Allegheny East Conference Local Church Elders Retreat

1
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• THE ROLE
  FUNCTION
• OF
• CHRISTIAN
  WOMEN
• IN MINISTRY

2
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The Apostle Paul and Women
• I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee of the
  hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in
  question.
• But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of
  Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean
  city and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak
  unto the people.
• 25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said
  unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful
  for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and
  uncondemned?
• 27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto
  him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

3
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• 4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at
  the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem,
  know all the Jews
• 5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they
  would testify, that after the most straitest sect
  of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

4
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Paul was a Pharisee -Strict
• Paul was a legalist when converted.
• Corinth was a seaport city with temple worship
  with godess sexual worship
• Vocal women were dominate in the heathern
  worship.
• Jewish women were culturally taught to be silent
  and be taught by their husbands.

5
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Paul in his letter to the church in corinth gave
  instructions regarding order in worship, and the
  gift of tongues
• I Corinthians 14
• 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to
  have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that
  build up the church.
• 13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue
  should pray that he may interpret what he says.

6
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than
  all of you.
• 19 But in the church I would rather speak five
  intelligible words to instruct others than ten
  thousand words in a tongue.

7
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• 1 Corinthians 14
• 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you
  come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of
  instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an
  interpretation. All of these must be done for the
  strengthening of the church.
• 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the
  most three--should speak, one at a time, and
  someone must interpret.

8
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• 1 Corinthians 14
• 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker
  should keep quiet in the church and speak to
  himself and God.
• 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the
  others should weigh carefully what is said.
• 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is
  sitting down, the first speaker should stop.

9
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that
  everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
• 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the
  control of prophets.

10
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• 1 Corinthians 14
• 33 For God is not the author of confusion,
  but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
• 34 Let your women keep silence in the
  churches for it is not permitted unto them to
  speak (Under Jewish Law) but they are commanded
  to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
• 35 And if they will learn any thing, let
  them ask their husbands at home for it is a
  shame for women to speak in the church. (Jewish
  cultural law)

11
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• I Timothy 2
• 9 In like manner also, that women adorn
  themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness
  and sobrietynot with broided hair, or gold, or
  pearls, or costly array
• 10 But (which becometh women professing
  godliness) with good works.
• 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all
  subjection.
• 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to
  usurp authority over the man, but to be in
  silence.
• 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
• 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman
  being deceived was in the transgression.

12
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The more Paul learned the methods of Jesus, the
  more he realized that Jesus was inclusive of all
  and that Spiritual Gifts were given by the Holy
  Spirit to whomever He wills.

13
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Specific women that were associated with Jesus in
  His Ministry.
• Mary the Mother of Jesus
• Mary Magdalene Became a disciple
• Johanna
• Susanna
• Mary the Mother of James
• Salome

14
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Specific women that were associated with Paul in
  His Ministry
• Apphia - Philemon 2 Priscilla - Acts/Rom.
• Euodia - Philippians 4 Syntyche - Philippians
• Lydia - Acts 16 Tryphena - Rom. 16
• Mary of Rome - Romans 16 Tryphosa - Rom. 16
• Nymphia - Colosians 4
• Persis - Romans 16
• Phoebe - Romans 16

15
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Philippians 4 3
• And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help
  those women which laboured with me in the gospel,
  with Clement also, and with other my fellow
  labourers, whose names are in the book of life.

16
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Galatians 3
• 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith
  in Christ Jesus.
• 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into
  Christ have put on Christ. (not Jewish law)
• 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
  neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor
  female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

17
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• -PT- (Australasian) Union Conference Record -DT-
  03-01-01
• -AT- Work in San Francisco -PR- 14 -TEXT-
• There are men and women whom the Lord,
  through peculiar circumstances,will bring to the
  front in His work. These will be men and women
  who have consecrated themselves to Him. As they
  walk before Him in faith and trust, He will lead
  them to places of usefulness and honour. To those
  who rely upon Him He is a present help in every
  time of need. Those who honour His name He will
  qualify for important and perilous service. They
  may not have time to obtain all the education
  they desire, but the great Teacher understands.
  What He calls for is the willing devotion of
  heart and mind. When this is given Him, He will
  fit the givers for His service, in spite of
  apparent difficulties and obstacles. In His name
  and in His strength they will go forth to conquer.

18
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• TI- Loma Linda Messages -PR- 03 -PG- 428 -TEXT-
• Opportunities are before you if studious
  and upright,
• you may obtain an education of the highest value.
  Make the most
• of your privileges. Be not satisfied with
  ordinary attainment
• seek to qualify yourselves to fill positions of
  trust in connection
• with the Lord's work in the earth. United with
  the God
• of wisdom and power, you may become
  intellectually strong, and
• increasingly capable as soul-winners. You may
  become men and
• women of responsibility and influence, if, by the
  power of your
• will, coupled with divine strength, you earnestly
  engage in the
• work of securing a proper training.

