Calvin Synod Herald, 1977 (77. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1977-01-01 / 1-2. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

7

EPISCOPAL CHURCH ORDAINS WOMEN

In January, forty-three women have been ordained priests in the Episcopal Church, as authorized by the General Convention last September. Of the so called “Philadelphia Eleven” and the four other women who received a disputed ordination in 1976, so far eight have arranged for “services of recognition” which will make their status legal throughout the denomination. The opponents condemn the ordinations as “heresy” and “sacrilege” and they maintain that the result can only be schism within the churches. So far, three groups organized themselves within the denomination to fight the decision, and to work toward a reversal at the next meeting of the General Convention.

Rome was quite unhappy over the new development. On January 11, the official newspaper of the Vatican, the Osservatore Romano, issued a statement that “the ordination of women as Episcopal ministers in the United States poses an obstacle to ecumenical dialogue and unity between the Roman Catholic and the Anglican churches.” On January 27, Pope Paul VI issued a declaration in which in a very rigid manner he rejected the idea of ordination of women to priesthood. This he did in spite of the fact that his own Biblical Commission reported last fall that “there is no basic opposition to women priests in the Bible.”

As far as the ordination of women to the ministry is concerned, we can see no problem, our denomination has many ordained women ministers, some of them are members in good standing of our Calvin Synod.

There is one point, however, where we cannot go along with our Episcopalian brethren: in January, Bishop Paul Moore, the liberal head of the New York City diocese ordained 30 year old Ellen Barrett, who is not only a lesbian “in tendency,” but a self-confessed practicing one, who believes that “homosexuality is alternative life stye that can be a good and creative thing.” We believe that ordination of practicing homosexuals, male or female, should not be permitted by the Church, because it is plainly contrary to the teaching of God’s holy Word which we have sworn to uphold “as the ultimate rule of Christian faith and practice.” Calvin Synod, alone among the Conferences of the UCC, took a firm and unequivocal stand on this matter both in 1973 and 1976: no homosexuals should be ordained to the Christian ministry.

A Prayer of Confession

Almighty God, Spirit of purity and grace, whose salvation is never far from the contrite heart, listen to my confession of sin, and have mercy upon me:

for my many refusals of Thy call, for all my forgotten vows,

for the better purposes which I have suffered to grow weak,

for the excuses I have fashioned to hide from myself my unfaithful life, for the vindictive passions I have cherished, for my readiness to blame others, for my lack of thoughtfulness, patience, kindness, and sympathy,

for all the goodness of life which I have received thanklessly,

for the strength which I have wasted, for the oportunities which I have neglected, for all the beauty of this fair world and the love of human hearts which have passed before me, and which in my thoughtlessness and anxiety and passion I have not appreciated,

for my selfish comfort amid the wrongs, oppressions and sorrows of life, for the counsel of Thy word

which have spoken to me vainly, for the grace and truth of Thy beloved Son which I have slighted, for the pleadings of Thy Spirit

to which I have not listened, have mercy upon me, good Lord!

May I achieve the grace of true humility in Thy presence so that I may cease to defeat Thy will for me and my fellow-men by my self-will. May the vision of what I might be, convict me of what I am, so that Thy mercy may redeem me of my sin through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

(After John Baillie)

ASK FOR FORGIVENESS?

When Leonardo da Vinci was working on his painting “The Last Supper,” he became angry with a certain man. Losing his temper he lashed the other fellow with bitter words and threats. Returning to his task he attempted to work on the face of Jesus, but was unable to do so. He teas so upset he could not compose himself for the painstaking icork. Finally he put down his tools and sought out the man and asked his forgiveness. The man accepted his apology and Leonardo was able to return to his workshop and finish painting the face of Jesus.