Re: Already determined the outcome? 2 -- Mamusz' Restoration Forum

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Date Posted: 19:56:15 04/04/11 Mon
Author: Lois
Subject: Re: Already determined the outcome? 2
In reply to: Lois 's message, "Already determined the outcome? 2" on 10:56:02 04/04/11 Mon

http://www.cofchrist.org/usaconf/journey.asp
Journeying Toward a USA National Conference
BY THE USA APOSTOLIC TEAM

Q: Has church leadership already determined the outcome on issues of same-gender marriage and ordaining people in same-gender relationships?

A: No, church leadership is committed to discernment leading to the USA National Conference. This process will include spiritual practices, dialogue, scripture reflection, and study of credible resources that provide multiple perspectives on human sexuality and healthy, faithful, and committed relationships.
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I don't believe that. Does anybody reading this believe that? This has been in the works since at least 1978, see Bill Russell's words below.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_N._Robinson

Kenneth N. Robinson was a member of the First Presidency of the Community of Christ from 1996 to 2007. Robinson was also an apostle and a member of the Council of Twelve Apostles of the church from 1980 to 1996.

http://galaweb.org/ReadArchive.php?id=5

A speech given on July 17, 1999 by Bill Russell at the 1999 Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah.
HOMOSEXUALS IN THE RLDS CHURCH: A PROGRESS REPORT
By William D. Russell

The official position of the RLDS Church on priesthood remains: a homosexual can be in the priesthood only if s/he is not a practicing homosexual. But this policy is breaking down as the church in a significant number of jurisdictions is ignoring the policy and ordaining known homosexuals to the priesthood and not silencing from priesthood offices gay and lesbian priesthood members who reveal their sexual orientation. Although unofficial, commitment ceremonies are becoming more common and have gained a surprising amount of support. Attitudes are changing and the church appears to be in the middle of a change in practice. But it is not certain the battle will be won or whether it will be a bloody one, like the ordination of women in the 1980s. But it appears that President McMurray is trying to carefully lead the church toward becoming a fellowship of people who provide a safe place for gays to worship and fellowship as respected members of the body of Christ. And when he became President he chose as the new counselor in the First Presidency none other than Ken Robinson, the person who wrote the liberal policy in 1978 that has been filed somewhere in the First Presidency's office ever since.
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Submitted by Lois

http://www.cofchrist.org/wc2002/sermons/Grant2002.asp (No longer there)

Called to Discipleship: Coming Home in Search of the Path
W. Grant McMurray 2002 World Conference Address April 7, 2002

�I am not in the habit of telling our delegates how they should vote, but I am about to make an exception. I request the delegates to this World Conference to table or refer all pending legislation on homosexuality so that we can avoid actions that will be divisive and shape a process by which a broader understanding and consensus can be built. I will ask the Standing High Council to participate with others in looking anew at this matter, seeking issues on which we can surely agree (God's love of all people, fidelity, the value of family, the sacredness of sexuality as part of creation) and shaping dialogue in areas where we do not agree (the blessing of same-sex relationships, standards for ordination, the interpretation and authority of scripture).

In the meantime, I ask the Community of Christ to be willing to live with us on the boundary for a while. To do this means that we may not have a policy that guides every decision, but we will have to trust the Holy Spirit to accompany us in our choices. It means that some parts of the church may function differently from other parts of the church and there will be distinctions that are occasionally unsettling but representative of the diversity of our body, both in terms of viewpoints and cultures. We recognize that certain national governments have requirements that our local church leaders in those nations will need to respect and interpret in accordance with their own cultural understandings.

Because of these many differences, our church stands in the midst of much ambiguity and inconsistency. We have a twenty-year-old statement from the Standing High Council that serves as official guidance, but has not been universally adhered to throughout the church. I will be totally honest and acknowledge that I have myself participated in situations where its provisions were not honored. I have been present in conferences where persons I knew to be in long-term, committed homosexual relationships were approved for priesthood in jurisdictions where their lifestyle was known and their ministry was accepted. The conflict within me was between lawgiver and pastor. To enforce the policy would have required me to intervene and prevent the ordination of someone whose call to ministry I could not deny. This I could not do. This I will not do.�

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Replies:

Re: Already determined the outcome? 2 -- George, 20:21:37 04/04/11 Mon
- Re: Already determined the outcome? 2 -- Lois, 21:09:30 04/04/11 Mon
  - Re: Already determined the outcome? 2 -- George, 23:01:09 04/04/11 Mon