Tuesday 20 September 2016

If I Were In Charge Of Toronto Conference

The Sub-executive of Toronto Conference met last week to consider the recommendation of the Conference Interview Committee that Rev. Gretta Vosper be placed on the Discontinued Service List (Disciplinary.) Waiting for the decision of the Toronto Conference sub-executive on whether or not to proceed with that is a bit like waiting for Santa Claus - but not near as much fun! Anyway, to pass the time I started to think about what I would do if I were the sub-executive - if I were the United Church's Archbishop of Toronto.

First, I'd acknowledge that the United Church of Canada is partly responsible for this mess. We allowed a community of faith (in a sense) to organize at West Hill around a set of beliefs that wasn't consistent with United Church doctrine or liturgical practice - and we did nothing for years. That being the case, a compromise somewhere between the DSL and just going on as always isn't entirely out of order. If I were making decisions (which I'm thankfully not) here would be my seven fold report:

(1) The recommendations of the Conference Interview Committee should not be acted upon at this time.

(2) Gretta is to make no further public statements which call the faith commitment of her colleagues into question by suggesting that "most" ministers agree with her or that "unbelieving clergy" are all over. She is also to acknowledge publicly that she has no solid evidence supporting the statements she has made in the past about the level of support that exists for her.

(3) If there are areas of United Church doctrine, polity or liturgical practice with which Gretta disagrees and desires to change, she - like all United Church members - is to work through the normal processes and structures of the church (ie, proposals, remits and church courts) rather than advocating for change through the media (ie, her challenge to the then Moderator to not pray for victims of religiously inspired violence.)

(4) Since both Gretta and the West Hill congregation are part of the United Church of Canada, and through the United Church of Canada a part of the wider Christian community, they are to ensure that the sacraments of the church are made properly and regularly available (including ecumenically accepted baptism, administered in the name of the triune God, specifically "the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.")

(5) Since both Gretta and the West Hill congregation are a part of the United Church of Canada, and since the United Church of Canada recognizes the Bible as authoritative and as its primary standard, the congregation is to reflect this in its public worship by at the very least printing in its Order of Worship a biblical text supporting, explaining or reflecting upon the theme of that week's worship service.

(6) A Pastoral Charge supervisor will be appointed, specifically to ensure that (4) and (5) are being complied with. The need for supervision will be reviewed on an annual basis and can be discontinued if both Gretta and the West Hill congregation co-operate in the implementation of (4) and (5).

(7) In the event that these conditions fail to be implemented, the original recommendation of the Conference Interview Committee can be reconsidered.

That's what I'd do if I were running the show. I'm not, of course.

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