While waiting on my hardcopy of the new Book of Discipline (BOD), I turned to the PDF version. I was inspired to do a quick comparison using the wonderful search feature.
I started by searching the word “incompatible” hoping to see a “zero.” I was a bit disappointed to see that it does appear one time, but in a quote of the previous BOD and in reference to moratoriums on judicial proceedings. By comparison, in the 2016 BOD this word appears eight times with four of these naming one practice or group of people. In another place we read that war is incompatible with the teachings of Christ. In other places we read that military service, science, and abortion under strict circumstances are not incompatible. The new BOD deals with these topics in similar ways but without using this specific term.
My next search was for the word “fidelity.” This word appears seventeen times in the new BOD and eighteen times in the previous version. In both, four of these call for fidelity to the Apostolic Faith and the Doctrine and Discipline of the Church. Another five deal with finances. In both versions the remaining references focus on standards for clergy.
In the 2016 BOD the phrase “fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness” appears seven times. The word then appears twice in a definition of marriage. These statements were often used to keep us from considering the calling and character of some. Too often, they came up only when there was a desire to exclude or punish. I am glad they are behind us.
In the new BOD, we see a focus on virtues that are life-giving for all and give witness to the “highest ideals of the Christian life.” There was an effort to strengthen our sexual and moral ethic, without a double standard and without some of the confusion around definitions of terms. This following statement appears seven times, calling for “the exercise of responsible self-control by personal habits conducive to bodily health, mental and emotional maturity, integrity in all personal relationships, social responsibility, faithful sexual intimacy expressed through fidelity, monogamy, commitment, mutual affection and respect, careful and honest communication, mutual consent, and growth in grace and in the knowledge and love of God.”
I do not see this as a move to the radical left – or whatever language might be used to characterize these developments negatively and to cause further division among us. As a person who was at the General Conference and who worked on a committee that initiated some of these changes, I witnessed a beautiful effort to be faithful and to be responsive to the high and holy calling we have been given to love one another well. With God’s grace and guidance, I believe our General Conference did good work that will bear good fruit.
As I opened this new version of the Book of Discipline, my first response is to give praise to God and then to give thanks for all who worked to make this new and faithful witness possible.
I do look forward to getting a hardcopy. I will place it among other treasures that mark significant moments in my life. This one was big.
Connected In Christ 