The Church's Enduring Principles

I found it interesting that the series on the enduring principles in our church periodical The Herald began with “The Worth of All Persons”. I eagerly read the Up Front article by President Veazey to see what new insights he might have to say about this very important subject. He spoke of being asked to speak or take part in discussions on very sensitive subjects such as conditions of membership and human sexuality.

He counseled members to use all the resources at their disposal to deal with these issues that come before the church. We are challenged, for example, to use scriptural interpretation, tradition, continuing revelation, personal experience, reason, and common consent to deal with these sensitive issues.

On such an important issue as determining direction in the church, I looked to him as a major part of the leadership team to provide some firmer direction in preparation for a very interesting World Conference that will address at least these two very important issues. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. At least it was done so very carefully and tactfully that most readers would have overlooked it. Direction from the early 1980s from the Standing High Council seems outdated and unauthoritative. The issue was not dealt with in conference nor by insight from the presidency…it was referred.. To most members, the SHC is only an advisory committee.

The Worth of All Persons is perhaps the most important subject coming before this conference. Conditions of Membership is important but deals primarily with logistics. . The Worth of All Persons, on the other hand, involves how we treat persons…real live persons with feelings, human rights, and, yes, with callings….callings that are being ignored at this point in our history.

I would hope the First Presidency would be exploring the cultural differences in the times our scriptures were written, exploring why the scriptures that are currently so misused to subjugate our gay and lesbian members and deny not only their giftedness but also their human rights as laid out by various state’s laws.

This issue is not being addressed at all. There are cultural reasons why Paul addresses the subject and there are cultural reasons why the Holiness Code addresses it. These need to be explained. Because much of our membership has no interest in exploring these cultural reasons for themselves, the issue needs to be addressed by the First Presidency in preparation for the conference. Many of our members have their minds made up in advance and do not want to be concerned with doing research.

It seems hollow indeed to say that the church respects the worth of all persons. It is especially so in light of what these gay members must endure while they wait for the culture to catch up with their needs.

I love the church and would hope that it would always be in the forefront of exploring and leading other denominations in dealing with these issues instead of always following behind the others.

I, personally, know several dozen persons who are just waiting to see what the church will do with this issue before deciding what path they will take. Several have not waited and in frustration, have already left for the UCC, a church with a more forward looking theology.