OR-ID Board of Ordained Ministry: Our Resistance to Discriminatory Restrictions from General Conference

We the, Oregon-Idaho Board of Ordained Ministry, believe that in light of the decisions of the 2019 General Conference this is a crucial time to declare how we operate in our work with those called by God into ordained ministry.

Because we have been a Reconciling Conference since 1996, because we have seen the gifts and graces for ministry in LGBTQ persons and have seen these same gifts too often denied, and because we hope to help lead change in our denomination’s policy regarding LGBTQ persons in ordained ministry, we welcome all candidates as children of God as they discern God’s call and claim upon them for ordained ministry.

We commit to inquire of our candidates for commissioning or ordination based on their gifts for Christ’s ministry as delineated in ¶335 of the 2016 Book of Discipline. We will continue to base their examination on their understanding of our Triune God and God’s call rather than on sexual or gender identity of candidates for ministry.

We hold ourselves, our clergy and candidate to the highest standards of faithful and holy living, and for fitness, readiness, and effectiveness in ministry.  We commit to participate fully in the ministerial covenant with our colleagues of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Faithfully,
OR-ID Board of Ordained Ministry, April of 2019