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ON BEING a CHRISTIAN CHURCH for Two Years I Had the High And

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ON BEING a CHRISTIAN CHURCH for Two Years I Had the High And ON BEING A CHRISTIAN CHURCH For two years I had the high and holy privilege of ordaining and of commissioning ministers within the United Church of Canada in my role as President of Hamilton Conference. I was filled with wonder and awe as I laid hands on each candidate. Each person had a different reaction as they rose from their knees, new ministers ready to fulfill their Call from God. For all of them, however, a very special light shone as they gazed into my eyes. They felt their new mantel of spiritual leadership. They were forever changed – even though the changes had been occurring each day of their journey toward that moment and beyond. In stark contrast, a terse statement jointly released by Toronto Conference of the United Church, by Gretta Vosper and by West Hill United Church on November 7th told the public, “Toronto Conference, the Rev. Gretta Vosper, and West Hill United Church have settled all outstanding issues between them. The Rev. Vosper will remain in ordained ministry at West Hill. We acknowledge the faithful work of all of those who have been involved in the process.” Despite the wide and often acrimonious debate within the United Church – as well as in the public sphere – about a self-professed atheist minister serving as “the Reverend,” there was no further explanation. Indeed, the formal hearing into Gretta Vosper’s suitability for ministry in the United Church would no longer take place. Our immediate past Moderator, the Very Reverend Jordan Cantwell, has previously observed that, “at the heart of the concerns being raised is a tension between two core values, both of which are central to our identity as The United Church. The first is our faith in God. The second is our commitment to being an open and inclusive church.” I agree. I love the very challenging work the United Church endeavours to accomplish – often struggling each step of the way – to be welcoming, inclusive and celebratory of each person seeking the divine. I rejoice at the wide diversity of people in our communities of faith, people seeking revelation and people with no belief but desiring community, people who know the Bible inside and out and people who don’t even own a Bible, people from a wide diversity of backgrounds and theological understandings and people who struggle with dissenting points of view beyond the fundamentals they understand of the Christian faith. Then my memory pulls up the words I asked of each candidate for ordination before I laid hands on them: “I ask each of you who are candidates for ordination this day, do you believe in God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and do you commit yourself anew to God?” “I do, by the grace of God.” “Do you believe that God is calling you to the ordained ministry of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care, and do you accept this call?” “I do, by the grace of God.” “Are you willing to exercise your ministry in accordance with the scriptures, in continuity with the faith of the Church, and subject yourself to the oversight and discipline of the United Church of Canada?” “I am willing, God being my helper.” “May God, who has given you the will to do these things, give you the faith and the power to perform them.” Once the vows were complete, the assembled congregation – most of whom where delegates of Hamilton Conference, but many family members, friends and supporters were among them – affirmed their celebration of the candidates’ collective call by God by replying as one, “AMEN!” Despite my passion for diversity, despite my celebration of the widely inclusive intention of the United Church of Canada, these vows demonstrate the commitment that an ordained and a diaconal minister makes before they are conferred their order. It is that same commitment made by Designated Lay Ministers when they are Recognized for their role in ministry leadership within the United Church of Canada. While there are always moments in every minister’s life of doubt, of “dark nights of the soul” and of uncertainty, once those doubts cross into abiding certainty that there is no God, that person no longer fulfills their vows by which they were granted the privilege of spiritual leadership within the United Church. Please note that I am NOT saying you must believe to be part of the United Church. Instead, I am stating that our ministers – our professional spiritual leaders – must adhere to their vows or they are abrogating the conditions by which they were ordained, commissioned or recognized. Indeed, our current Moderator, Right Rev, Dr. Richard Bott states in his response to this issue, “As a Christian church, we continue to expect that ministers in The United Church of Canada will offer their leadership in accordance with our shared and agreed upon statements of faith, celebrating the sacraments, and praying that all who are part of the denomination will help people to love, as Jesus put it, “God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27, NRSV).” (Moderator Bott’s full message can be found at this link: https://www.united-church.ca/news/moderators-message-rev-gretta-vosper) Now it may seem odd that our national spiritual leader proclaims an understanding of the situation which seems to be at odds with the joint statement by Toronto Conference, Gretta Vosper and West Hill United Church. However, due to confidentiality requirements, we will never know by what path this agreement was formulated. Indeed, because of the division of responsibilities within the different courts of the church – similar to the different responsibilities between federal and provincial governments – the national church has no authority in this instance. The status of ministers within its geographic bounds is the responsibility of the Conference (and the soon-to-become Regions). Nevertheless, I know that some celebrate this outcome as a “win” for those upholding the inclusiveness of the United Church. For others, like myself, this outcome is mystifying and concerning – especially in light of the vows ministers affirm at their recognition, their commissioning or their ordination. Regardless, the dispute is settled. The implications for the United Church are not. Therefore, in the coming weeks I will be exploring issues of faith, making use of insights from United Church of Canada theologian Rev. Dr. Douglas John Hall in his book “Why Christianity? for those on the edge of faith” as well as other resource books. If the very least this issue does is generate dialogue about faith, that is a good thing. After all, our faith is always seeking understanding. .
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