For all those interested in the history of women in the church, and who were not able to attend the conference organized by the North American Division from October 12-14, 2023 in Washington, we have good news. The Adventist Learning Community recorded all the presentations and they are now available for download and online watching.
The purpose of the conference was to reflect on the significant contribution of women in Adventist history. The conference began with keynote speaker Anneke Stasson, co-author of the book Women in the Mission of the Church, who showed that women have been involved in ministry since Jesus's time, and they have served in various roles throughout church history. Despite growing up in the church, the speaker was unaware of these facts, mistakenly thinking women in ministry was a modern trend influenced by feminism. They explore historical roles women played, such as nuns and church founders, challenging the narrow view of women's roles in the church and highlighting diverse contributions over centuries. Throughout history, women in the church have faced numerous obstacles while contributing significantly to ministry. From the early church to the Victorian Age, women served as missionaries, church founders, and leaders. However, as the church became more bureaucratic, opportunities diminished, favoring male priesthood to align with cultural norms. Influences like Aristotle’s views on women further marginalized them. Despite challenges, women like Marcella, Hildegard, and revivalist preachers persevered, demonstrating women's enduring role and potential in ministry.
You now have access to all the presentations and historical research and you will discover the stories of women who have served in a variety of roles within the church (pastoral, education, healthcare, publishing and editing, finance etc.). Women worked actively on behalf of social justice and served as leaders in their communities. Women served as missionaries and paved the way for the expansion of Adventist missions around the world.
You can partake in a great inspiring conference just by going to the link:
https://www.adventistlearningcommunity.com/resources?keyword=Adventist%20women%20in%20history