19
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• TI- Manuscript Releases Volume One -CN- 62 -CT-
  Governing Principles in the Remuneration of SDA
  Workers -PR- 03 -PG- 263 -TEXT-
• God has entrusted talents to His servants,
  and He expects them to see that mistakes can be
  readily made. Make no mistake in neglecting to
  correct the error of giving ministers less than
  they should receive. When you see persons in
  necessity who have been placed in positions of
  trust, let God move upon your heart to set things
  right. The tithe should go to those who labor in
  word and doctrine, be they men or women. ltSU Ms
  149, 1899
• ltEU, p. 3. ("Paying Women Workers," October
  24, 1899.)

20
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• TI- Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions
  of the Seventh-day Adventists. -CN- 1 -CT-
  Practical Addresses -PR- 06 -PG- 124, 125
• -TEXT- "And he gave some, apostles and some,
  prophets and some, evangelists and some,
  pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the
  saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
  edifying of the body of Christ till we all come
  in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge
  of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
  measure of the stature of the fullness of
  Christ.
• (Continued on next slide)

21
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• God is seeking through his prophets and apostles
  to make us perfect
• but if we would become
• perfect men and women
• in Christ, we must
• "come in the unity
• of the faith."

22
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• TI- Manuscript Releases Volume Five -CN- 330
• -CT- Women as Workers in the Cause of God -PR- 04
  -PG- 325
• -TEXT- There are women who should labor in
  the gospel ministry. In many respects they would
  do more good than the ministers who neglect to
  visit the flock of God. Husband and wife may
  unite in this work, and when it is possible, they
  should. The way is open for consecrated women.
  But the enemy would be pleased to have the women
  whom God could use to help hundreds, binding up
  their time and strength on one helpless little
  mortal, that requires constant care and attention.

23
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat
-TI- Testimonies for the Church Volume Six -CN-
5 -CT- Canvassing -PR- 01 -PG- 322 -TEXT-
All who desire an opportunity for true ministry,
and who will give themselves unreservedly to
God, will find in the canvassing work
opportunities to speak upon many things
pertaining to the future, immortal life.
continued on next slide
24
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The experience thus gained will be of the
  greatest value to those who are fitting
  themselves for the ministry. It is the
• accompaniment of the
• Holy Spirit of God that
• prepares workers, both
• men and women, to
• become pastors to the
• flock of God.

25
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Continued from T6 p322
• As they cherish the thought that Christ is their
  Companion, a holy awe, a sacred joy, will be felt
  by them amid all their trying experiences and all
  their tests. They will learn how to pray as they
  work. They will be educated in patience,
  kindness, affability, and helpfulness. They will
  practice true Christian courtesy, bearing in mind
  that Christ, their Companion, cannot approve of
  harsh, unkind words or feelings.CONTINUED ON
  NEXT SLIDE

26
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• CONTINUED
• Their words will be purified. The power of speech
  will be regarded as a precious talent, lent them
  to do a high and holy work. The human agent will
  learn how to represent the divine Companion with
  whom he is associated. To that unseen Holy One he
  will show respect and reverence because he is
  wearing His yoke and is learning His pure, holy
  ways. Those who have faith in this divine
  Attendant will develop. They will be gifted with
  power to clothe the message of truth with a
  sacred beauty.

27
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• TI- The Adventist Home -CN- 17 -CT- Mutual
  Obligations -PR- 01 -PG- 115
• -TEXT- SB God's Instruction to Eve. ltEB--Eve was
  told of the sorrow and pain that must henceforth
  be her portion. And the Lord said, "Thy desire
  shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over
  thee." In the creation, God had made her the
  equal of Adam. Had they remained obedient to
  God--in harmony with His great law of love--they
  would ever have been in harmony with each other
  but sin had brought discord, and now their union
  could be maintained and harmony preserved only by
  submission on the part of the one or the other.

28
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Eve had been the first in transgression and she
  had fallen into temptation by separating from her
  companion, contrary to the divine direction. It
  was by her solicitation that Adam sinned, and she
  was now placed in subjection to her husband. Had
  the principles enjoined in the law of God been
  cherished by the fallen race, this sentence,
  though growing out of the results of sin, would
  have proved a blessing to them but man's abuse
  of the supremacy thus given him has too often
  rendered the lot of woman very
• bitter, and made her life a burden.

