Association of Adventist Women’s Women of-the-Year Awards

The Association of Adventist Women’s annual Banquet was held on October 12, 2024, in Loma Linda, California.
AAW President Nerida Bates explained that the AAW banquet is “our way of celebrating women in the Adventist church who have had blessings and successes in leadership.” Nerida also emphasized how perspectives regarding women’s talents in ministry have evolved over the years, and the important role AAW has played in fostering many of these conversations.
The keynote speaker for the evening was Elder Victor Marley, President of the Norway Union and this year’s honored Champion of Justice. While AAW’s awards are mostly meant to honor women’s accomplishments, a man is awarded the Champion of Justice award each year for his work as an ally. This year, Victor was recognized for his “courage and insight in standing for equitable church leadership processes that decentralize authority, and for his support of women in ministry.”
AAW awarded this year’s Women-of-the-Year awards to:
Elizabeth Talbot – Speaker/Director of the Jesus 101 Biblical Institute, a media ministry of the North American Division (NAD) that provides Christ-centered Bible study resources in English and Spanish, including devotionals, studies, videos, podcasts, and audiobooks. Recognized for her effective communication and energy/focus on evangelism.
Vi Zapara – known for her philanthropic leadership and support of the Zee Medical business along with her husband, Tom Zapara. Recognized for her support of Adventist education and healthcare, and positively impacting the lives of many teachers, students, and patients.
René Drumm – Senior Research Professor of Sociology and Adjunct Professor for Social Work and the Doctor of Ministry program at Andrews University. Works as research methodologist and lead teacher for the Institute of Church Ministry at the Andrews University Theological Seminary. Recognized for her work in helping the church address and respond to abuse while fostering challenging conversations.
Silvia Scholtus, faculty emeritus at River Plate University since 1990, holds a doctorate in Theology and has authored over 30 book chapters and more than 100 articles in various languages, focusing on Seventh-day Adventist history. She is celebrated for her academic legacy and her contributions to chronicling the history of the Adventist Church in South America.
Notably, Silvia Scholtus was unable to attend in person because she was being ordained that very day in Argentina, where she lives and works! We celebrated the moment, and Nerida mentioned that she and Ruth Peeters would soon travel to Argentina to present the award at her university’s graduation ceremony.
Thank you to the Adventist women who are preparing the way for the next generations of female leaders within the Adventist church. We are deeply indebted to you and your work.
This is a shortened version of Rebecca Barcelós article for AToday
https://atoday.org/sunflowers-of-strength-cultivating-women-leaders-in-the-adventist-church/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGEHpRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHeWq4x9iWzaKwJZlRHSpnnBDdGUvete8GhJhdzJXdjnQ5DnZ1K6zcDybiA_aem_lu2D6zqLzoSz4MwwfEG99g