27 Mar 2026, 09:44Dr Kirk Thomas, South England Conference PresidentWatford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Women in Ministry: Insights from Scripture and Adventist History
Pastoral Letter, 27 March 2026
Dear Church Family,
Women in Pastoral Ministry within the Seventh-day Adventist Church have played, are playing and will continue to play a very vital and valuable role in the Church’s Mission. With Bible texts and Ellen G. White’s writings confirming and acknowledging the contributions women have made in the past, present and will continue to make in the years to come, it is essential and vital that the Seventh-day Adventist Church recognises and accepts women’s ministry. The Bible has its own story of women in ministry, which is a very strong and very essential backing and confirmation of women in pastoral ministry. This validation can’t be ignored because God has shown us through Bible accounts that women have played very important roles, have done very important work, have demonstrated great faithfulness and have contributed greatly to the spreading and building of God’s work, therefore, such accounts confirm women participation in pastoral ministry and at the same time, makes null and void the arguments in support of women not being appointed to pastoral ministry simply on account of sex.
One such woman is Deborah, a remarkable leader in the history of Israel in an era dominated by men. She was a female judge and prophetess who was an extraordinary leader to her people during a very difficult time. Her story shows that there is no sex discrimination in terms of divine calling for leadership, understanding, and even for being a judge. Deborah also shows that women can play many different roles in bringing restoration to the community of faith.
The same can be said for Priscilla, who, along with her husband Aquila, was a missionary team that partnered in preaching, teaching and mentoring. Paul apparently entrusted this new Jewish prophet from Alexandria to them for further instruction “so that when he had preached to the Hellenists he might also speak boldly in the Hebrew synagogue” (Acts 18:26). The mutual tutoring which went on between Aquila and Priscilla and Apollos adds another proof of the full participation of women in discussion of theology, as well as in the task of instruction; and as has been said already, refutes completely any exclusions of women from a ministry which apparently was a great blessing to the early church.
In addition, women who bore witness to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ are evidence that women had a significant part in the laying of the foundations of the Christian church. In their role as first heralds of the resurrection of Christ, they exemplified that spreading the gospel is part of the divine call to ministry. Their testimony demonstrates that women are not only eligible to bear witness to the victory of our Lord over death, but that they also have a mandate for leadership and service in the Christian church. The right of women to exercise leadership and discharge ministerial functions in the church is not based solely on the fact that there are accounts of women in the Bible who did so uniquely and extraordinarily. There are numerous scriptures which teach the principle of equality of all people in the body of Christ. One such passage is Galatians 3:28, which states, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, bond nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This scripture affirms equality among believers, which is in line with the Adventist principle of empowering women in ministry. Additionally, the SDA belief in the personal relationship with Jesus and the priesthood of believers supports the participation of women in the pastorate.
When we look at scripture and its numerous statements in favour of women’s ministry, the question of women in pastoral ministry can no longer be treated as a radical social justice issue. Rather, it is a biblical issue which the Seventh-day Adventist church must acknowledge, in relation to the roles women play, the challenges they face, and their achievements as they participate in the total ministry of the church. As the church seeks to find new ways of witnessing to the fact that Jesus is Lord, we must also find ways of recognising and supporting the many women who want to be involved in the mission of the church. As the church unlocks and utilises the gifts given by the Holy Spirit to all members, men and women, the world around us will be blessed. Ellen G. White’s writing affords us a basis for looking at the place of women in Seventh-day Adventist ministry. An examination of her writings on these subjects reveals in more detail her thoughts concerning the involvement of women in the total ministry of the SDA church. White understood the great value women could render to God, both in the church and in the world. In several of her writings, she enunciates her principle of women’s active participation in gospel proclamation and, therefore, in the total ministry of evangelism and preaching, which is included in the concept of pastoral ministry. The fact that women were to serve God in so many ways made it necessary that White advocated their active participation in the ministry of evangelism and in other areas of church life and work. To White, men and women were equal co-labourers in the Lord’s vineyard.
