Rhode Island Jerusalem Council Responses
1. What values do we hold in common that inform our capacity to live with profound differences in interpretation of Scripture?
Comments:
- Can we fish together from opposite ends of the stream?
- Stop telling others they are not loving
- Allow for diversity
- God uses both types
- Oneness in Jesus Christ
- Strong in the Lord experience
- Jesus as center
- Integrity
- Need wider circle
- Can we agree on the question?
- How do we understand?
- How do we live out our theology?
- Agree on “authority of Scripture.”
- What does that mean?
- Start – divine grace – soul communion in Christ
- Don’t accuse
- Not loving
- Not Christ-centered
- Don’t embrace Scripture
- Lack of understanding of mission opens door to other issues
- United in mission to evangelize
- Lack of common definition of terms
- Different ways to same place
- Need to clarify mission
- Have a history together
- Put emphasis where Bible does
2. What does affirm mean?
Accept fully?
Not seen as second class false assumptions
Comments:
- Autonomy of local church
- Soul freedom of individual
- Affirm – approval
- Say yes to
- Agree with
- Receive
- What can we affirm?
- Desire not to be judged by standards of others
- Need to discern God’s will and purpose for us together
- Guidance of prayer – soul searching
- Discernment
- Discern God’s will and purpose for us as ABC
- Need to understand complexity of issue
- How can we work together when some threaten to leave?
3. What else would you like to say to Senator?
Comments:
- We have bigger agenda – mission
- Cannot be put off forever
- Need to get off fence
- Why is this the issue? – schism word
- Ordination issue
- Matter of conscience, soul liberty
- Why can one region dictate to other region?
- Not vote ↓ in ↑ organization
- Remember we are American Baptist Churches
- Think about repercussions on family
- Forbearance – building up community
