I do have an issue with anyone being appointed as an "Honorary Elder" or an 'honorary anything'. In the Church, we should not be seeing more of "jobs for the boys". Either people are there to do a job or else they're not 'holding a position'.
There are a couple of issues present here:
1) Should the church/denomination grant "honorary" status to someone who is not required to "perform all of the duties?"
2) Does denominational policy allow for the issuance of such honorary status to people?
3) Should a specific individual be granted such status?
My response is as follows:
3) Should Danny have been granted such status: The answer to that question will depend upon the positions that people have taken on other issues. In any case, the local congregation has the right to place in office those people whom it wishes to place in office. Both liberals and conservatives agree to this in principle.
2) Does denominational policy allow for granting honorary status to people: Take a look at any edition of the YEARBOOK. The General Conference and the Union Conferences issue the following honorary credentials:
a) Honorary Minesterial Credential
b) Honorary Commissioned Minister Credential
c) Honorary Commissioned Ministry of Teaching Credential
Folks, there is a very long denominational history of granting "honorary" status to people.
Just as the General Conference and the Union Conferences grant such credentials it is within the power of the local congregation to grant people honorary status.
1) Should the local congregation grant honorary status to people who are not required to perform all of the duties:
Folks, in larger congregations people elected to positions such as Elder and Deacon are often not asked to perform all of the various duties of an Elder or a Deacon. Rather the duties of that posision are divied up between the various people. Some perform some functions and others perform other functions. Typicallly in this situation at the time of election the person is informed as to what the required duties will be.
To be specific, under some situations a Elder is supposed to preach the Sabbath sermon. Yet, in larger congregations a person may be elected to the position of Elder who knows that they will never be asked to preach a sermon. Others may be asked. But, their duties will be some that are not performed by others.
In acutal application there is not actual requirement that every person elected to a position be required to perform all of the duites of that office. The duties of that office may be divided between those who hold that office.