The Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, comprised of churches from Washington, Idaho, and Oregon, released the following statement today, which we reproduce here without comment (the original material is located at the following link: http://uccsda.org/News/news20160722):
A Statement On Mission
by Paul Hoover
SPOKANE, Wash., July 22, 2016 – Our Seventh-day Adventist mission is to go to every nation, language and people group with the good news of Jesus Christ and His imminent return. And, our desire within the Upper Columbia Conference (UCC) is to encourage each of our members to use their spiritual gifts toward the fulfillment of this mission.
With this goal in mind, our Upper Columbia Conference Executive Committee voted a revised Commissioned Minister Policy in March 2016 that underscored the equal calling of men and women pastors. This vote was taken after significant dialogue with our conference pastors and Executive Committee members who represent our conference members.
Unfortunately, the new policy created significant concern among some of our members who felt that it placed our conference beyond the parameters of the Church Manual and the North American Division policy for commissioned ministers. Our conference leadership received notification from seven churches that revealed intentions to request a special constituency session, permitted in our constitution under certain conditions, if the policy were not reversed. When it became evident to us that rising contention among some of our membership had begun to overshadow our focus on mission, we determined to revisit the policy.
Therefore, following a lengthy dialogue during our Executive Committee meeting on July 19, 2016, the committee voted to rescind the recently voted UCC Commissioned Minister Policy. We will continue to use the Church Manual and North American Division policy (referenced below) for our commissioned pastors, in the hope that we can focus more intently on mission.
We understand the diverse reactions this latest decision will invoke throughout our conference and beyond, but we remain committed to affirming the spiritual gifts of each of our pastors—men and women. We will foster an intentional dialogue with our pastors and churches to correct any misunderstandings and strengthen unity of purpose within our common mission.
The Upper Columbia Conference will use the North American Division and Church Manual:
NAD Working Policy 2015-2016
L 32 Commissioned Ministers in Pastoral Positions—Role and Status
L 32 10 Authorized Ministerial Functions
1. A commissioned minister is authorized by the conference to perform substantially all the religious functions within the scope of the tenets and practices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the members in the church or churches to which the minister is assigned and elected as a church elder. A commissioned minister who serves as an institutional chaplain, and has been ordained as a church elder, may also perform these functions for persons served by the institution. The functions that are excluded are those listed in the Church Manual as follows: Organizing of a church Uniting churches Ordaining local elders and deacons
2. A commissioned minister may perform wedding or baptismal ceremonies outside of his/her pastoral district if authorized to do so by the conference president. If the ceremony is to be conducted in the territory of another conference, it will require the approval of both conference presidents.
© 1998–2012 Upper Columbia Conference. All rights reserved.
3 replies on “UCC Rescinds Commissioned Minister Policy”
First Let me start out with saying, that I’m glad that the “HOLY SPIRIT” has troubled your hearts, for straying away from the reality of the vote taken on July 8, 2016 clearly stating and maintaining the originality, of a “Female” position in the church.
As I have so amply stated in the past. We cannot serve “GOD” anyway we want too, and expect to Survive the Second Coming of “JESUS CHRIST”!
As the Apostle Paul would say; who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes “JESUS CHRIST” hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Galatians 3:1
Satan, seems to always come up with a way, diverse from what is written, and make it seem right!! When in reality it is not!
In regards to the way the word of “GOD” has it; ….and it is written that the “Woman” was created for no other reason for what is written; And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Genesis 2:18
And this is what happened. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; ….and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. ( Wherefore Bretheren, the Confusion?)
However, here is where it really gets scary, as the Apostle Paul maintains “GOD’S” word as in were written in the beginning.
For a man indeed ought not to cover | 300 limit
Seems like not too many changes will be made with this recall.
And especially interesting situation when presidents of two conferences are going to give their permissions to commissioned minister..
I have an unconscious feeling that Satan just mocking on us with all of this issue and the way it unrolling. Haven’t you?
I’m sick of the whole mess. I won’t be supporting any churches or conferences with women pastors ordained or not. It’s a mockery and apostasy, and I’m cannot see the point of encouraging this madness further. The Bible, the SOP and GC are all in accord. Anyone cannot see this does not want to.