Ordination

The Skyridge Church of the Brethren fully affirms the ordination of Matthew J. Smucker to Christian ministry. As a congregation we have supported our brother in Christ in naming his gifts and discerning his call to ministry throughout these last five years. We see in him “the fruits of the Spirit” named in Galatians 5:22-23: “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

He, as an individual, and we, as a congregation, have submitted ourselves to the denominational process outlined in the Church of the Brethren Manual of Organization and Polity. The process has unfolded as follows:

	Matthew J. Smucker joins Skyridge, January 1997 (having been born Brethren, baptized in the East Chippewa (N. Ohio) congregation in 1980, graduated from Manchester College in 1990, licensed by the Northern Ohio District (1990-1992)).
	After much prayer and discernment, Skyridge calls Matt to take seriously his call to ministry and to pursue it through education and the licensed ministry process. Accordingly, Matt begins studies at Bethany Theological Seminary in the fall of 1998.
	The Michigan District Ministry Commission approves Matt for licensing in May 1999. This action is affirmed and celebrated in worship by the congregation.
	Matt graduated with an M.Div. degree with “distinction in Ministry Studies” (a faculty-conferred honor) May 2001.
	Matt completes his pre-ordination interview process in the summer of 2001.
	Matt completes the necessary qualification for ordination, including a call to ministry in seminary administration at Chicago Theological Seminary in November 2001.
	The Michigan District Ministry Commission presents Matt as a candidate for ordination to the district board, and the district board approves him for ordination, April 2002. This action is affirmed by vote at our congregational meeting in May 2002.
	The congregation plans a worship celebration of Matt’s ordination for June 2002.

As a congregation, we have read, studied and prayerfully considered the papers of the church as we moved through this process. In our discernment, we also have taken into account the report of the Standing Committee to the 1985 Annual Conference in response to a query from Oregon/Washington District concerning “standards of sexual behavior and orientation for persons seeking licensing and ordination.” We have followed polity.

We have at times differed with policies/position papers, including some portions of “Human Sexuality from a Christian Perspective.” We know that this paper, like all passed at Annual Conference, reflect the position of the church and are meant to cultivate discernment and discussion within and amongst congregations. We know that some agree with our interpretation of this paper, and others disagree. We understand congregational polity to allow for such disagreements, and hold in love all our brothers and sisters who seek to faithfully follow Jesus and serve him within the Church of the Brethren.

Current concerns:

	the action taken (as being un-Biblical or contrary to Annual Conference)
	timing of the ordination service vis a vis Annual Conference (particularly due to the query being presented there)
	general prejudice

Current affirmations:

	for Matt, specifically
	for the action taken given that the polity says nothing about sexual orientation