Comments on: Can We Stand In The Middle? http://bill-hayes.org/2009/01/07/can-we-stand-in-the-middle/ An attempt to write about how I am feeling at the moment about God, nature, family, friends, animals, and other important -- and not so important -- things. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:29:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bill http://bill-hayes.org/2009/01/07/can-we-stand-in-the-middle/comment-page-1/#comment-216748 Bill Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:27:32 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/?p=1262#comment-216748 David -- Like you, I have always felt that Sessions and Presbyteries should have the final word on ordination -- or discerning who God calls to minister / elder. However, I have also felt that we need some guidelines. That being said, I am not sure if Amendment B is not too restrictive. I like your point about needing to be open to God's call. As I said in my post, my fear is that continuing the debate only keeps us from doing what is really important -- and is a bad witness. Thanks for your comments! David — Like you, I have always felt that Sessions and Presbyteries should have the final word on ordination — or discerning who God calls to minister / elder. However, I have also felt that we need some guidelines. That being said, I am not sure if Amendment B is not too restrictive. I like your point about needing to be open to God’s call.

As I said in my post, my fear is that continuing the debate only keeps us from doing what is really important — and is a bad witness.

Thanks for your comments!

]]> By: David Cameron http://bill-hayes.org/2009/01/07/can-we-stand-in-the-middle/comment-page-1/#comment-216747 David Cameron Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:11:13 +0000 http://bill-hayes.org/?p=1262#comment-216747 Bill, I have consistently voted in the past to honor the historic Presbyerian precedent of letting the appropriate governing body (Sessions for Elders, Presbyteries for Ministers)discern the will of God through the Holy Spirit as to whom God is calling to ordained service. This means I find "Amdendment b" an un-Presbyterian abberation I wish would go away. Having said that, I believe the Peace, Unity, and Purity Task Force was the most important Christian endeavor undertaken by the denomination in my 26 years of ministry. I chafed under it's slow, deliberate process, but I was truly moved by the testimonies from committee members from both ends of the theological spectrum when they made their final report. I believe that their work and their report is clearly a product of God's Holy Spirit. This is what makes me regret the actions of our recent General Assembly calling for a vote on Amendment b at this time. This is not a time to push for an answer. This is not the time to designate "winners" and "losers." To do so would be to dishonor the work of the Peace, Unity and Purity task force. Therefore, I plan to promote the idea of "no vote" in my presbytery. This will, of course, mean that we will be stuck with the odious amendment b awhile longer. I regret that. But that's what I think is best for Christ's church. Bill,
I have consistently voted in the past to honor the historic Presbyerian precedent of letting the appropriate governing body (Sessions for Elders, Presbyteries for Ministers)discern the will of God through the Holy Spirit as to whom God is calling to ordained service. This means I find “Amdendment b” an un-Presbyterian abberation I wish would go away. Having said that, I believe the Peace, Unity, and Purity Task Force was the most important Christian endeavor undertaken by the denomination in my 26 years of ministry. I chafed under it’s slow, deliberate process, but I was truly moved by the testimonies from committee members from both ends of the theological spectrum when they made their final report. I believe that their work and their report is clearly a product of God’s Holy Spirit. This is what makes me regret the actions of our recent General Assembly calling for a vote on Amendment b at this time. This is not a time to push for an answer. This is not the time to designate “winners” and “losers.” To do so would be to dishonor the work of the Peace, Unity and Purity task force. Therefore, I plan to promote the idea of “no vote” in my presbytery. This will, of course, mean that we will be stuck with the odious amendment b awhile longer. I regret that. But that’s what I think is best for Christ’s church.

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