Inspiring Partnership in Ministry Task Force
Women in Leadership: Hearing Fears and Offering Thoughts If there are two perspectives that are biblically authoritative how do we move forward? How can that be resolved? How can we trust the Bible?
In 2016
the General Board undertook to collect data and opinions from all EMC church leaderships regarding their views and practices pertaining to “women in leadership” in their local churches. Following this process there was an open discussion at the 2017 Conference Council meeting where the details of this survey were presented, and small discussion groups helped to formulate a plan for a process of healthy discussion regarding this topic. The second priority listed by these discussion groups was to: “Determine what fears people have regarding women in ministry and create forums for these fears to be expressed.” Several months ago, the Inspiring Partnership in Ministry (IPiM) task force connected with a wide variety of people in our conference, who helped us identify many of these “fears.” The question was relatively simple: “What are your concerns surrounding the idea of unrestricted ministry for women? Both concerns stemming from possible removal of restrictions AND stemming from possibly not removing restrictions.” After choosing a representative sample of the “fears” that were expressed, we asked a variety of people to write short thoughts about these “fears.” The intent is to treat all “fears” as legitimate concerns and to simply reflect on them.
ISTOCK
Throughout the history of the Church, there have been differing perspectives on the interpretation of the Scriptures on various matters. The Spirit has guided faithful followers of Christ toward consensus on the key truths of the faith, and these have been faithfully preserved and handed down through the centuries. Even our own conference Statement of Faith is a product of that heritage of continued examination of the Bible. We are indebted to the Spirit and to those who have gone before us. But within this faithful stream of orthodox Christianity there are secondary issues where significant disagreement can remain. We recall things like Calvinism versus Arminianism, different modes of baptism, pacifism or just-war theory, the working of the Holy Spirit, etc. Committed Christians who hold to the authority of Scripture have found themselves differing on these matters. Yet it appears, because these are secondary issues, that there has been room in the Church for these differing viewpoints to co-exist. The need to find one agreed-upon resolution was not necessary for the integrity of the global Christian faith to continue. The question of men and women in leadership in the Church can also be seen in this way. Differing perspectives and church practices have coexisted for a long time, including within traditions that hold to the complete authority of the Bible. The question before us as a Conference is not in any way shaking the trust we all hold in the Bible. It is simply asking whether we see enough room in our Conference for both perspectives to be recognized. – Ward Parkinson, Pastor (Rosenort EMC, Man.)
6 The Messenger • March 2020
