Major New Study of Ordination: Should It Be Read Before You Vote?
By AT News Team, July 5, 2015: A major new study of ordination, both from the Bible and from the Adventist heritage, is just now off the press and available. Some sources have told Adventist Today that it should be read before the vote on ordination is taken this week because it is a much more thorough and comprehensive study than any of the others.
Ordination Reconsidered was written by Dr. Bertil Wiklander, who retired last fall as president of the Trans-European Division of the General Conference. He is a Bible scholar and served the denomination as a seminary professor and missionary, as well as a respected administrator. The book is published by the Newbold Academic Press and copies are available in the Adventist Book Center in the exhibit hall in San Antonio. It will also be available as an eBook soon on Amazon.
The book anchors its analysis in “the mission of God” and an examination of the Genesis account of the creation of man and woman. It focuses on understanding not only what the Bible says, but also, more deeply, what the Bible means.
Chapter 7 follows carefully the history of the priesthood in the Old Testament and the institution of ordination in that context. It discusses the absence of female priests and also points out numerous examples in the Old Testament of women serving as judges, Nazirites, prophetesses and spiritual leaders, as well as proclaiming God’s word.
The book does not advance a particular point of view in the current debate among Adventists, but stays faithful to a careful understanding of what God has taught us in Scripture. Chapter 9 focuses on the New Testament, tracing what is written about female disciples and eyewitnesses to the resurrection, a section on the role of women as seen in John’s writings as well as the Pauline passages on elders, overseers and deacons.
There are specific reviews of the origin of ordination in the New Testament and the practice of laying on of hands in both the Old and New Testament, as well as word studies of “head” and “submission” in the controversial passages of Ephesians 5, I Corinthians 11 and 14, and I Timothy 2. Chapter 10 looks at the fundamental notion of the Christian church as a “kingdom of priests.”
An appendix specifically addresses considerations for the Adventist denomination in its policies about ordination. These are the practical findings from the in-depth Bible study and address the decisions before the GC delegates this week. “Perhaps this study means that the entire decision should be put off another five years to provide time for the kind of careful attention to the Bible that is needed,” one reader told Adventist Today.
A review of the book by Dr. Reinder Bruinsma is available in the Opinion section here.
Sadly, publication is six months late at the earliest it seems.
Fortunately, the vote is not explicitly about whether to ordain women to the ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist church. That is already being done. And will be done more frequently in the future independent of this vote.
The question is simply whether the delegates will urge Divisions to ‘enable’ the ordination of women in their territories if the Division officers see that it will enhance the work of the church in their area.
If they vote Yes, it will be interesting. If they vote No, it will be interesting. The interest will be how church leaders interprets the results. The wherases surely give the church leadership options in interpreting the vote.
Let’s see what God will say about that. His church, which is the object of His supreme love will not be defeated by the enemies of the truth. Everyone who sides himself or herself in the wrong camp will have an irreparable remorse for having purposely fighting against God.
Just as in the two most recent votes on wo, the issue boils down to whether women can be ordained, period. no matter how the motion is couched, whether its about church readiness, or division committees etc, it is abt wo, and delegates will vote on that rather than all the peripheries.
Well said, BePositive. That’s the bottom line. Regardless of the carefully worded “letter of the law”, delegates will be voting on the “spirit of the law.”
A good antidote to finely spun tales?
https://youtu.be/rzHXWQcDCfQ
Throughout history, “Calling” was/is much more important than “Ordination”. Ordination is actually a concept that was introduced in its fullest extent through the Romans as a means to control leaders for reward and punishment, and not even the early church or reformation church recognized it the way we do. In history non-Romans recognized one’s willingness to walk as Jesus did and to go out into the gospel commission and reach out to others. These individuals received their “Calling” through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (HS), not through a human process. No book, study or vote can contradict the choices of the HS and the HS does not look at the outward appearance. Also, no vote will impact the walk of individuals who dedicate themselves to God and not just a church, be they male or female. The “Called” don’t work for a paycheck or recognition, but for God and their reward is in heaven. Because there is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus, there is neither male or female in being “Called”. When the church’s money is gone we will then see who has only been feeding themselves and not the sheep, who is “Called” and who have just been ordained, for it will not take money to finish the work but hearts that are filled with the Holy Spirit. How many ordained Pastors would be willing to work if there was no hierarchy, no recognition and no paycheck? Answer: only those who are “Called”. It will take ALL those who are “Called” to finish the work….I want…
….I want Jesus to come and the sooner the better. Some countries struggle with paradigms that prevent value for all and do not know how to get beyond them. God will help them if they see all people as He sees them. We are ALL loved and needed by God. We can all be ministers of the Gospel for the Gospel commission does not say “Only those who are ordained should be teaching the Gospel”. With God all things are possible… and when we realize our value TO GOD, things will change and change will happen quickly. Come Lord Jesus!
Having been a missionary in Brazil, I noticed that the issue of ordination is one that may never be resolved worldwide. I wonder if the issue should be resolved by division because of different cultures. In fact I think the resolution of the issue by committee could be disruptive if attempted world-wide. I think the issue will eventually be resolved worldwide, but not all at once. What’s the rush?