In the circle

“The women in ministry leadership motion has passed.”

With this sentence, moderator Willy Reimer wrapped up Gathering 2006’s most critical piece of business – the piece everyone knew would define the convention, as well as the future of Canadian Mennonite Brethren, regardless of the outcome.

The decision delegates had just made (to “bless each member church in its own discernment of Scripture, conviction and practice to call and affirm gifted men and women to serve in ministry and pastoral leadership”) marked a significant turn in a decades-long and often torturous slog through the question of women and ministry in the denomination.

When the results were announced, however, the room remained quiet. An attempt at applause died with a solitary handclap or two, an “Amen” reached only a pocket of delegates’ ears.

Some minutes later, when delegates heard that the motion had passed by 77%, a slight collective gasp escaped them. They were undoubtedly expressing what Reimer then voiced: “I was surprised.” (Earlier readings indicated Canadian MBs almost evenly divided on the issue.)

Otherwise, however, the reaction was quietness as before, and the agenda moved quickly, almost casually, to other things, as if the matter had been routine.

Respect

The matter was far from routine, of course, but the delegation’s muted response reflected an understanding that this resolution was, in one person’s words, “a motion of respect.”

It did not ask Mennonite Brethren to adopt a uniform theological stance on women in ministry leadership. “It is evident that individuals and congregations practice a diversity of convictions based on different interpretations of Scripture,” the resolution stated. It asked instead that diversity of practice be accepted within the denomination on this “non-confessional issue.”

The delegation’s response also reflected the Board of Faith and Life’s procedural carefulness, even caution, during the three-year round of discernment about women in ministry leadership (frequently acronymized to WIML, pronounced wim-el) that began in 2003 after the Manitoba conference requested that the national BFL re-visit the question. A call for unity had accompanied the process at every step.

Significant too was the tone of respect the BFL and the moderator set during workshop and plenary discussions. A failed motion to amend the wording of the BFL resolution confused the proceedings for a time but created no discernible fluster.

No one, it seemed, whether leader or delegate, wanted to repeat scenarios of 1993. Then, the debate of a similar motion at the convention of the General Conference (U.S. and Canada), in Winnipeg, generated reactions of visible jubilation or angry sorrow at the resolution’s defeat, as well as public comments that appeared to cast aspersions on the biblical commitment of those holding opposing interpretations.

Participants in the “Hermeneutics in action” workshop did a group exercise using SOAP.

The journey

Delegates to Gathering 2006 had three opportunities to speak to the WIML resolution: two workshops on Friday hosted by BFL, which drew the highest attendance of all workshops, and the plenary discussion before the vote Saturday.

In the workshop “Our journey regarding women in ministry leadership” and again in the plenary session, BFL vice-chair Ken Peters outlined the chronology of the board’s engagement with the issue since 2003. (Peters fronted the board’s work during Gathering because chair Walter Unger had recently had major heart surgery and could not attend.)

The process included: feedback from letters to BFL and the MB Herald, a question in the denomination-wide survey of January 2005, and Listen and Learn study conferences in five provinces. The matter was also given attention at many BFL meetings, including an intense retreat sequestered at Bethany College in which the final resolution was written and accepted by the board with one dissenting vote. Manitoba representative Hans Boge resigned from the board because he did not want his name attached to the resolution.

Exploration of biblical issues involved the Pauline corpus, the Gospels and Acts, the “restrictive” texts, and historical issues in the Ancient Near East.

The board also asked itself, said Peters, “Do we have a Christocentric focus? (Which we want.) Are we approaching this from a Trinitarian perspective? (Which we want.)” Other aspects given consideration included the theology of human nature and of culture, and eschatology (that is, the mission of God and the kingdom of God).

Peters held up a thick red binder representing the resolution’s history: letters, survey results (including 274 written comments attached to the survey answer), findings of the study conferences, and other documents. Complicating the board’s task, he said, was the fact that these results showed Mennonite Brethren “split right down the middle.”