29
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• -DT- 06-01-80 -AT- Influence of Woman
• -PR- 06 -TEXT-
• Woman, if she wisely improves her time and
  her faculties, relying upon God for wisdom and
  strength, may stand on an equality with her
  husband as adviser, counselor, companion, and
  co-worker, and yet lose none of her womanly grace
  or modesty. She may elevate her own character,
  and just as she does this she is elevating and
  ennobling the characters of her family, and
  exerting a powerful though unconscious influence
  upon others around her.

30
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Why should not women cultivate the intellect?
  Why should they not answer the purpose of God in
  their existence? Why may they not understand
  their own
• powers, and realizing that these powers are
  given of God, strive to make use of them to the
  fullest extent in doing good to others, in
  advancing the work of reform, of truth and real
  goodness, in the world? Satan knows that women
  have a power of influence for good or for evil
  therefore he seeks to enlist
• them in his cause.

31
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• -TI- The Faith I Live By -CN- 9 -CT-
• The Christ-Centered Home -PR- 03 -PG- 251
• -TEXT-
• God Himself gave Adam a companion. He
  provided "an help meet for him"--a helper
  corresponding to him--one who was fitted to be
  his companion, and who could be one with him in
  love and sympathy.
• Eve was created from a rib taken from the
  side of Adam, signifying that she was not to
  control him as the head, nor to be trampled under
  his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side
  as an equal, to be loved and protected by him.

32
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• TI- The Acts of the Apostles -CN- 11 -CT-
• The Gospel in Samaria -PR- 03 -PG- 105
• -TEXT- Among those to whom the Saviour had
  given the commission, "Go ye therefore, and teach
  all nations" (Matthew 2819), were many from the
  humbler walks of life--men and women who had
  learned to love their Lord and who had determined
  to follow His example of unselfish service. To
  these lowly ones, as well as to the disciples who
  had been with the Saviour during His earthly
  ministry, had been given a precious trust. They
  were to carry to the world the glad tidings of
  salvation through Christ.

33
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Advent Review Sabbath Herald 7/30/1895
• The mother of one of the sisters who has now
  taken her position on the truth, has been a most
  bitter opposer, and has threatened that if her
  daughter did become a Sabbath-keeper, she would
  not allow her to enter her home for the mother
  would look upon her as a disgrace to the family.
  Mrs. A. had often made the statement that she
  would never join the Seventh-day Adventists.
• (Continued on next slide)

34
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• She had been brought up in the Presbyterian
  Church, and had been educated to think that it
  was very improper for women to speak in meeting,
  and that for a woman to preach was altogether
  beyond the bounds of propriety. (Continued next
  slide)

35
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• She enjoyed hearing Elders Daniells and Corliss,
  and thought them very clever speakers, but she
  would not listen to a woman's preaching. Her
  husband had prayed that God would so arrange
  matters that she might be converted under the
  ministry of sister White.

36
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• When I made the appeal,
• and urged those to
• come forward who felt
• their need of drawing
• nearer to God,to the
• surprise of all,
• these sisters came
• forward.
• (Continued on next slide)

37
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The sister who had lost her little one, said that
  she was determined that she would not move
  forward, but the Spirit of the Lord so forcibly
  impressed her mind that she dared not refuse.
  When the brethren A. saw their wives going
  forward, they said they felt like leaping and
  praising God. (Continuted on Next Slide)

38
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• They could hardly believe their own eyes. These
  men have proved God's promise true for in asking
  they have received, and their faith has been
  greatly increased in him who has made every
  promise sure in Jesus Christ.

39
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Women are needed in the work for the salvation of
  souls.--Women can be the instruments of
  righteousness, rendering holy service. It was
  Mary that first preached a risen Jesus. In
  fulfillment of the divine plan, the Son of Man
  came to seek and save that which was lost. . . .
  Those who engage with the Son of God in His work,
  be they ever so aspiring, can have no greater, no
  holier work than this.

40
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• If there were twenty women where now there is
  one, who would make this holy mission their
  cherished work, we should see more converts to
  the truth. The refining, softening influence of
  Christian woman is needed in the great work of
  preaching the truth.

41
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The Lord of the vineyard is saying to many women
  who are now doing nothing, "Why stand ye here all
  day idle?" Zealous and continued diligence in our
  sisters toiling for the spread of the truth would
  be wholly successful, and would astonish us with
  its results. Through patience and perseverance,
  the work must be accomplished. . . . We are
  lacking in deeds of sympathy and benevolence, in
  sacred and social ministering to the needy, the
  oppressed, and the suffering.

