Meeting to talk about a way forward
I went to a clergy meeting yesterday to discuss "A Way Forward" report for our next General Synod - Te Hinota Whanui (GSTHW). This report was written to continue the work of the previous GSTHW around issues of blessing those in same-sex marriages, and the ordination of those in same sex civil marriages. After a week of intense work the GSTHW of 2014 came up with motion 30.
In some ways it was good to have the time to explore the report and talk in small groups about it. But I did find it really frustrating that a small group just wanted to debate motion 30 again. And I found it insulting when one of those people described the report as polemical. Instulting to the people of a huge variety of theological positions who have worked very hard together over the last year and a half to give GSTHW a way forward in light of that motion. They did what they were asked to do and offered their reasoning for that work.
A fundemental thing for me of the gospel is how we treat each other. With respect. With generosity. I found this position as disrespectful and lacking any generosity at all. If you are going to claim the biblical high group - try living it.
At the end I came away with a deeper appreciation for what the working group have offered. I would have wanted them to go further, but motion 30 did not allow them to go further. I would have liked a more meaningful discussion around the particularities of what was offered, but there was a group that don't even want the principle so were not willing to engage with what is offered. It was interesting when they took one sentence out of its context and made it say the exact opposite of what it really said, kind of like how some people read the bible really. I guess we all do that. But it was interesting to see the same process used on a non-biblical document.
I think this story a friend sent me today says something of what I am talking about.
In some ways it was good to have the time to explore the report and talk in small groups about it. But I did find it really frustrating that a small group just wanted to debate motion 30 again. And I found it insulting when one of those people described the report as polemical. Instulting to the people of a huge variety of theological positions who have worked very hard together over the last year and a half to give GSTHW a way forward in light of that motion. They did what they were asked to do and offered their reasoning for that work.
A fundemental thing for me of the gospel is how we treat each other. With respect. With generosity. I found this position as disrespectful and lacking any generosity at all. If you are going to claim the biblical high group - try living it.
At the end I came away with a deeper appreciation for what the working group have offered. I would have wanted them to go further, but motion 30 did not allow them to go further. I would have liked a more meaningful discussion around the particularities of what was offered, but there was a group that don't even want the principle so were not willing to engage with what is offered. It was interesting when they took one sentence out of its context and made it say the exact opposite of what it really said, kind of like how some people read the bible really. I guess we all do that. But it was interesting to see the same process used on a non-biblical document.
I think this story a friend sent me today says something of what I am talking about.
A farmer died leaving his 17 horses to his three
sons. When his sons opened up the Will it read:
My eldest son should get 1/2 (half) of total horses;
My middle son should be given 1/3rd (one-third) of the total horses;
My youngest son should be given 1/9th (one-ninth) of the total horses.
As it's impossible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the three sons started to fight with each other. So, they decided to go to a farmer friend who they considered quite smart, to see if he could work it out for them.
The farmer friend read the Will patiently, after giving due thought, he brought one of his own horses over and added it to the 17. That increased the total to 18 horses.
Now, he divided the horses according to their father's will.
Half of 18 = 9. So he gave the eldest son 9 horses.
1/3rd of 18 = 6. So he gave the middle son 6 horses.
1/9th of 18 = 2. So he gave the youngest son 2 horses.
Now add up how many horses they have:
Eldest son 9
Middle son 6
Youngest son 2
TOTAL = 17
Now this leaves one horse over, so the farmer friend takes his horse back to his farm. Problem solved!
Moral: The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the "18th horse", that is "the common ground". Once a person is able to find the 18th horse, the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times. However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won't be able to reach any! Would be a good idea if all our politicians could do farmer math!
My eldest son should get 1/2 (half) of total horses;
My middle son should be given 1/3rd (one-third) of the total horses;
My youngest son should be given 1/9th (one-ninth) of the total horses.
As it's impossible to divide 17 into half or 17 by 3 or 17 by 9, the three sons started to fight with each other. So, they decided to go to a farmer friend who they considered quite smart, to see if he could work it out for them.
The farmer friend read the Will patiently, after giving due thought, he brought one of his own horses over and added it to the 17. That increased the total to 18 horses.
Now, he divided the horses according to their father's will.
Half of 18 = 9. So he gave the eldest son 9 horses.
1/3rd of 18 = 6. So he gave the middle son 6 horses.
1/9th of 18 = 2. So he gave the youngest son 2 horses.
Now add up how many horses they have:
Eldest son 9
Middle son 6
Youngest son 2
TOTAL = 17
Now this leaves one horse over, so the farmer friend takes his horse back to his farm. Problem solved!
Moral: The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the "18th horse", that is "the common ground". Once a person is able to find the 18th horse, the issue is resolved. It is difficult at times. However, to reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won't be able to reach any! Would be a good idea if all our politicians could do farmer math!
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