During Women's History Month we want to remind you of the impact women have made on the development of the Seventh-Day Adventist church in seven short reflections.
“When a great and decisive work is to be done, God chooses men and women to do this work, and it will see the loss if the talents of both are not combined.” (Evangelism, 469)
In the Seventh-Day Adventist Church the author of these lines, Ellen G. White, is held in high esteem as a woman who received instructions directly from God. She was very important for the development of the church. Ellen White was convinced that the church needed the talents of its women.
In the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, women have served in almost every capacity and performed many different tasks. We must take note of the role of women and their accomplishments in the church to encourage us to preserve the memory and to inspire future generations to take up the tasks their forbearers faithfully carried out.
Between 1844 and 1915, Ellen Gould Harmon White served as the mouthpiece of God and called women to use their gifts to build the kingdom of God. Hundreds, even thousands of women followed this call. Many did it without recognition. Others worked with their husbands in unnoticed, loyal, self-sacrificing, and caring labor. Many of the early missionaries lost their lives on the mission field, and yet they were willing to go out to preach the good news. These men and women worked together and can still be role models for us today.
Women are the foundation of the local church, even though in earlier times church leadership was often entrusted to men only. Through their tireless efforts, which often remain without recognition, women have supported the work of the church through their financial resources and personal commitment. Today women make up about 60 to 70% of the church membership.
Women were active in many fields. The publishing work was important for the spreading of the message especially in early times by articles and books. Many women initially worked at the Review and Herald Publishing House, where they moved from simple positions to positions of responsibility or were otherwise entrusted with major tasks.
The Tract and Missionary Societies where many women held positions of leadership were a precursor of the Home Missionary Department. Tracts were printed and distributed and church members trained in missionary work.
This is an extract from the Book Tired of Waiting – Women in Church and Society by Hannele Ottschofski, available on amzn.to/3HSyP3e