meet requirements to serve?
• How enforced?
• What makes this more important than other issues that could be addressed?
• Who is/would be going to define sexual intimacy?
• Remember there are a lot of seekers and others watching to see how we handle this and it will reflect on Jesus and the church at large
• Ministers and teachers are held to a higher level of accountability
• Is this an attempt to purify the Ministers Council?
• Will there be a sensitivity to the presence of the Spirit in the Senate meeting?
• Leave it alone – if it is of God, it will survive and thrive. If it isn’t, it will go by the wayside.
• Please don’t leave it alone.
• Is there anyone not being represented by or being silenced by the Ministers Council?
• Do we (as a group) have a definition of “the practice of homosexuality?”
• Will it cause a witch hunt? Be used as a weapon?
• How will you deal with ultimatums?
• Are we trying to limit numbers of homosexuals in ministry?
• Homosexual relationship is different than homosexual promiscuity
• If we plan our own way, our church will look like the church of Corinth or the Judaizers in Jerusalem
• Do not compromise scripture
• In reality what would passing this amendment accomplish?
• Must say somewhere who we are
• How will this solve the issue?

 3.  If God were to show us a way forward together, what might it look like?

 Comments:

• It would look like association for greater good not theological sameness
• It would look more like a camel than a horse
• Consensus not compromise
• It would not be popular
• How do we truly serve God – in touch with Holy Spirit? Walk together forward?
• A common ground
• Compromise as everybody wins
• It would begin to look like the reign of God. Jesus is proclaiming.
• We need to get beyond name calling and accusation and study scripture together.
• God leads in culturally relevant ways – we must be culturally relevant.
• We will see the fruits of the Spirit.
• A camel going thru the eye of a needle.