The Ministers Council Senate plans to host biblically-based Jerusalem Council gatherings among American Baptist ministerial leaders around the country from now through June 2005 on differences over the issue of homosexuality. Background information about the events that gave rise to this plan is available in Post-Senate 2004 Communication and Pre-Senate 2004 Communication. Updates will continue to be provided on www.ministerscouncil.com.
We praise God for showing us the way forward through the model presented in Acts 15 as the early church faced different understandings of how to go on as faithful followers of Jesus Christ. The Ministers Council seeks to discern our future with constituents who are ABC ministerial leaders holding widely divergent perspectives on the biblical witness as it informs our understandings of homosexuality. Through Jerusalem Council gatherings around the country between now and July 2005 we prepare ourselves for a Senate vote in August 2005 on a proposed Bylaws amendment related to that issue and presented by the Pacific Southwest Ministers Council. Like the original Jerusalem Council, participants will rely on Scripture, Spirit and testimony to show them if they might go on together and how, not to make a statement on the issue of homosexuality for the denomination.
Jerusalem Councils are now being scheduled and that information will be provided on this website. The goal is to hold each Jerusalem Council at a site with ABC membership in the surrounding area that includes persons of different perspectives on the biblical witness concerning homosexuality. All ministerial leaders of the ABC are welcome to participate in a nearby gathering and/or to respond to a two-question survey posted on the Ministers Council website. Signatures are required and confidentiality is assured. Responses will be destroyed after an objective professional evaluator has analyzed and summarized the input received.
Throughout this year we ask your prayers that God will show us a way forward that we cannot yet imagine.