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Theological Forum Issue

Vol. XX, No. 1, February 1992

Hermeneutics and Ethics

 

The Harare Assembly of the Reformed Ecumenical Synod (now Council, REC) considered at length and with much concern the question of homosexuality. The debate came to sharp focus in the reaction in the churches to the position of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (GKN) to accept at all levels persons of the same gender who live together in intimate relation. The General Synod of the GKN declared that the only one who could judge the "life secret" of such people in the church was the Lord himself.

The vast majority of REC member churches did not agree. All, or almost all, considered the practice of homosexuality to be in violation of God's will as revealed in Scripture. Yet when the vote was taken on the issue the Assembly decided not to move toward the exclusion of the GKN. There were two reasons for not moving in that direction.

The first was that although the REC had already in 1980 declared that all homosexual practice is sin, it had itself not made any study of this crucial ethical issue. How could the assembly expel a member church on the basis of a position that it had not carefully scrutinized?

A second reason was that although the churches on the whole rejected homosexual practice, the question remained whether that was so crucial an issue as to warrant the expulsion of a member church.

The Assembly realized that it could not let the issue rest there. For the conviction was widespread that the authority of Scripture was at stake. Several churches had already withdrawn from the Synod. Others were greatly upset. The Assembly decided to take two steps toward resolving the problem.

The first was the appointment of an international committee of theologians to "formulate a positive position on the authority and interpretation of Scripture, including hermeneutical questions relating to the use of biblical data in Christian ethics". This study could be valuable for all members of the RES, for differences in interpretation of Scripture are a key reason for the difficulties between the GKN and the REC and the REC has an obligation to address this issue. Moreover, the hermeneutical questions play a significant role in the interpretation of biblical data (Acts 1988, p 123,4).

The committee that was appointed completed its report and submitted it to the Interim Committee to consider it when it met in its annual meeting in 1991. The report, known as the report on "Hermeneutics and Ethics" has also been distributed to the churches for consideration at the next assembly.

The second step was to instruct the REC Interim Committee, together with its advisors, to present to the next Assembly an evaluation of whether the GKN continues to qualify for membership in the RES in light of the Basis and Purpose of the RES. In its work the Interim Committee needed to consider this report.

In order to broaden the scope of discussion on the issue, the REC Committee on Theological Education and Interchange (CTEI) decided to devote one number of its quarterly Theological Forum to an evaluation of the report on Hermeneutics and Ethics. Three theologians responded to the request of the Editor to submit a response to the Report. These responses are found on the pages that follow.

The action that the 1992 REC Assembly in Athens will take on this issue will be crucial to the well being of the Council. The discussion papers that are herewith sent to you will enable the readers to better prepare themselves for discussion and/or decision. A copy of the report itself can be obtained from the REC Secretariat for $1.50 (for postage and handling).

Paul G Schrotenboer