42
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Women who can work are needed now, women who are
  not self-important, but meek and lowly of heart,
  who will work with the meekness of Christ
  wherever they can find work to do for the
  salvation of souls.--RH, Jan. 2, 1879. PaM 76.1

43
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Spouses may unite in work.--There are women who
  should labor in the gospel ministry. In many
  respects they would do more good than the
  ministers who neglect to visit the flock of God.
  Husband and wife may unite in this work, and when
  it is possible, they should. The way is open for
  consecrated women.--5MR 325, 326. PaM 76.2

44
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The Lord would have ministers and their spouses
  closely united in the work.--The work of God
  demands most earnest labor, and the Lord would
  have ministers and their wives closely united in
  this work. The husband and wife can so blend in
  labor that the wife shall be the complement of
  the husband.

45
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The Lord desires them unitedly to watch for His
  voice, to draw closer and still closer unto Him,
  feeding upon His Word, and receiving light and
  blessing to impart to others. They should be as
  free as possible to attend campmeetings and other
  general gatherings. And the wife may continually
  be a great help to her husband in visiting and
  other personal labor.

46
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• When possible, let minister and spouse work
  together.--When it is possible, let the minister
  and his wife go forth together. The wife can
  often labor by the side of her husband,
  accomplishing a noble work. She can visit the
  homes of the people and help the women in these
  families in a way that her husband cannot.--Ev
  491. PaM 77.1

47
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Some spouses should receive wages.--There are
  ministers' wives, Sisters Starr, Haskell, Wilson
  and Robinson, who have been devoted, earnest,
  whole-souled workers, giving Bible readings and
  praying with families, helping along by personal
  efforts just as successfully as their husbands.
  These women give their whole time, and are told
  that they receive nothing for their labors
  because their husbands receive their wages.

48
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• I tell them to go forward and all such decisions
  shall be reversed. The Word says, "The laborer is
  worthy of his hire." When any such decision as
  this is made, I will in the name of the Lord,
  protest. I will feel it in my duty to create a
  fund from my tithe money, to pay these women who
  are accomplishing just as essential work as the
  ministers are doing, and this tithe I will
  reserve for work in the same line as that of the
  ministers, hunting for souls, fishing for souls.

49
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Since it is evident that Ellen White was a
  preacher as well as a prophet, and since in all
  of her counsels to the remnant church she never
  referred to the text of Paul in his letter to the
  Corinthians, and since no other biblical writer
  established this counsel for all churches.

50
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• It was counsel that Paul gave to the church in
  Corinth because of the unique condition of the
  the character of the church in that location. The
  text also says that there were men who were not
  properly contributing to the issue, and were
  counseled to be silent.

51
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Let us look at our materials
• The Yellow Pages
• What Does the Bible say about Ordination ?
• How did the Early SDA Church Practice Ordination
  ?
• Were Women Used in Ministerial Service ?
• What Does Ellen White Say About Womens
  Ordination ?

52
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• OFFICIAL ACTIONS
• of
• The Seventh-day Adventist Church
• and
• The Role of Women
• In Ministry

53
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The 1973 Annual Council
• Voted to appoint women to pastoral and
  evangelistic work, and that appropriate
  missionary credentials/licenses be granted them.
• The 1974 Spring council Pages 12-14.
• The greatest discretion and caution be exercised
  in the ordaining of women to the office of Local
  Elder .

54
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Since that time 100s of churches in the NAD have
  ordained 1000s of women to the office of local
  church Elder.
• 1984 Action of the NAD To reaffirm the action of
  the GC Committee in 1975 and to advice each
  division that it is free to make provisions for
  the election and ordination of women as local
  Elders.

55
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The Ordination of Women to the Gospel Ministry as
  Pastors
• The recommendation from the North American
  Division to the World Church at the General
  Conference Session of 1995, was to take an action
  to ordain Women into the Gospel Ministry. The
  motion was voted Down.

56
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a very
  diverse family of believers. We are a multitude
  of Cultures, each with its own perspective on
  issues that affect the life of the church. We
  have agreed on a body of doctrines that are
  non-negotiable.
• However, The status, position, and acceptance of
  women in leadership roles differ from one culture
  to the other.

57
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Since the majority of the churches membership is
  outside of North America in counties whose
  acceptance of the role of the woman is different
  than that in North America, the vote of the
  delegates in the representative form of Church
  governance was driven primarily by culture
  rather than scripture. Inasmuch as ordination to
  the ministry is a world wide credential, the
  issue was voted down.

58
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• The Seventh-day Adventist Church continues to
• operate in accordance with the actions of the
  Annual council of 1973 in the appointing of
  called and qualified women to pastoral and
  evangelistic work and provide appropriate
  credentials and licenses to them .

59
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• Final Questions
• and
• wrap up

60
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat

• THE END
• THE ROLE
  FUNCTION
• OF
• CHRISTIAN
  WOMEN
• IN MINISTRY

61
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat
62
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat
63
Allegheny East ConferenceLocal Church Elders
Retreat