An inter-Mennonite newspaper, putting the Mennonite world together every week since 1923

EDITORIAL

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The difficulty of enforcing an area conference rule that is at odds with denominational policy is becoming evident in Lancaster Mennonite Conference’s struggle over women’s ordination.

Lancaster’s ban on ordaining women clashes with Mennonite Church USA’s ministerial leadership guidelines, which state that gender should not be a factor in determining who is acceptable for ordination.

Now Lancaster’s Bishop Board is deciding how to respond to those for whom two convictions run deep: loyalty to Lancaster Conference and belief in gender equality.

That combination of convictions has led Lancaster District’s bishop, Linford King, to ordain two women in the past nine months, and a group of congregations and pastors to publicly support him, while desiring to remain a part of Lancaster Conference.

The bishops acted charitably Feb. 15 when they chose not to discipline King beyond a letter of reprimand issued last summer. By not imposing further sanctions, they set an example of accepting diversity and maintaining unity.

Lack of a strong mandate to continue the ban on women’s ordination adds weight to the arguments against discipline. The rule that limits female ministers to being licensed rather than ordained barely survived a January 2007 vote by credentialed leaders. A Bishop Board recommendation to end the ban fell four votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for approval. It would be hard to justify more than minimal punishment for violating a policy that only a third of decision makers support. A rule upheld by a minority is bound to remain a source of dispute.

Beyond matters of biblical interpretation about women in ministry, the larger issues at stake center on how to maintain unity and not only tolerate but embrace diversity. Ideally, Lancaster Conference and Mennonites in general would consider diversity of conviction on issues like women in ministry an opportunity for growth.

If we can see the positive sides of both unity and diversity, we will ask such questions as: To what extent should a church try to enforce uniformity of doctrine and practice? What essentials are not negotiable, and what non-essentials leave room for differing beliefs among sincere and faithful people? Can Mennonites who disagree on important matters accept each other only if they belong to different conferences, or is there room for significant differences in the same conference?

How can we show inclusive love while earnestly debating difficult issues? How do we balance freedom of conscience with the desire for a united witness? Do we focus on core beliefs that unite or on boundaries that separate? What does it mean for a church to be pure? How can we strive for truth but avoid legalism? What role does discipline have in a healthy process of spiritual discernment?

Lancaster Conference’s efforts to answer questions like these could be a gift to the rest of the church, because we all struggle with them in different ways. — Paul Schrag