At a Rocky Mountain Conference constituency meeting held yesterday, the delegates voted by 59% to 41% to approve ordination of women.
The Rocky Mountain Conference’s Face Book page posted the following news release:
Denver, Colorado ... With a vote of 59:41 (%) in favor of the motion: “The Rocky Mountain Conference may submit names of all qualified men and women for ordination to the Mid-America Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists," RMC is the latest Seventh-day Adventist Conference to decide for equality in ministerial ordination.
[When the motion was made] nine delegates immediately stood to speak at the “Against” microphone, while 13 lined up for the “Pro” microphone. Others joined either of the lines, but time did not allow for everyone to speak since the body voted against extending the time frame.
Yes, it was a debate, with arguments similar to those in other constituencies. So, the RMC constituency attendees heard about policy vs doctrine, equality, gender confusion, headship theology, church authority, the Holy Spirit’s calling on pastors, generational and cultural divides, financial ramifications, the role of missions, allowing women to attend seminary, the three angels’ messages in social equality, opposing the world church’s vote, following the voice of God, church levels and structure, competition, recognition, rejection, ordination at baptism, striking ordination completely, insubordination, angels tabulating the results of voting devices, Old Testament offerings, preaching for God, gender role clarification, circumcision as a rite, the message being sent to youth, compliance, rebellion and anarchy, biased presentations, fact versus opinion, divisions in the church, respect, women who followed Jesus, complementary roles, definition of ordination, biblical examples of “laying on of hands,” the role of women in ministry, definition of “harmony,” delegation of authority, fundamentalism, Ellen White, and more.
Introducing the agenda item, Hubert J. Morel Jr., vice president of administration for the Mid-America Union Conference, asked "What do we do in our own territory about this [question} of women's ordination?"
Following an hour's debate verdict was 59% in favor to 41% opposed.
According to reports from those attending, some delegates pleaded that the RMC should remain in harmony with the General Conference, but these pleas went unheeded.
RMC President Mic Thurber, who was re-elected at the meeting, made a motion to amend the motion to state that RMC members and employees not be “actively divisive” against the RMC, presumably giving him the authority to fire anyone who publicly disagrees with the vote. This is richly ironic, since Thurber is himself publicly disagreeing with three General Conference Session votes that have refused to authorize the ordination of women.
This action follows, one year later, a vote of the Mid-America Union, of which the Rocky Mountain Conference is one of the constituent conferences, to ordain women.
I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. 1 Tim. 2:11 NLT
Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Eccl. 8:11