Adventist Church sets vote on women’s ordination for July 2015
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States—The Seventh-day Adventist Church, as early as next July, may decide to take a historic vote on whether to allow women to be ordained ministers.
During the 2014 Annual Council, with 243 votes in favor and 44 against, and at the end of daylong deliberation, the Executive Committee agreed to place the following question on the agenda of the 2015 General Conference (GC) Session in July, which sets policy for the entire church:
“Is it acceptable for division executive committees, as they may deem it appropriate in their territories, to make provision for the ordination of women to the gospel ministry? Yes or No.”
If the question about the theology of ordination is put up for vote and passes, then leaders in each of the church’s 13 world regions may decide whether to ordain women in their territory.
The proposal, voted by the Executive Committee today, was brought to the assembly floor as a recommendation from the church’s top officials and could be considered a creative way of dealing with a thorny issue by taking a neutral-leaning stance. Some proponents of women’s ordination voted in favor of the motion but expressed strong concerns that the proposal before the Executive Committee lacked a formal recommendation for or against ordination. Proponents fear the issue will carry less weight when the question comes up at the General Conference Session that meets July 2–11, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas, United States.
“I think this body needs to give direction to the world church,” said David Weigley, president of the North American Division’s Columbia Union Conference. “We are missing a golden opportunity to give direction. Leaders lead; they give direction,” he said.
“Based on what I see from the history of this particular issue, it seems that the Annual Council has always played a very prominent role in what is passed on to the GC session,” said Heather-Dawn Small, Women’s Ministries director for the Adventist world church. “I’ve seen from the past that what this Annual Council decides influences the GC Session.”
Vice President Michael Ryan, who chaired the day’s session, suggested that the recommendation needed to be unbiased and that the ordination question was best suited for the delegation at the session.
More than 20 people spoke on varying sides of the issue. Alberto C. Gulfan Jr., president of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, said he appreciates the contribution of female evangelists, but his region’s constituency “is not ready to move towards the ordination of women pastors.” He added, “We are also supporting this recommendation to bring this to the General Conference in Session and let the world decide on the issue once and for all.”
General Conference President Ted N. C. Wilson did not express his opinion during the meeting but indicated before the discussion that he would be willing to adjust his stance. “If this body accepts the recommendation to place a question before the General Conference Session and that session, after prayerful consideration and review, votes something,” Wilson announced, “I pledge to you I will follow what the General Conference votes. I want to ask each of you to do the same.” [Edwin Manuel Garcia/ANN]
Two presidents open five-bed Highlands clinic
Papua, New Guinea—A five-bed rural health clinic with two staff houses and a church has been officially opened at Minjmu, Jiwaka, in the western highlands of Papua New Guinea.
The clinic has been in operation for a few years, but the rest of the complex has only just been completed. Representing Murwillumbah and officiating at the event were two Australian conference presidents: Brett Townend, president of the Northern Australian Conference and former pastor of Murwillumbah church, and Justin Lawman, president of the North New South Wales Conference.
Pastor Lawman noticed the need for a clinic four years ago when he led a team to Minjmu, Jiwaka, for an evangelistic series.
Pastor Townend told the crowd who gathered for the opening that “this clinic becomes a service to the entire community” and “may it continue to be a witness to His love.” Townend also acknowledged the members of Murwillumbah church who tirelessly sold secondhand clothes to raise funds for the project.
The clinic has a ward with five beds, and a room each for emergency, examination, and labor.
Terry Koim, who was the director when the clinic was erected, commended the volunteers for a job well done and for their commitment and effort, which saw the clinic built in just eight days. It will operate under Regina Abane, an experienced health extension officer, assisted by two nurse aids. Western Highlands Mission Chief Financial Officer Bray Yomba has pledged to add a few more staff. [Jim Wagi]
A Bible for women
Following are some of the Bible’s numerous features:
- Available in French, English, and Spanish
- Words of Jesus printed in gold
- More than 100 pages of tools and resources such as teachings and beliefs, Bible studies, lists of Jesus’ miracles and parables, signs of His second coming, and maps
- Thirty beautifully illustrated pages featuring well-known women of the Bible, with interesting reflections about their lives and teachings
- More than 100 commentaries, appearing alongside Bible text and written by recognized authors, about issues related to women such as weddings in the Bible, rape and violation, levirate marriages, and women prophets
- Special introductions to each section explaining the role played by women of the Bible and how they fulfilled their special mission
- Articles on more than 60 virtues and the women who best represent them
- General articles on well-known and lesser-known women of the Bible and practical lessons we can learn from them
Contact your nearest Adventist Book Center for availability.
