new church life: jan uary/february 2015
Our Doctrinal Environment
To The Editors:
My heart goes out to Michelle Chapin and Kristin Coffin Daum. I empathize
with their feelings and agree fully with their extremely well-written, rational
and well-reasoned responses.It is all very well to say that we must abide by
what the Word teaches. Of course we must. However, the Word does not
teach that women should be excluded from the priesthood. This is a manmade doctrine, from their understanding.
I would ask why it is that some of our priests, from their understanding
of the Word, agree that women should not be excluded from the priesthood?
Why do they see things differently from those who wish to maintain the status
quo? Are these priests acting from a false doctrine? I think not. I would suggest
that their understanding has been freed from the constraints of the past.
I would suggest that the reason the majority of our priests would preclude
women is due to their personal understanding of the Word, an understanding
which rests on the “indoctrination” they have received all their lives in the
General Church.
Doctrine is according to our understanding and our understanding
is shaped by what we wish to believe and is often heavily influenced by our
environment. The environment of the General Church, in the home, in society
at large, in our education system, in our Theological School and in our church
services is that women may not be priests.
Given that there is nothing in the Word precluding women and that the
policy to do so rests on man-made and limited understanding, it is hard to
understand the Bishop’s decision, which will only alienate many more people.
It is most disappointing that the Bishop’s decision in his statement in
the November-December 2014 issue of New Church Life is not supported
by conclusive doctrinal arguments. Where are the doctrinal statements
supporting such a decision? We get a decision, said to be based on the true
doctrine, but we are not given that doctrine. Nor are we told why the doctrine
of those priests who support women in the priesthood is false.
Name withheld online by request
Canberra, Australia
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