Women’s Weekend in Geneva

The women’s ministries of the French church in Geneva organized a women’s weekend on August 20-21, 2022. Many months of preparation by Myriam and her team, led to this special date. On Sabbath morning the Women’s Ministries (WM) Director for the Swiss-Romande Conference, Bernadette Fogliani, who was translated by Karin Hoareau, her assistant, delivered the sermon with the theme, "Bloom where God has planted you!" She emphasized the fact that just as when a flower receives light and warmth from the sun to bloom and release fragrance, so too when we receive God’s light and love, we can "bloom," that is, be a light and fragrance to others. Just as each flower has its color, shape, and fragrance, we too can meet our neighbors, friends, and colleagues, with our particular gifts and characteristics. She then explained how WM can help women develop and witness God`s love.
After a picnic in the "Parc de la Grange" with many sisters, Karin Hoareau explained how Women’s Ministries work, and explained the possibilities and their usefulness. Since there were also some young women, the conversation then turned to the difficulties of young people in the church, and the fact that so many are leaving. What can women do to prevent this? They concluded that Mentoring could be a useful means, among many other things, to meet the needs of young people. The time passed quickly in a very enriching exchange and time of sharing and the women looked forward to resuming the conversation the next morning.
On Sunday morning, August 21, we 18 women gathered with Pastor Nicolas Walther at the entrance of the "parc des Bastions" near the bust of Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross. Here a journey of learning began in which they would discover and learn about women who have contributed in some way to history, both in the religious as well as the social realm. They headed to the wall of the Reformers, where they discovered in the vicinity of the great Reformers, the inscription on a wall of the only woman mentioned in the Reformation: Marie Dentière, Protestant theologian. She is the forerunner of women`s right to preaching and pastoral ministry in the Protestant church in the 16th century. The 20th century would reaffirm this right.
Walking through the old city of Geneva, the group stopped at different stations, especially where there was a street sign with the name of a woman. These women fought for rights, against poverty, for education, but also health. Adventist and non-Adventist women, nurses, first women doctors, and missionaries. They also learned that it was a woman who founded ADRA. Martha Amadon founded a Dorcas society which later, in our time, became ADRA. Does the name Charlotte Blake ring a bell? She was the first African American Adventist woman physician (1876-1976). But they also heard about E.G.White and Sarepta Myrenda Irish Henry, the founder of Women's Ministries in 1899, and about so many other women. It was interesting to learn what these women did and how they contributed to the history of Protestantism, and the SDA church, in the field of health, education, and missions. It was exciting to realize once more, how much women have contributed in history, often without making much "noise" about it! At the end of the journey that lasted several hours, the group arrived at the English park in Geneva, a little hungry, where a communal picnic was organized. First thanks were given to Myriam, WM leader of the Geneva church, who had organized this walk, over several months and impeccably and comprehensively. At the end, she gave each participant a booklet with all the women, who were mentioned during the journey.
These two days were intense and rich both spiritually, intellectually, and personally. God was present with His Spirit and it was a great experience and a chance to meet wonderful people.
According to a report by Bernadette Fogliani, WM Director, FSRT