10 June 2016 | St Albans [Victor Hulbert with Wim Altink] The role of women in ministry continues to be a heavily debated topic in many areas around the world, including in the Trans-European Division. The Netherlands Union is a case in point. Their Union Session voted in favour of a motion to ordain women in ministry back in 2012, and the NUC Executive Committee reaffirmed that decision again in May 2013 and again in July 2015 following the General Conference Session in San Antonio.
However, it became clear that not all members of the Church in the Netherlands were happy with the decisions. Since August last year a group of concerned members called for a special constituency meeting to discuss the issue and share their concerns. The members submitted a document, along with 800 signatures, to the Executive Committee who then agreed to a special Session on Sunday, 5 June 2016.
Delegates and visitors from across the country met in the town of Almere for the meeting with just one item on the agenda, “The decision-making process of the church in relation to the role of women in the church.”
The meeting commenced with a speech by Raafat Kamal, president of the Trans-European Division. As he listened carefully throughout the day he stated that he was impressed both by the democratic process and the sweet spirit that was manifest, even in the midst of deep and potentially divisive discussions. “Diverse positions were well presented verbally and in writing before and during the Session,” he said, noting that “as a delegate I was well informed of the issues under discussion.”
Those main and contrasting positions were then clearly stated by the co-initiator of the member’s manifesto, Benito Wijngaarde, and a member of the Executive committee, Frida Souhuwat-Tomasoa.
The major motion presented to the floor was “to operate as a church in complete harmony with the World Church and in this context to rescind the 2012 decision regarding the ordination of female pastors.”
“The members of the Executive Committee understand that the outcome of the day may be disappointing for a number of members. However, what is important is that all members continue to embrace each other in Christian love despite having a difference of opinion on this issue.” He added, “We are all aiming at the same goal, life in the kingdom of God. The path to that realm we accomplish in an imperfect world. We make choices that are not accepted by everyone, but we remain brothers and sisters nevertheless. We continue to work together, accept differences and respect each other’s opinion.”
The TED continues to promote and affirm the role of women in leadership and ministry while at the same time working with the Unions in its territory to stay in line with GC working policy. Within that context Kamal stated his thanks to the Netherlands Union “for good preparation and creating a safe democratic space for discussion.”
A report of the day can be read in Dutch on the Netherlands Union website. [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, director; Esti Pujic, editor
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