Theology of Ordination Study Committee
Columbia, Maryland, United States—The General Conference Theology of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC) held its third weekly meeting January 21–25, 2014, in Columbia, Maryland—a short drive from the General Conference headquarters. The denomination is in the midst of a five-year process of studying the biblical foundation of the theology of ordination and how it relates to gender and the implications if women were to be ordained.
The five-year process was established following a pledge at the denomination’s General Conference Session in 2010 to examine ordination. Each of the Adventist Church’s 13 world divisions has formed its own Biblical Research Committee and delivered its recommendation to the TOSC.
The January meeting featured presentations on theology and descriptions of options for moving forward in worldwide unity regarding ordination as it relates to gender. Much of the discussion focused on the issue of “headship.” Papers from all meetings are available to view on the Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research Web site at www .adventistarchives.org/ordination.
Artur Stele, TOSC chair and director of the denomination’s Biblical Research Institute, told delegates that the time for researching and studying of the issue had come to an end. “From now on we’re going in a new direction. From now, including the June meeting, we’ll be looking for solutions,” he said. Stele continued, “These meetings have featured frank—even very frank descriptions of the positions on both sides of this matter. I believe that everyone who has participated in this process has come with a genuine desire to find out what the Word of God teaches and how we can identify solutions that allow the church to stay focused on its worldwide mission. I’ve been gratified to see a growing sense of camaraderie and understanding as we’ve moved through this process.”
At the final TOSC meeting in June, it’s expected that the committee will make recommendations for the denomination’s Executive Committee meeting at Annual Council in October 2014. From there, a recommendation will likely be made for the agenda of the 2015 General Conference Session.
[ANN]
Leona Running, long-time biblical scholar, passes away
Niels-Erik Andreasen, president of Andrews University, shared the following statement: “During her long and productive life Dr. Running broke new ground in the University and in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She was the first female professor at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Takoma Park, Maryland, and later here at Andrews. She was the first Adventist woman to earn a doctorate in Ancient Near Eastern Studies (Johns Hopkins University), with a specialization in ancient Syriac texts. She overcame the grief of losing her husband early in life and built her exemplary academic and professional calling. Following her retirement she continued to share her linguistic skill with graduate students (Syriac, Egyptian, Akkadian, Hebrew, Aramaic, and almost any other language these students cared to learn). And she served the University with her editorial talents, improving a good many of its publications over the years. . . . She was an inspiration to many and an example to us all.”
Jiří Moskala, dean of the Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Theological Seminary, says, “Dr. Running holds a special place in the hearts of her Old Testament and seminary colleagues and former students, who greatly appreciated her mentoring during their seminary years. She was the first woman professor at the SDA Theological Seminary and was indeed a woman of remarkable skills and influence. . . . We praise the Lord for her life and faithful ministry!”
William Shea, a close colleague, estimates that “Leona assisted more students in writing doctoral dissertations than any other faculty member of Andrews University. She has probably touched the educational lives of more Seventh-day Adventist ministers than any other woman except Ellen White.”
Running began working for the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in 1955, teaching Greek and Hebrew. At the time, the president of the seminary was skeptical about a woman’s ability to teach male students and male students’ willingness to be taught by a woman. She began teaching on a trial basis, but in 1956 she was granted regular status and, shortly after, full tenure. When the seminary was moved from Maryland to Michigan in 1960, Running came with it, continuing on as a valuable and dedicated professor of biblical languages.
For many years Leona collected articles, journals, and books on women in ministry. She donated the collection to the Center for Adventist Research in the James White Library (www .andrews.edu/library/car/collection/R /Running,%20Leona%20Running%20 Women%20in%20Church%20and%20 Society%20Collection.pdf).
She retired from teaching at age 65, but for 21 years she continued to teach Egyptian, Akkadian, and Syriac in the seminary, finally quitting in May 2002. At the May 2012 commencement ceremony, Leona was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Andrews University.
[Patricia Spangler/ Andrews University]
