Resolution to Call for Church-Wide Re-Examination of the Role of Women in Church Ministry and Church Governance

National Officers Response to
Proposal on Women in the Church

The Officers have reviewed the “Resolution to Call for Church-Wide Re-Examination of the Role of Women in Church Ministry and Church Governance” that was recently passed by the NRC.

Recognizing the fervent and deliberate debate around this proposal, the officers want to thank you for the rigorous nature of vetting that occurred. Now that the proposal has passed, we do have some serious concerns about implementation both from timing and content point of view. We ask the NRC to engage in a thoughtful and thorough discussion and approval process about the proposal’s implementation plan.

Our particular concerns are:

A) The implementation plan must demonstrably complement our mission and goals.

B) t must make clear that VOTF is not calling for the Ordination of Women at this time.

C) Timing should not detract from the implementation of previously approved proposals, such as the proposal calling for a study of the mandatory celibacy issue.

D) What metrics will define success?

VOTF Officers
Dan Bartley, Janet Hauter, Kevin Connors and Julie McConville

National Representative Council Vote

POLL QUESTION: Should the National Representative Council adopt the Resolution entitled RESOLUTION TO CALL FOR CHURCH-WIDE RE-EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN CHURCH MINISTRY AND CHURCH GOVERNANCE?
[The parenthetical numbers refer to the region covered by the representative. Click here to identify the states in each region.]

CHOICES AND RESULTS
- I vote in favor, 15 votes, 68.18%
- I vote against, 7 votes, 31.82%
- I abstain, 2 votes, 0%

INDIVIDUAL VOTES

- I vote in favor

Kris Ward (6)
Ed Friedl (6)
Bob Schwiderski (3)
Chuck Miller (4)
Lisa Kendzior (10)
John Marshall Lee (1)
Ron DuBois (1)
Bud Bretschneider (3
Rich Moriarty (4)
Steve Sheehan (1)
Joseph Juhasz (13)
Pat Gomez (1)
Jim Jenkins (11)
Doug Roach (14)
David Biersmith (9)

- I vote against:
Susan Vogt (5)
Jim Beyers (7)
Ed Wilson (2)
Jane Merchant (1)
Hugh O'Regan (11)
Bill Culleton (3)
Sheila Peiffer (2)

- I abstain
Kevin Mondloch (7)
Rosa Maria Montenegro (14)