Annual Council 2015—General Conference Leaders Present “Appeal and Appreciation” on Ordination
On the first day of the General Conference Executive Committee’s Business Session, just before lunch, a document was brought to the floor responding to the San Antonio General Conference Session vote on ordination. Delegates were told that the General Conference and Division Officers have reviewed the document and approved it unanimously. But delegates were not asked to either discuss or vote on the document. It was simply read to them.
With some analyses of the vote in San Antonio suggesting the vote changed nothing because the vote did not address policy, there were rumors that policy changes might be put forward for consideration at Annual Council.
However, no policy changes regarding this issue are on the agenda. This statement is the one document addressing the issue for this session. Just as President Ted Wilson noted in San Antonio that the vote there did not change policy, the statement says: “The vote taken in San Antonio does not change the church’s understanding of the role of women in the life, mission and practice of the church as supported by the Church Manual and outlined in General Conference and division working policies. Godly, Spirit-filled women are powerfully witnessing for Christ and being used by the Holy Spirit to make major contributions for the advancement of His Kingdom.”
Read the statement, “AN APPEAL AND APPRECIATION TO ALL CHURCH ENTITIES AND MEMBERS FROM THE GENERAL CONFERENCE AND DIVISION OFFICERS REGARDING THE 2015 GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION VOTE ON ORDINATION,” in full here:
Bonnie Dwyer is Editor of Spectrum Magazine.
Photo Courtesy: Adventist News Network.
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