Upstate New York 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:

Humility
Love
Soul liberty
Take scripture seriously
Lordship of Jesus Christ
Jesus as Savior
Independence and interdependence
Grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone
Serve Christ by proclaiming the good news
Committed to transformation who/who?
Champions of marginalized
Respect for each other and ourselves
Common history
Voluntary association
Priesthood of all believers (mutual respect)
Autonomy
Missions
Believer’s baptism
Soul liberty
Saved by grace
Autonomy of local church? (Disfellowshipped?)
Liberty not to associate
Freedom to choose – Is there a limit to that freedom? Are there imposed limits?
Mercy – contrasted to judgment
Responsibility of individual to wrestle with scripture
Individual freedom held in tension with community interpretation or church doctrine
Tension of autonomy and interdependence
Personal relationship with God – leaving room for differences of experience
Holiness – by grace and the Spirit of the church/individual
Pursuit of obedience of God – through action on scripture
Non-creedal, yet confessional

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

Comments:

What will “we” do if it passes?
What will “we” do if it fails?
Why is this a Ministers Council issue?
Take a written poll
“It will grieve me if this resolution passes.”
Regions should be able to send whomever they choose
What is least harm?
How will this be enforced?
Could this open a similar prohibition regarding divorce or other unforeseen issue(s)?
Motion seems specifically applicable to issue of divorce
Time to take a stand and not be wishy-washy
Is the Ministers Council willing to “throw out” soul liberty and autonomy?
Reasonable to affirm what we have already said denominationally (i.e. policy statements)
No “litmus test” for other national boards/committees
Find out what non-Ministers Council members feel/believe
Create more opportunities to discuss sexuality in broader ways
Amendment asks Ministers Council to take a role belonging to Regional Commission on the Ministry
See report on Denominational Unity about percent of membership who support resolution on homosexuality.
Consider who would be excluded if amendment passes
Senate needs grievance procedure – (Matthew 18)
This is a wider issue than Ministers Council

3. Is there anything else you would like to say?

Comments: