It was he who preferred the company of convicts, prostitutes and extortionists to that of the wealthy, the religious elite or the politically powerful. Evangelical requires action rather than the status quo. It demands a commitment of faith rather than a simple religious observance. Its core meaning is to serve rather than to be served . The existence of this action-based faith explains our strong desire to seek resolutions in matters of human oppression, to seize and confront the difficult social, cultural and religious issues of our day rather than simply take a wait and see position.
Nothing exists in a vacuum.
We are all the inheritors of all the good and ill of our ancestors in faith. We need not blindly accept our inheritance, however. To engage our Church with open eyes and open heart is to invite the Holy Spirit always to take us beyond our comfort zone, and to encounter the Good News of Jesus Christ again and again. And hopefully, to grow in grace and wisdom. The 1970s did prove turbulent for churches in regards to the debate over the ordination of women and of their evolving place within society.