Читать книгу Amt, Ordination, Episkopé und theologische Ausbildung / Ministry, ordination, episkopé and theological education - Группа авторов - Страница 17

18. According to The Church of Jesus Christ, existing differences in the understanding of ministry and in the diverse shapes of ministry and service of episkopé “do not refer to the foundation but to the shape of the church” (p. 119). Along the lines of the Tampere Theses, differences in the structure of the church and its government are not necessarily an obstacle to church fellowship or to the reciprocal recognition of ministry and ordination, as long as the question of church governance remains subordinate to the sovereignty of the gospel.⁹

19. However, the diversity of structures and ministries of the church and their specific shaping is not without limit. Consequently, a question arises about the criteria for the limits to diversity and their theological foundation. Basically, diversity may neither cast a shadow over the foundation of the church nor contradict its mission. The member churches of CPCE have to examine self-critically where any hard-line practice, e.g. the refusal to ordain women, represents an obstacle to church fellowship or has the potential to damage it. An amicable conversation, accompanied by prayer, needs to take place to explore how such obstacles and damage might be removed, with the aim of deepening church fellowship. Limits of diversity are reached if the mission of the church and its unity are endangered, and if its foundation could hardly be recognised.