new church life: november/december 2014
After much study,
reflection, prayer,
intense listening,
and considering
what a strong
preponderance
of the clergy see
the Word to be
teaching, I believe
that we should
maintain our
current policy
of inaugurating
only males into
the priesthood.
A word about my role. The Executive
Bishop does not operate alone, nor does he
unilaterally formulate doctrine or applications
for the Church. In his effort to serve the Lord
he should speak from his best understanding of
the Word, after considering the understanding
of the entire priesthood and taking counsel
from the laity. This is similar to the teaching
about civil leaders being under the law and not
being tyrants. (New Jerusalem and its Heavenly
Doctrine 322-324) Therefore decisions such as
the one before us are not the Executive Bishop’s
alone but include a wide range of people. I have
felt humbled and sometimes inadequate to be
placed in this role.
Some have wondered why this decision
rests with the priesthood. Based on the chapter,
“Ecclesiastical and Civil Government” in the
New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly Doctrine
(paragraphs 311-325) we have an episcopal
form of government. While the entire chapter
is instructive, one paragraph is especially
pertinent:
Governors over those things with people which
relate to heaven, or over ecclesiastical [church] affairs, are called priests, and
their office is called the priesthood. (# 314)
The Latin for “governors” is praefecti which can be translated as prefects,
governors, people in charge, supervisors, etc. We have always understood this
to mean that anything having to do with the organized church, including the
clergy itself, is under the direct supervision of the priesthood.
In our exploration of this subject the clergy were encouraged to study the
Word anew and take counsel from the laity in their areas of responsibility.
It was discussed at most of the regional clergy meetings in 2013. The clergy
have read many presentations offered by laypeople, including a summary of
an extensive online discussion forum which largely advocated for a change.
At the June plenary clergy meetings there were eight major presentations
on the subject, four of which in some way supported the ordination of women.
After those meetings, with more time to reflect, most of the clergy sent me
a one-page synopsis with leading doctrinal points and an application from
them.
What are the doctrinal guideposts that came to the fore? No brief summary
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