Shame on us
Here’s a little bit of background: I chair Zeeland Classis’ Candidate Care Committee.
I don’t say that to suggest that I’m some kind of big deal (I’m not) or because I want your recognition (or, for that matter, sympathy - I don’t want either). I say that because I’m speaking from the view of someone who should have thought about these kind of things.
If you haven’t heard, Ann Kansfield has announced that the Classis of New York has voted (albeit barely) to refuse her ordination. (You can read her post, and comments about it, here.)
I don’t want to argue the question of whether or not she should be ordained. Everyone is already arguing that subject and I’m fairly certain that the few people who actually read my blog already have their minds made up on the subject.
What I want to note is not the “what.” I want to note the “how.”
I spend a lot of time preaching and teaching about the fact that Christianity is not an “outcome based” religion. There’s I lot I could (and do) say about that, but for now, let it suffice to note that the “how” of our behavior is as important as the “what.”
As for Ann’s ordination, whatever you think about the “what,” we ought to be ashamed (as members of Christ’s church) regarding the “how.”
I’ll admit I haven’t spoken to Ann about this (so, Ann, if you’re reading this feel free to correct me), but I’d presume that Ann was taken under care of her classis several years ago and has been regularly examined since then. I do know that her sexual orientation has been public knowledge for several years now (probably longer).
To admit her for her Senior exams, after several years of “care” and regular examinations. And then to refuse ordination over something that has been known for years, is a shameful “how.” Whether or not people think it was the appropriate decision, we (all members of Christ’s church) ought to be ashamed.
If a classis is unwilling to ordain gays and lesbians (as would be the case, undoubtedly, of my own classis) they should be honest enough not to string candidates along for years dangling the “carrot” of ordination in front of them and then pull it away, last minute, over something that has been known since the beginning.
I understand that Senior Exams sometimes illumine issues that cannot be ignored but this is not one of those times.
And lest you think this is simply the ramblings of some embittered liberal, let me remind you that the congregation I serve is among the most conservative in the RCA and when I called them to pray for Ann yesterday, during worship, they understood what I was saying.
Ann….Our prayers are with you.
Grace and Peace,
`tim
2 Responses to “Shame on us”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
July 10th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
OK, you finally got me to register.
I agree with you, completely. Well said.
July 11th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
I agree, too. But I’m also trying to parse the bizarre action of NY Classis which I have seen reported. How can the Classis acknowledge that Ann is called by God, has gifts for ministry, that those gifts are bearing fruit, and they won’t ordain her anyway? What business are we in as a Church, identifying God’s call and then NOT answering? If they are going to choose not to sustain the exam, shouldn’t they have the guts to say, out and out, “This is what we’re doing, and this is why”? I’m ashamed of our polity, and wondering whatever happened to our covenant.