Letters to the Editors
Being Loyal to the Truth
To The Editors:
Re the letter from Ned Cole, “Why is the Church not Growing?” in the March/
April 2016 issue of New Church Life:
I very much agree with Mr. Cole about the importance of caring for the
truth. He gives us an important challenge.
When facing any question we need to be loyal to the truth, but in doing
so we have a problem. There are many subjects for which the Writings do not
give a direct answer. In those cases people go to the Writings and do doctrinal
studies. The results of those studies are not at all in the same category as the
direct teachings of the Writings. We can be loyal to the truth and at the same
time be skeptical about these studies.
For example, take the question of ordination. The studies I have read may
be convincing to some people but not to everybody. Those who disagree may
be more loyal to the Writings than the authors of those studies! I have read the
arguments and do not think that the Writings teach an all-male priesthood.
(The passage so often quoted from Spiritual Experiences 5936 does not mention
ordination or church services.)
There have been a number of times in our history when people came to
conclusions from their reading of the Writings that were not actually direct
teachings there. I realize that people can and do go to great lengths to make
arguments from the Writings about various subjects, but I do not think that
their conclusions deserve the same loyalty we give to the Writings.
Let’s take just two examples. The General Church organization has been
very strongly influenced by two conclusions, both of which, I believe, were
incorrect.
1. The most fruitful field of evangelization is New Church education. The
Writings do not teach this and experience does not confirm it.
2. Episcopal government. We have this form of government for historical,
not doctrinal, reasons. In 1848 the Rev. Richard de Charms made a thorough
doctrinal study of the Writings about church government and concluded that
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