new church life: jan uary/february 2015
of the Theological School will need to be changed somewhat if it includes
women. The fact that they have already made changes that include counseling
and experiential training almost seems to be leading up to a male and female
student body.
Question – Do you think this ongoing debate is damaging the Church?
Answer – It is, of course, a threat to the church organization. There are strong
feelings at work here. However, it is as true for any organization, as it is for
each individual, that upsets are painful but present opportunities for growth.
They force us to reflect and evaluate our beliefs. Chaotic as it might feel, I think
it is good for us. I am certain that the organization is not “The Church,” and
“The Church” will survive.
Question – Are there any particular teachings you want to comment on?
Answer – I have read a lot of what other people have found in the Writings
on this topic and I sometimes interpret their selected teachings differently
from what the writer intended. No two people have ever read the same book,
because what we read is always colored by our particular loves and biases. And
we never read the same book twice because we change and our new thoughts
and feelings affect our perception of what we read. We bring who we are, what
we love and where we want to go to our reading. I’m sure over the years it is
likely I have read or heard Arcana Coelestia 5364 before. As I read it today, it
says that women should be ministers. It most certainly never said that to me
before.
In the early stages of man’s regeneration, truth is multiplied, but not good; and as
truth has then no good with which to be conjoined, it is drawn in and stored up in
the interiors of the natural mind, that it may be called forth thence according to the
increasing of good. In this state truth is in need of good, and moreover conjunction of
truth with good takes place according to the inflow of good into the natural; but still no
fruitfulness is effected by this conjunction. But when man has been regenerated, then
good increases; and as it increases it is in need of truth, and also procures truth for
itself with which it may be conjoined, and thereupon there is conjunction of good with
truth. When this takes place, truth is made fruitful from good, and good from truth.
It seems that in the early stages of the Church (led by the masculine) truth has
been multiplied more than good. I don’t mean this as judgmental, but as a
natural development. After learning the truth, there is a need of good.
Only recently has the Church promoted good works of charity as part of what
the Church is and does. Only recently have women been in positions in the
Church to promote these efforts. Only recently has the Theological School
included counseling and experiential learning.
There seems to be a new hunger not only to learn but to find ways to use
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