In our sermon today, we will be looking at Romans 12, how Jesus’ followers were exhorted to respond to God’s mercy, in a community where Jews and Gentiles who were justified by faith lived alongside each other. Paul’s encouragement in Romans 12 on living in harmony with one another reminded me of the example of a Presbyterian pastor.
He shared his experience of serving alongside women elders in ministry. His view was that while women eldership was not a primary issue for the heart of the gospel, it was not what he believed in. The issue regarding the establishment of the office of women elders was controversial at that time. You may wish to listen to his sharing including a detailed historical report in the English podcasts, “How Did We Get There?” at https://www.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast.
The debate of male-only eldership has been ongoing for 70 years in our denomination. It has been on the agenda of the General Assembly of our state since 2019. Apart from a theological debate, the discussions have been impacting our faith tradition and the congregation we worship with. For leaders and congregation who favor male-only eldership, and those who support male and female elders, there has been grief and unrest on both sides, in this long debate. It has had significant impact on the harmony within our denomination.
For Christians who are for male and female elders, they recognise that women elders have been instrumental in building up Presbyterian churches, especially those where male leadership has not been readily available. They are concerned about the lack of inclusiveness and encouragement of female Christians to participate.
How shall we as Presbyterians be devoted to one another in sincere love (Romans 12:9-10) when there are differences of viewpoint among us? Please pray for ongoing discussions on this issue for our state, deeper collaboration in ministry between Christians who hold either view across all Presbyterian churches, and the unity of our denomination.
在今天的講道中，我們將探討在羅馬書12章中, 怎樣教導耶穌的追隨者如何，作為一個由因信稱義的猶太人和外邦人組成的群體中，對神的慈悲作出回應。保羅在這章中的教導是弟兄要相親相愛的鼓勵。這讓我想起了一位長老會牧師的例子。
牧師分享了他在事奉中與女性長老並肩事奉的經歷。雖然女性長老的議題並不是福音核心的主要問題，但這並不是他所確信的。而當時引入女性長老職位的決定仍具有爭議性。您可以在以下英語播客中收聽他的分享，其中包括詳細的歷史回顧。https://www.pcnswwomen.org.au/podcast “How Did We Get There?”
在我們的宗派中，只設立男性長老職位的辯論已經持續超過70年。自2019年以來，這個議題一直在我們省的長老會全體大會的議程上。除了神學辯論外，這些討論和影響還涉及到我們的信仰傳統和一起敬拜的會眾。對於支持只有男性長老職位或支持有男女長老職位的領袖和會眾來說，在長期辯論中雙方都感到悲痛和不安。對我們宗派的和睦有很大影響。
對於支持設立男女長老的信徒來說，他們認為女性長老在建立長老會教會方面發揮了關鍵作用，尤其是在缺乏男性領導的情況下。他們擔憂女性信徒的參與和投入度的不足。
當我們之間存在不同觀點，作為長老會的成員，我們怎樣不虛假地相親相愛（羅馬書12:9-10）呢？讓我們一同禱告，為我們省內這個議題的持續討論，為所有長老會教會中持不同觀點的信徒在事工上能更深入的合作和我們宗派的合一祈禱。
