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.
Martha Byington Amadon founded the first Dorcas group in 1874 with a group of women in Battle Creek. They sewed and mended clothing, collected food, and organized help for widows, orphans, and the sick.
The Sabbath school was important to the church because it was religious education. Many women were active as Sabbath school department leaders. Another field for women was the administration of finances in the Treasury department
Although women were not accepted as medical students for a long time, many Adventist women fought to be trained in medicine and became pioneers in the field of medical science. Dr. Phoebe Lamson was one of the first two doctors at the Battle Creek Sanatorium. Katherine (Kate) Lindsey worked in her long career in sanatoriums in Battle Creek, Michigan; Cape Town, South Africa, and Boulder, Colorado. Lottie Blake was the first Adventist African-American doctor, founder, and missionary. Nursing schools were organized and many women were trained as dedicated nurses.
The educational work was another field to which women were committed. Many teachers could be mentioned here. Anna Knight was one of the most influential figures in the history of African-American Adventists and has become legendary far beyond. Eva Dykes was the first Adventist woman in the US with a doctoral degree.
Even single women insisted on working as foreign missionaries like Hattie André, who came to Pitcairn in 1893. Ana and Ferdinand Stahl worked as pioneers in South America. Ellen White had faithful assistants who helped her in many ways.
Women also worked in evangelism and ministry, such as Lulu Wightman. She received her ministerial license in 1898. Six years later, her husband was also accorded his ministerial license. Between 1896 and 1905, Lulu founded twelve churches in the state of New York. Together, the couple founded another five churches. Lulu Wightman is considered one of the most successful evangelists in the SDA church.
This is an extract from the Book Tired of Waiting – Women in Church and Society by Hannele Ottschofski, available on amzn.to/3HSyP3e