Comments on: Can the UUA “recognize ordinations”? http://boyinthebands.com/archives/can-the-uua-recognize-ordinations/ Scott Wells on the practice of Christian faith Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:14:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: derek http://boyinthebands.com/archives/can-the-uua-recognize-ordinations/#comment-39485 derek Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:01:46 +0000 http://boyinthebands.com/archives/can-the-uua-recognize-ordinations/#comment-39485 From my point of view, the UUA can recognize or not recognize ordinations. But what they can not do at the associational level, is dictate to the local congregations who they must or must not ordain. The power of ordination is held exclusively by the local congregation, which is the natural context for discerning if somebody has or has not manifested gifts for ministry. The issue is muddy because of the Frankenstein mish-mashing of Unitarian and Universalist practices. The benefit of this system, is that it allows for some quality control, while still honoring the congregation as a full manifestation of the Church (especially in its role discerning gifts for ministry), and allows freedom for congregations to dissent from the association within certain boundaries. A minister who is ordained by their church but not fellowshipped, is recognized as a minister by their ordaining church, and all other congregations are free to either recognize or not recoginize as they discern is best. Nobody is coerced. From my point of view, the UUA can recognize or not recognize ordinations. But what they can not do at the associational level, is dictate to the local congregations who they must or must not ordain. The power of ordination is held exclusively by the local congregation, which is the natural context for discerning if somebody has or has not manifested gifts for ministry.

The issue is muddy because of the Frankenstein mish-mashing of Unitarian and Universalist practices. The benefit of this system, is that it allows for some quality control, while still honoring the congregation as a full manifestation of the Church (especially in its role discerning gifts for ministry), and allows freedom for congregations to dissent from the association within certain boundaries. A minister who is ordained by their church but not fellowshipped, is recognized as a minister by their ordaining church, and all other congregations are free to either recognize or not recoginize as they discern is best. Nobody is coerced.

]]> By: Obijuan http://boyinthebands.com/archives/can-the-uua-recognize-ordinations/#comment-39453 Obijuan Sat, 23 Jun 2007 23:46:22 +0000 http://boyinthebands.com/archives/can-the-uua-recognize-ordinations/#comment-39453 My fellowship and my ordination are two separate things. I was not ordained when I attained preliminary fellowship. The bylaws of the UUA say nothing about ordination other than denoting that the power belongs to the congregations. The rules of the MFC say nothing about ordination, either. The MFC holds a copy of my certificate of ordination in my file, but it is signed by the president of my congregation. Fellowship (arbited by the MFC) is my associational recognition (our Universalist heritage). My ordination by my congregation is legitimate with or without the association's blessing (our Unitarian heritage). There is a definite distinction, and most members of our congregations aren't aware or don't understand it. Sinkford's statement only serves to muddy the issue. My fellowship and my ordination are two separate things. I was not ordained when I attained preliminary fellowship. The bylaws of the UUA say nothing about ordination other than denoting that the power belongs to the congregations. The rules of the MFC say nothing about ordination, either. The MFC holds a copy of my certificate of ordination in my file, but it is signed by the president of my congregation. Fellowship (arbited by the MFC) is my associational recognition (our Universalist heritage). My ordination by my congregation is legitimate with or without the association’s blessing (our Unitarian heritage). There is a definite distinction, and most members of our congregations aren’t aware or don’t understand it. Sinkford’s statement only serves to muddy the issue.

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