Dear Lynn and Stephen,
Firstly let me thank you both for all you are doing on behalf of the Baptist family at this time, and assure you of my and others continued prayers.
Although a Trustee for HEBA, I am writing to you both in a personal capacity, however I may make reference to my views regarding our Associations engagement with the issue.
Theologically I am still processing much around the whole issue of SSM, and would say that I am currently in a state of unknowing! I am reminded of Walter Brueggemann"s encouragement to 'only ever let your interpretation of scripture be the penultimate one' - you never know when God might show you what He really means. My concerns then are more to do with the manner of the process by which the statement was arrived at, and my belief that as Baptists we have held to the view that differences of theological interpretations were respected and valued.
With regards to the process, you must be aware that BU council, existing one hopes as a representative voice of the Baptist family, is regarded with some suspicion by many within that family. We did reach a point of some openness with social media updates, but in terms of the last Council, nothing. To the best of my knowledge, the Council representatives from within HEBA have made no attempts to encourage and welcome the broader views of the family on the issue of SSM - no open forums or workshops etc. Indeed as an Association Board, we have not yet had the opportunity to discuss this in any way at all. I suspect we are not alone, and that the voice of Council may not necessarily be a reflection of the views of the wider Baptist family. The reference of mutual respect in the statement is a misnomer, since many feel there was none or very little mutuality involved.
In terms of BUGB feeling the need to make a statement on this issue, many others have I know already pointed out that it seems strange to single out this matter, when there is silence on other significant issues in terms of church life - women in leadership being but one. We do seem in danger of finding ourselves focusing down onto one aspect, that of sexuality, amongst many that would make up what I might call Christian Morality. We know where that got the Church of England!
I follow a daily 'blog' from Richard Rohr, whom I am sure you will know. He spoke at a conference on Christian Morality, and I have the podcast. Allow me to include a quote from him here to illustrate, far better than I can, the danger of preoccupation on a single moral issue at the expense of many others perhaps of even greater importance.
"In recent years one would have thought that homosexuality and abortion were the new litmus tests of authentic Christianity. Where did this come from? They never were the criteria of proper membership for the first 2000 years, but reflect very recent culture wars instead. And largely from people who think of themselves as “traditionalists”! (The fundamentals were already resolved in the early Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed. Note that none of the core beliefs are about morality at all. The Creeds are more mystical, cosmological, and about aligning our lives inside of a huge sacred story.) When you lose the great mystical level of religion, you always become moralistic about this or that as a cheap substitute. It gives you a false sense of being on higher spiritual ground than others.
Jesus is clearly much more concerned about issues of pride, injustice, hypocrisy, blindness, and what I have often called “The Three Ps” of power, prestige, and possessions, which are probably 95 percent of Jesus’ written teaching. We conveniently ignore this 95 percent to concentrate on a morality that usually has to do with human embodiment. That’s where people get righteous, judgmental, and upset, for some reason. The body seems to be where we carry our sense of shame and inferiority, and early-stage religion has never gotten much beyond these “pelvic” issues. As Jesus put it, “You ignore the weightier matters of the law—justice, mercy, and good faith . . . and instead you strain out gnats and swallow camels” (Matthew 23:23-24). We worry about what people are doing in bed much more than making sure everybody has a bed to begin with."
You will, I know, be aware of those who have been hurt by the statement issued. I can understand their confusion and concerns. There are some within our family who feel that churches and pastors, following what they believe to be their prayerful consciences, should be somehow 'punished' and excluded from the family. I hope we all feel that to be a stance lacking in grace and mercy.
I pray for you both, and for others involved that some serious reflection brings wisdom into this situation. I am already concerned at the length of this email, knowing you may have many to read and reflect upon, and feel I should end by simply reaffirming my prayers for you both, for Council, and indeed for those within our family hurting at this time about this and other issues and challenges facing us in living out our faith and seeing Gods kingdom grow.