“We didn’t want to create a proposal that would compel hyprocrisy for anyone,” he said.

Many delegates who spoke expressed appreciation for the board’s thorough work. Asked why BFL would bring a recommendation forward when views were so divided, Peters responded that BFL must not “be intimidated” by divisive issues. “Its mandate is to lead as well as reflect back,” he said.

Delegates enjoyed refreshments and lively discussion between sessions.

Dealing with conflict

Mennonite Brethren have dealt with other “deep conflicts” in the past, noted participants in the “Where do we go from here?” workshop presented by the BFL and provincial conference ministers. These include the language transition in churches from German to English, nonresistance, and mode of baptism.

Some delegates, however, contended that this matter was different, or questioned the distinction between polity and confessional issues. Others expressed concerns or hopes about the resolution’s implications for the future.

One pastor said he fears the issue will “fragment” his congregation. Two pastors noted that young women are coming to them and asking that men be encouraged to take spiritual leadership. “Let’s dedicate as much time, energy, and money to men leading,” urged Mark Burch of Kelowna, B.C.

The BFL’s own list of “implications” reiterated calls for unity as well as their counsel that the matter “remain at the level of polity.”

When a young delegate asked, “Is this issue [now] going to be laid to rest?” Merv Boschman, Alberta conference minister, replied that he anticipated “more conversation.”

“Remember,” said Ontario conference minister Mark Johnson, “Conflict is not always evil.”

Delegates were reminded that if the proposed resolution did not pass, the recommendation affirmed in 1999 “that women be encouraged to minister in the church in every function other than the lead pastorate” remained in effect. Several people pointed out that there was still much work to do, even on that.

Worship service.

In the circle

It is difficult to know how many delegates came to the convention undecided on the resolution. The prophetic message of a young female Salvation Army officer Friday evening (see previous story), however, may well have factored into people’s views.

Also, several delegates addressing the wisdom of compromise they saw in the resolution, offered compelling pledges to trust God as well as one another. “All of us have to let go of something and receive something,” said Connie Epp of Winnipeg.

Another important contribution – one hallway pundits felt may have been a determining factor for those still deciding how to vote – was Ralph Gliege’s explanation how he, as someone holding what’s called the complementarian position on women and ministry, had come to support the resolution. Gliege, who is Saskatchewan’s conference minister and thus a member of BFL, was responding to a delegate’s request that someone who had “changed their mind” speak to the delegation.

“I’m on a journey,” Gliege said. Part of the journey included a seminary class where he learned that there were “very many godly people” writing on both sides of the issue. We need to find “a place of unity somewhere to the centre” of these views, he continued; to “find ourselves in the circle. The circle is our Confession of Faith.”

Clearly, as the vote indicated, many delegates agreed with him, and proceeded on trust that this would be possible for Canadian Mennonite Brethren.

—Dora Dueck

More than one issue Ken Peters The women in ministry leadership resolution may have dominated the Board of Faith and Life’s presentation at Gathering 2006, but spokesperson Ken Peters wanted delegates to know theirs was not a “one-issue board.” The BFL has just released the 20th in their pamphlet series: “A More Excellent Way,” on Christian marriage. Upcoming installments in the pamphlet series may include a biblical response to ecology, healthy sexuality, Christian spirituality and spiritual direction, and conflict resolution. The board has created a uniform candidating procedure for use across the country and is partnering with ACTS to enlarge and “up the theological vigour” of the current Pastors’ Orientation event. The BFL also intends to develop a protocol for pastors caught in the addictive cycle of pornography. The new executive of the BFL affirmed at Gathering consists of Ken Peters, chair; Menno Martens, vice-chair; John W. Wiebe (St. Catharines, Ont.), secretary. On the board, Lorraine Dick replaces Walter Unger, whose term ended, Paul Doerksen is the new representative for Manitoba, and Lorne Willms is the new representative for Alberta. —DD

Gathering photos: Lorie Mayer.