The 21st-Century Debate on Women in the Priesthood Part II: “Side-Notes” and Tradition

Here's part two from Alaina Mobaso. Staying with the theme of the ordination of women, Alaina shifts her focus to zero in on another inconsistency in the defense of an exclusively male clergy. She points to the problem of painting the proponents of change as heavily influenced by cultural forces while at the same time grounding the supposed doctrinal defenses of the status quo in traditional cultural assumptions. Another well written, easy read which provides valuable perspective on the discussion. Find Alaina's first contribution here. This is number two in the series, Women as Ordained Priests (or Not). -Editor.

This summer, I’ve had the privilege of helping my grandparents into a new phase of their lives. Though they grieve to leave the large, beautiful house where my Dad and his sisters grew up, they know the time is right to downsize.

I’ve spent the last few months purging, sorting and packing their belongings. As devout General Church members active in their community, my grandparents have gathered a lifetime of New Church publications, sermons and papers. Through them, I discover Church controversies in the voices of the time.

One clergyman’s paper from many years ago bemoans upheaval, doubt, and emerging challenges to the authority of General Church policy, especially on questions of proper gender roles.

These problems originated in the 1960’s, he says.

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View of Homosexuality: Doctrine or Bias

Dylan draws a distinction between what the Writings actually say about homosexuality, and what we may decide the Writings say about it based on our own cultural bias. He feels that doctrine and life experience must share common ground, or the validity of each should be questioned. -Editor.

Disclaimer: I am not currently a practicing, religious Swedenborgian, though I still consider myself a student of Swedenborg’s writings. For most of my life I have been religious, but recently my doubt overwhelmed my faith. I hope that this doesn’t discredit what I have to say for anyone, but if it makes any difference, I held similar beliefs on the topic of homosexuality while I was an adamant, religious Swedenborgian.

The Trouble with the Text:

My approach to considering the topic of homosexuality in light of Swedenborgian doctrine is more pragmatic than abstract and philosophical. What I am interested in exploring is: what do the Writings teach about homosexuality, how best to interpret those teachings, and what course of action do those teachings proscribe?

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