With every blessing
Duncan
Rev Duncan MacLean
Firstly let me thank you both for all you are doing on behalf of the Baptist family at this time, and assure you of my and others continued prayers.
Although a Trustee for HEBA, I am writing to you both in a personal capacity, however I may make reference to my views regarding our Associations engagement with the issue.
Theologically I am still processing much around the whole issue of SSM, and would say that I am currently in a state of unknowing! I am reminded of Walter Brueggemann"s encouragement to 'only ever let your interpretation of scripture be the penultimate one' - you never know when God might show you what He really means. My concerns then are more to do with the manner of the process by which the statement was arrived at, and my belief that as Baptists we have held to the view that differences of theological interpretations were respected and valued.
With regards to the process, you must be aware that BU council, existing one hopes as a representative voice of the Baptist family, is regarded with some suspicion by many within that family. We did reach a point of some openness with social media updates, but in terms of the last Council, nothing. To the best of my knowledge, the Council representatives from within HEBA have made no attempts to encourage and welcome the broader views of the family on the issue of SSM - no open forums or workshops etc. Indeed as an Association Board, we have not yet had the opportunity to discuss this in any way at all. I suspect we are not alone, and that the voice of Council may not necessarily be a reflection of the views of the wider Baptist family. The reference of mutual respect in the statement is a misnomer, since many feel there was none or very little mutuality involved.
In terms of BUGB feeling the need to make a statement on this issue, many others have I know already pointed out that it seems strange to single out this matter, when there is silence on other significant issues in terms of church life - women in leadership being but one. We do seem in danger of finding ourselves focusing down onto one aspect, that of sexuality, amongst many that would make up what I might call Christian Morality. We know where that got the Church of England!
I follow a daily 'blog' from Richard Rohr, whom I am sure you will know. He spoke at a conference on Christian Morality, and I have the podcast. Allow me to include a quote from him here to illustrate, far better than I can, the danger of preoccupation on a single moral issue at the expense of many others perhaps of even greater importance.
"In recent years one would have thought that homosexuality and abortion were the new litmus tests of authentic Christianity. Where did this come from? They never were the criteria of proper membership for the first 2000 years, but reflect very recent culture wars instead. And largely from people who think of themselves as “traditionalists”! (The fundamentals were already resolved in the early Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed. Note that none of the core beliefs are about morality at all. The Creeds are more mystical, cosmological, and about aligning our lives inside of a huge sacred story.) When you lose the great mystical level of religion, you always become moralistic about this or that as a cheap substitute. It gives you a false sense of being on higher spiritual ground than others.
Jesus is clearly much more concerned about issues of pride, injustice, hypocrisy, blindness, and what I have often called “The Three Ps” of power, prestige, and possessions, which are probably 95 percent of Jesus’ written teaching. We conveniently ignore this 95 percent to concentrate on a morality that usually has to do with human embodiment. That’s where people get righteous, judgmental, and upset, for some reason. The body seems to be where we carry our sense of shame and inferiority, and early-stage religion has never gotten much beyond these “pelvic” issues. As Jesus put it, “You ignore the weightier matters of the law—justice, mercy, and good faith . . . and instead you strain out gnats and swallow camels” (Matthew 23:23-24). We worry about what people are doing in bed much more than making sure everybody has a bed to begin with."
You will, I know, be aware of those who have been hurt by the statement issued. I can understand their confusion and concerns. There are some within our family who feel that churches and pastors, following what they believe to be their prayerful consciences, should be somehow 'punished' and excluded from the family. I hope we all feel that to be a stance lacking in grace and mercy.
I pray for you both, and for others involved that some serious reflection brings wisdom into this situation. I am already concerned at the length of this email, knowing you may have many to read and reflect upon, and feel I should end by simply reaffirming my prayers for you both, for Council, and indeed for those within our family hurting at this time about this and other issues and challenges facing us in living out our faith and seeing Gods kingdom grow.
With every blessing
Duncan
Rev Duncan MacLean