March 22, 2010 issue
Dialogue in Acts
By Martin W. Lehman Goshen, Ind.An unauthorized conference convened by a few pastors affirmed Mennonite Church USA’s stance on sexuality.
No one should be surprised, because that was their purpose. The conference in Jerusalem, described in Acts 15, offers a contrasting model. The church disagreed as to whether Gentiles could be saved without being circumcised. Biblical literalists had the prevailing culture and Scripture on their side, and they demanded the exclusion of the uncircumcised. On the other side, missionaries testified of the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit in uncircumcised Gentiles.
The literalists were not even given the pulpit. Peter told how he broke the law by entering the house of Cornelius and accepting his hospitality. He baptized un-circumcised believers. James summarized the meeting with a quote from a far-seeing prophet and proposed a letter to the Gentile churches. The letter swept aside all but four of the rules, regulations and traditions that had accumulated over centuries of rabbinical teaching.
Now is the time for a conference called by MC USA with sermons by pastors of inclusive congregations and testimonies from gay persons who have found a safe home in a Mennonite congregation. Such a conference of healing and hope would have a bold Pentecostal wind at its back.
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