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Women of The Spirit-1
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Nov. 20 - Women of The Spirit-1

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There is neither ... male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal. 3:28, ESV.

She has accomplished more the last two years than any minister in this state.... I am...in favor of giving [a] license to Sr. Lulu Wightman to preach, and if Bro. W. is a man of ability and works with his wife and promises to make a successful laborer, I am in favor of giving him a license also." Such were the words of Pastor S. M. Cobb writing to the New York Conference president in 1897.

Because the bulk of Adventism's ministry has consistently been male, too few have recognized the contribution to the church made by women who have served as ministers and in other official positions.

The role of Ellen White, of course, was central to the establishment and development of Adventism. Even though the denomination never formally ordained her, as early as 1872 it listed her as an ordained minister. Believing that her ordination came from God, she does not appear to have been concerned about the human laying on of hands. What is beyond doubt, however, is that she was the most influential minister ever to serve the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Many other women participated during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as licensed ministers. One of the first may have been Sarah Lindsay, licensed in 1872. The denominational yearbooks list more than 20 additional women as being licensed ministers between 1884 and 1904--the first two decades of the yearbook.

In spite of the fact that those women faced discrimination at times, they often made major contributions to the church.

Minnie Sype, for example, established at least 10 churches. And beyond her evangelistic work she performed such ministerial tasks as baptizing, marrying, and conducting funerals. On one occasion when attacked because she was presuming to preach as a female, Minnie replied that after His resurrection Jesus had commissioned Mary to notify the disciples that He was alive. Minnie claimed that she was following in Mary's footsteps, telling people that Jesus was not only risen but coming again.

God is able to use both men and women to spread the good news of salvation in Christ. That is what ministry is all about. The church would be better off if it had more women and men doing the ministry of the risen Savior.

 

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Our only safety is in constant distrust of self, and dependence on Christ.(COL 155). 
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