The Value of the “Pause”

In most US denominations, there is a problem dealing with the issue of homosexuality especially with respect to marriage and ordination. It is commonly thought that if the national denomination reaches a conclusion that problems are over. Far from it. In the UCC, for example, they have been ordaining openly practicing homosexuals for many years. In the UCC It’s not “legal” to question the national policy any more but even today those in opposition to national policy, especially in rural areas, is greater than the national leadership will easily admit.

This has meant opposition has gone underground. If openly gay pastoral candidates apply, church call committees simply find another reason to reject the application profile. In some cases the committees are open in their opposition to gay and lesbian pastors with each other while in others individuals aren’t even aware of why they reject a candidate. Denominations that choose to toe the traditional line (as Scripture has been interpreted for  centuries) are losing their appeal to younger and/or more liberal parishioners and declining dramatically in numbers for this and many other reasons.

What is a church to do? Values in this debate are held close to the heart and often from an unknown source. If challenged, it is easy to get into the “fight or flight” mode. Few pastors have handled this issue with aplomb.

The best approach is to call a “pause.” If a church decides to take a step back from the fight and think about the issue for a year or even two, people will calm down and clearer heads will prevail. A pause if usually only effective if a pastor or key lay leader can suggest it and she or he has a great ability to lead. A pause can prevent “knee jerk” reactions and can enable a church to see how the new policy  (or a continuation of the old one) is affecting the local and national church.

Nothing can stop the polarization of our denomination internally and with one another unless people choose to grow up, understand that people of faith can be on both sides of the issue, and believe that community in spite of differences is a higher held value than a theology that draws a sharp line between firmly held beliefs characterized by both sides as the choice between good and evil. Even if the “pause” is done perfectly there will be significant loss of members from the church but because of the nature of this issue, that is true regardless of what church leaders do or fail to do. But with a “pause” a church stands the best chance of surviving this debate essentially intact. GB

 

 

 

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