FULL DISCUSSIONS ARE IMPORTANT
By Ralph Spence - May 1994
The power of our church comes from the perception that it is the body of Christ, and that we serve God through our support and participation in its ministry. The level of passion and commitment which individuals bring to the church depends upon their desire to sere God as well as their belief that their participation does just that. Nurturing desire to serve God is a key part of our mission; however, it is just as essential that we provide ministry that clearly does serve God.
Many of the controversial issues of General Convention involve the conflict between our efforts to encourage all people to serve God, and our responsibility to teach that being disciples of Christ requires discipline. Encouraging individuals to serve God while requiring sacrifice seems difficult to some, while serving God without sacrifice seems impossible to others.
Many see our church's strength in providing community to the lost and lonely, while others see strength in providing the guidance of morality and discipline. Some of our members see morality and discipline as an encroachment on individual freedom and human rights. Others, who have seen individuals enslaved by their desires, see morality and discipline as the key to freedom over human weakness and temptation.
Whatever decisions we make at General Convention, the Episcopal Church must provide healing ministry to any persons who are excluded through our action. If changes being sought are rejected or accepted, we must understand that either action will be perceived by some as a loss of freedom. Some members might lose the individual freedoms they want the church to endorse, while others might lose the freedom they have found through clearly defined morality and discipline.
Either group might think the church has abandoned the values that inspired their ministry and they may feel betrayed. This makes it especially important that the process of discernment is not manipulated and that we have complete discussion of the issues. For example, the ordination of sexually active homosexual persons is viewed by some as a human rights issue, while endorsing same-sex unions is viewed by many as a moral issue. We cannot address one of these issues without affecting the other; therefore, our dialogue must include both.
At General Convention, we must develop strategies for ministry with a clear vision of our church's responsibility to serve God, and not allow decisions to be based on economic or social pressures. With the resources of time, talent and treasure given by its members, the Episcopal Church has the power to influence society and shape the future for our children. That power is greatest when we cut to the core of our beliefs and find the universal language that celebrates our similarities and makes us one in community as the body of Christ. Therefore, we must understand and care for each other to the point that it becomes unnecessary to identify ourselves with the individual agendas which divide us.
