Objectives
ONE in Christ calls for the SECC (1) to immediately recall the credentials from all its pastors who hold the Ordained/Commissioned Minister Credential and replace them with the Ordained Minister Credential and (2) to immediately begin the process of amending its policy documents to provide for the ordination of all qualified pastoral candidates without regard to gender.
ONE in Christ celebrates the long-standing commitment of the SECC to full gender inclusiveness in ministry. This has included the endorsement and support of the Gender Inclusiveness Committee, a significant lay task force and the creation of a single, regular ministerial credential—the Ordained/ Commissioned Minister Credential. All regular pastors in the conference, whether female or male, receive this credential. All pastors who are selected to transition from intern to regular status, whether female or male, undergo an undifferentiated ordination/commissioning service with the traditional “laying on of hands.” However, as significant and unique as this is, it is not sufficient. The SECC now needs to take the logical and necessary step to finally complete the process. It needs to immediately give all its ordained/commissioned ministers the Ordained Minister Credential and to conduct all future authorization services and rites for all pastors, whether female or male, as regular ordination services that include the issuing of Ordained Minister Credentials.
ONE in Christ is disappointed that the North American Division (NAD) has felt it necessary to reverse the action it took in the fall of 2011 to extend the responsibility of serving as a local conference president to persons who hold commissioned minister credentials. This would have included both men and women. Commendable as this would have been, it would not have been sufficient. It would not have dealt with the root problem—the continued failure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to recognize the right of both men and women not only to function in the gospel ministry but also to receive full ecclesiastical authorization and rights. More encouraging is the declaration by the NAD president, “The North American Division and its Unions and Conferences (as local circumstances permit) must become more intentional in the development of pathways to ministry for female pastors.” Of course, only those “pathways to ministry” that include the full authorization that ordination alone provides will enable “female pastors” to fulfill their divine calling.
ONE in Christ sees the ultimate biblical mandate for the ordination of pastors without regard to gender to be Paul’s foundational declaration in Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (NRSV). In Christ, we are without distinction regarding ethnicity. We are without distinction regarding social status. We are without distinction regarding gender. We are one in Christ. This is a first principle that must prevail in the face of any potentially contrary biblical material.
ONE in Christ is now inviting all members and pastors of the SECC to join this campaign to immediately bring about the ordination of pastors without regard to gender in this conference. To register your endorsement of this movement please sign the online petition form by clicking on the petition button. Thousands of you signing this petition will make a powerful and effective statement. The power for change lies with the people in the pew—with you. We are ONE in Christ. We will Ordain Now Equally.
