One of the ordination vows for teaching elders, ruling elders, and deacons is “Do you promise to further the peace, unity and purity of the church.” (Book of Order, W-4.4003 g)

I have been amazed at the consternation some people have been able to find in this question in recent months and years.  So I offer some observations that have helped provide me with clarity and calm.

The sequence of these three ways of living is important.  Living in peace makes unity possible.  Living in peaceful unity contributes to the realistic possibility of purity.

Some people openly change the order of these three important aspects of being the church.  Many of those who speak of the need for a group that is “like-minded” seem to reverse the order – some even openly state that in their speaking.  Purity then unity then peace.  If we as human creatures are willing to strive to live in peace and unity then we are more open to let God do God’s work of purity.  Those who feel a need for human judgment of purity standards are attempting to do God’s work.

One more point – unity and uniformity at not synonyms.  Unity implies the presence of diversity while uniformity implies the absence of diversity.  I am convinced that if God wanted us all to be alike then God certainly could have accomplished that – after all would it not be easier to create copies of a single human person rather than the complexity of working to create each of us uniquely in God’s image.

Finally – peace and unity are also more than just tolerance.  I have always loved the wording that has been part of our denomination since 1789 with the meeting of the first General Assembly in Philadelphia:

That, while under the conviction of the above principle we think it necessary to make effectual provision that all who are admitted as teachers be sound in the faith, we also believe that there are truths and forms with respect to which men* of good characters and principle may differ.  And in all these we think it the duty of private Chrsitians and societies to exercise mutual forbearance toward each other. (Book of Order, F-3.0105)

As I understand those words we are called to exercise mutual forbearance together in unity not in separation and schism.  More tomorrow . . .

Grace and peace

*  From a footnote to the text: The words “men” and “man’s” throughout this quotation from the eighteenth century should be understood as apploying to all persons. (Book of Order, page 11, footnote 2)