Judicial Commission Liberty of Conscience Guidelines [1990]
- It is our publicly declared law and rule that women in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland are eligible on the same conditions as men for ordination or installation to office as ruling elders (since 1926) and ministers (since 1973), which policy was adopted by the Assembly in good conscience.
- It is recognised that there is a significant number of people in the Church who have personal conscientious reservations or objections to this policy on the basis of their reading of the Scriptures.
- Both pastoral concern and prudence should warn against any attempts to force anyone to act in this in a manner contrary to a deeply held conviction. For their part, those with such convictions must strive to avoid injury to the conscientious ministries of brothers and sisters called to serve under the laws and rules of our Church, who are rightly to be honoured for their work’s sake.
- Equally, it is unacceptable for any person to use his or her own convictions to deny others the conscientious exercise of their own ministries, or to frustrate the laws or procedures of the Church to which they belong, e.g. by impeding others lawfully seeking office. It is, of course, the duty of the Presbytery, so far as lies within its powers, to observe the laws and directions of the Assembly and to ensure that those subject to its jurisdiction do likewise.
- Of all institutions, the Christian Church should be concerned for the development and defence of a well-informed conscience, not only with respect to private judgement and convictions, but also with respect to shared obligations.
- Conscience may present us under God with competing demands which cannot be resolved by simple logic or legislation but must be faced with the exercise of integrity, charity and humility.
- The practice of ministry in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland involves objectively a recognition of the lawful exercise of office by both men and women in good standing, nevertheless a particular theological belief on the place of women in the eldership and ministry is not a condition for acceptance for the ministry.
- Those with personal conscientious objections to participating in particular services have the freedom to decline for themselves, but not to dictate or veto who may be invited by the appropriate Church court or authority.