What is the ECC’s understanding of clerical celibacy?
Clerical celibacy was not a requirement until 1274. In fact, it was enforced for relatively practical reasons: first to ensure that clergy would not be hindered by a call to ministry with respect to the responsibility of a family and second, to prevent the threat of hereditary claims placed upon church property by the children of clergy. Again, we follow the teachings of Jesus and allow individuals to respond to God’s call freely and therefore, marriage and ordination are not mutually exclusive.
