Perspectief 2014-26

2014-26 The Ordination of Women 33 Reag eer We need to help each other restore the supremacy of relevant theological insight over domination by non-theological factors. A full understanding of the Christian ministry is inclusive and supports the ordination of women.” 14 But it is also clear that not all Reformed Churches agree with this. Also the Lutheran World Federation took a stance. Their statement on the episcopal ministry (2007) says: “Today the great majority of Lutherans belong to churches that ordain both women and men. This practice reflects a renewed understanding of the biblical witness. Ordination of women expresses the conviction that the mission of the church requires the gifts of both men and women in the public ministry of word and sacraments, and that limiting the ordained ministry to men obscures the nature of the church as a sign of our reconciliation and unity in Christ through baptism across the divides of ethnicity, social status and gender (cf. Gal. 3:27-28)”. 15 Also the Methodist churches opened all levels of ministry to women and men: “Methodists ordain women because they believe that women also receive the call, evidenced by inward conviction and outward manifestation of the gifts and graces, and confirmed by the gathering of the faithful.” 16 6. In the Roman Catholic Church and in the Eastern Orthodox Churches it is totally different. Of course the discussion has been there too. Inter Insigniores (1976) 17 said ‘no’ and Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (1994) 18 declared the discussion closed. Roma locuta causa finita? What if we could restore catholicity for all churches and both genders? Take for example Olympias, a female deacon (±400 in Constantinople). According to John 14 ‘A new community. Affirmations of The Ordination of Women’, in: Walk my Sister. The Ordination of Women: Reformed perspectives , ed. Ursel Rosenhäger, Sarah Stephens, [Geneva] 1993 (Studies from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, volume 18), p. 5. 15 The Lund Statement, no. 20. 16 ‘The Apostolic Tradition’ (Methodist – Roman Catholic Dialogue 1991), no. 96 (in Growth in Agreement II , p. 616). Cf. also the Anglican-Methodist document ‘Sharing in the Apostolic Communion’ (1996), no. 55: “God’s calling of women to serve the ministry in all its forms is accepted throughout Methodism.” (ibid., p. 67). 1 7 http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_df76ii.htm 18 Ordinatio Sacerdotalis came out on Pentecost 1993: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/1994/documents/hf_jp- ii_apl_19940522_ordinatio-sacerdotalis_en.html