new church life: september/october 2014
studying objectively. But a use outside ourselves encourages objectivity.
We broke into groups for half an hour to discuss a test-case subject, to
see what it is like to apply a rational sight of use. In the discussions there was
general affirmation for the idea of being more explicit about the use a study is
looking to, and a suggestion was made that future program committees ask for
such a statement from presenters.
The Rev. Solomon Keal’s: “A Doctrinal Foundation for a Gender
Inclusive Clergy in the General Church.” This paper had been distributed in
two parts, totaling 136 pages! Mr. Keal expressed the belief that the qualities
needed for the priesthood are human, stressing that there is no mention of
gender in the chapter on the priesthood in The New Jerusalem and Its Heavenly
Doctrine.
He said that teaching truth and leading by it to the good of life is not
gender specific. Througho ut the works that Swedenborg himself published,
he said, the teaching function is not gender exclusive. He also quoted True
Christian Religion 589: “By lifting our intellect above the love that resides in
our will, we are all capable of grasping those truths, saying them, teaching
them, and preaching them.”
Summarizing his second chapter, which dealt with what is said in the
works left unpublished at Swedenborg’s death, Mr. Keal said that mostly
there is agreement with the published works, with some notable differences.
He touched on several passages from Spiritual Experiences that speak about
women teaching in churches and preaching, concluding that the thrust of
those passages is to encourage women not to be like men, and to avoid evil.
His third chapter was on representation, which he said is not about person
but function, and gender relates to person but doesn’t play into function.
Chapter four was on enlightenment. He said everyone can be enlightened,
and that this comes from love and from use. He asserted that both men and
women can be elevated into the higher light and warmth of wisdom and love,
including that of the priesthood.
Chapter five was on the marriage of good and truth which makes the
Church and can be established in any individual. He asserted that Conjugial
Love 125 is talking about a different process when it comes to the formation
of the church in a couple. He asserted that it is inappropriate to apply passages
relating to the interactions of husband and wife, to the use of the priesthood.
The final chapter was on men and women – both beautifully different but
both human, having the same qualities of intellect and will. They can both be
spouses, parents, prophets, shepherds and to this should be added, priests.
In the brief time available for discussion, Mr. Keal was thanked for his
extensive research, and a few speakers pushed back on a variety of points.
Further discussion of Mr. Keal’s presentation took place in a later session.
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