The proposed ammendment to the Book of Order reads in part, "Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the Confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament."
The proposed amendment does not conform to the ordination vows already listed in the Book of Order in that it gives too much authority to the Confessions. We are to be GUIDED by the Confessions but they are not the unique and authoritative witness.
See the ordination question put to elders and deacons in G-14.0207 (d) in the Book of Order: "Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and to be continually guided by our confessions?"
For the ordination of ministers the question reads, in part, "instructed and led by the confessions." Book of Order G-14.0405 b(3)
1. Forgetting the Sabbath: Question #117 of the Larger Catechism asks "How is the Sabbath or Lord's day to be sanctified?" The answer is: "The Sabbath, or Lord's Day, is to be sanctified by an holy day resting all that day, not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful; and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the public and private exercise of God's worship. And, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably to dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of the day." (Book of Confessions: 7.227)
Under these circumstances, anyone who plays golf on Sunday afternoons, and does not repent of that practice, cannot be ordained.
2. Forcing others to work on the Sabbath: Question #118 of the Larger Catechism asks: "Why is the charge of keeping the Sabbath more specially directed to governors of families and other superiors?" The answer: "The charge of keeping the Sabbath is more specially directed to governors of families and other superiors, because they are bound not only to keep it themselves, but to see that it be observed by all those that are under their charge; and because they are prone oftimes to hinder them by employments of their own." (Book of Confessions: 7.228)
Under these conditions, the managers of department stories (Wal-Mart, Target, etc) that are open on Sunday cannot be ordained because they require employees to work on the Sabbath.
3. Deceptive Advertising and Exorbitant Interest: Question #110 of the Heidelberg Catechism in speaking of the Eight Commandment against stealing, includes: "all wicked tricks and schemes by which we seek to get for ourselves our neighbor's goods, whether by force or under the pretext of right, such as false weights and measures, deceptive advertising or merchandising, counterfeit money, exorbitant interest, or any other means forbidden by God." (Book of Confessions: 4.110)
Under these conditions, bankers, who charge as much as 21% interest on credit cards, could not be ordained.
Under these conditions, advertisers, who promote such things as "orange juice that is fresh squeezed from concentrate" could not be ordained.
4. Making any picture or displaying any picture of Christ: The Second Helvetic Confession states in Chapter IV the following: "IMAGES OF GOD. Since God as Spirit is in essence invisible and immense, he cannot really be expressed by any art or image. For this reason we have no fear pronouncing with Scripture that images of God are mere lies. Therefore we reject not only the idols of the Gentiles, but also the images of Christians. IMAGES OF CHRIST. Although Christ assumed human nature, yet he did not on that account assume it in order to provide a model for carvers and painters. .... Who, therefore, would believe that a shadow or likeness of his body would contribute any benefit to the pious?" (Book of Confessions: 5.020)
Under these conditions, anyone who allows any picture of Jesus Christ, whether at the door, holding a sheep or at the Last Supper, to be placed in the church or their home could not be ordained.
5. Gluttony, Unjust Divorce and Desertion: Question #139 of the Larger Catechism asks "What are the sins forbidden in the Seventh Commandment." In addition to "adultery, fornication, rape, incest, sodomy" the answer includes "unjust divorce, or desertion; idleness, gluttony, drunkenness...(Book of Confessions 7.249"
Under these conditions, anyone who eats too much could not be ordained. Would we have to weigh elders, deacons and ministers before ordination? Which weight tables would we use?
Under these conditions, ministers would have to go back to determining who is the innocent party in a divorce so that they could make sure that the guilty is not ordained.
This would seem to conflict with the Book of Order G-4.0403 which makes no reference to whether a divorced person is the injured party or not: "Persons of all racial ethnic groups, different ages, different theological positions consistent with Reformed tradition, as well as different marital conditions (married, single, widowed or divorced) shall be guaranteed full participation and access to representation in the decision making of the Church."
6. The performance of baptism by women. The confessions are in conflict over this point. The Second Helvetic Confession (5.191) expressly forbids it while the Brief Statement of Faith (10.64) permits it.
from Unity Through Diversity
July 3, 1996