General Council Debates Agenda Items
Church of God Ordained Bishops, meeting in Orlando, Florida for the 73rd General Assembly have been debating several agenda items over the last two days.
Soon after Dr. Culpepper’s moving remarks about The Great Commandment and a significant time of concert prayer, the General Council session quickly moved into passionate and spirited debate on the agenda item, Women in Ministry. The Moderator reminded the Council to be sensitive of the Council’s tone, decorum, and demeanor and to carefully weigh all remarks. The measure for consideration by the Council was a motion to delete the phrase, “It is understood that female ministers are not eligible for ordination as bishop”. The nature of this item did not allow for amendment or adjustment, but rather just an opportunity to leave or remove the current statement in our Minutes.
Perhaps the easily overlooked, yet very important feature of the discussion was the deep sense of intention, desire, and aspiration to be true to the divinely inspired, inherent, holy Word of God. It was both uncomfortable and wonderful to hear men grapple, wrestle, and reflect on the impact of this measure in light of Scripture. The original intent of the Church of God General Assembly and General Council was to provide opportunity to study and interpret the Word of God. The discussion of this item emphatically reminded everyone that the centrality of Scripture and the desire to live in accordance to its instructions and teachings are still the heart and soul of the General Council and General Assembly process. It quickly became apparent, though opinions on this issue were polarizing, everyone passionately desired to correctly interpret, apply, and embrace the truth found in Scripture.
Though much of this discussion was about nomenclature, culture and context, the process required a simple “yes” or “no” response. The motion failed with a “no vote” of 62.52%
Item #3, under the same heading of Women in Ministry, addressed the issue of women serving on the Church and Pastor’s Council. It was notable that the deletion of only one word, (the word “male”) would dramatically change a longstanding tradition of only “loyal male members” having the privilege to serve in this role. Due to the discussion of women in leadership in the previous motion, debate and discussion on this issue was not nearly as extensive, although fully balanced.
The definitive response from the Council was perhaps one of the smallest margins of decision ever noted in the Council’s history. The recommendation to delete the word “male,” which would allow women the privilege to serve on the Church and Pastor’s Council, passed by a 50.12% to 49.88% margin, a five vote differential (1,080 to 1,085). This measure will go to the General Assembly for potential ratification.
–B. Randall Parris
