‘Sad day’ for United Church, says atheist minister Gretta Vosper

[rug]

Church committee recommends defrocking popular minister at West Hill United Church in Scarborough



By AMY DEMPSEYFeature Writer
JIM RANKINFeature reporter
Thu., Sept. 8, 2016

Gretta Vosper, the popular and controversial United Church of Canada minister who calls herself an atheist, should no longer be a minister, a review committee has recommended.

“In our opinion, she is not suitable to continue in ordained ministry because she does not believe in God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit,” the church’s Toronto Conference Review Committee concluded in a 39-page report released Wednesday.

“We have concluded that if Gretta Vosper were before us today, seeking to be ordained,” said the report, the committee “would not recommend her.”

“After prayer and much discussion,” the 23-person committee voted 19 to 4 in favour of a motion that found Vosper “unsuitable to continue serving.”

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/09/08/defrock-atheist-minister-gretta-vosper-united-church-panel-urges.html

[jonno99]

1. Hmmm...I wonder what it states in her "job description"...nt

[rug]

2. I don't know but membership is based on this.

Based on the understanding that the Bible is the ultimate standard for our faith, membership in the church is based on a profession of faith, not on adhering to a particular creed. New members are asked to profess their faith in the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and to commit themselves to faithful conduct in the church and in the world. Additionally, United Church ministers are required to be in "essential agreement" with the 20 Articles of Faith set out in The Basis of Union.

http://www.united-church.ca/community-faith/welcome-united-church-canada/what-we-believe

[jonno99]

3. It seems reasonable that a pastor should be required to

Last edited Fri Sep 9, 2016, 08:18 AM - Edit history (1)

have the same level of commitment to the faith as a member.

The Sanders decision tied Vosper’s effectiveness to her “suitability.” A minister who is not suitable, Sanders ruled, cannot be effective. To assess suitability, Sanders wrote, a review committee may ask the minister to answer the ordination questions again, starting with: do you believe in God?

Edit: which begs the question - how was it that she was ever ordained? Did she become an atheist after being ordained?