Ellen G. White's teachings paved the way for the Adventist Church to accept and acknowledge the role of women in pastoral ministry. White taught that the Spirit gives gifts “not according to the evil nature of men, nor to the malice they harbour against one another, nor to their prejudices or conflicting opinions, but according to the measure of the capacity each has received. He gives men gifts equally with women, according to each one's capacity.” The feminist view of ministry, which White contributed toward, differed from the traditional and contemporary understanding of ministry in White's time, and she did not recognise the subordination of women as divinely ordained. Rather than view women as subordinate to men or limited to certain types of religious service, White envisioned women participating fully in gospel work and holding responsible, leading positions in the church and in its programs of teaching and pastoral evangelism. White's vision for women in ministry was prophetic, pointing the way for the church to view the value of women's contributions and to redefine the total ministry for the Adventist church.
Ellen G. White had a direct impact on the lives of many women and provided countless real-life examples of women participating in active ministry. For example, Mary McKillop, a major educator of her time, lived during White’s lifetime and established schools throughout Australia and South Australia, achieving much in the area of women’s education, an area that White felt women should be empowered to pursue. Women such as evangelist Fannie B. Johnson and the sisters of the Singers’ family had their ministry validated by the words of the prophet and were thus empowered to carry out extensive evangelism and pastoral work. The lives of the women mentioned above demonstrate how White’s teachings about women impacted them personally and thus impacted the work of the church.
Part three (3) next week. Let us all be Inspired for the Mission!
Dear Church Family,
Women in Pastoral Ministry within the Seventh-day Adventist Church have played, are playing and will continue to play a very vital and valuable role in the Church’s Mission. With Bible texts and Ellen G. White’s writings confirming and acknowledging the contributions women have made in the past, present and will continue to make in the years to come, it is essential and vital that the Seventh-day Adventist Church recognises and accepts women’s ministry. The Bible has its own story of women in ministry, which is a very strong and very essential backing and confirmation of women in pastoral ministry. This validation can’t be ignored because God has shown us through Bible accounts that women have played very important roles, have done very important work, have demonstrated great faithfulness and have contributed greatly to the spreading and building of God’s work, therefore, such accounts confirm women participation in pastoral ministry and at the same time, makes null and void the arguments in support of women not being appointed to pastoral ministry simply on account of sex.
One such woman is Deborah, a remarkable leader in the history of Israel in an era dominated by men. She was a female judge and prophetess who was an extraordinary leader to her people during a very difficult time. Her story shows that there is no sex discrimination in terms of divine calling for leadership, understanding, and even for being a judge. Deborah also shows that women can play many different roles in bringing restoration to the community of faith.
The same can be said for Priscilla, who, along with her husband Aquila, was a missionary team that partnered in preaching, teaching and mentoring. Paul apparently entrusted this new Jewish prophet from Alexandria to them for further instruction “so that when he had preached to the Hellenists he might also speak boldly in the Hebrew synagogue” (Acts 18:26). The mutual tutoring which went on between Aquila and Priscilla and Apollos adds another proof of the full participation of women in discussion of theology, as well as in the task of instruction; and as has been said already, refutes completely any exclusions of women from a ministry which apparently was a great blessing to the early church.
In addition, women who bore witness to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ are evidence that women had a significant part in the laying of the foundations of the Christian church. In their role as first heralds of the resurrection of Christ, they exemplified that spreading the gospel is part of the divine call to ministry. Their testimony demonstrates that women are not only eligible to bear witness to the victory of our Lord over death, but that they also have a mandate for leadership and service in the Christian church. The right of women to exercise leadership and discharge ministerial functions in the church is not based solely on the fact that there are accounts of women in the Bible who did so uniquely and extraordinarily. There are numerous scriptures which teach the principle of equality of all people in the body of Christ. One such passage is Galatians 3:28, which states, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, bond nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This scripture affirms equality among believers, which is in line with the Adventist principle of empowering women in ministry. Additionally, the SDA belief in the personal relationship with Jesus and the priesthood of believers supports the participation of women in the pastorate.
When we look at scripture and its numerous statements in favour of women’s ministry, the question of women in pastoral ministry can no longer be treated as a radical social justice issue. Rather, it is a biblical issue which the Seventh-day Adventist church must acknowledge, in relation to the roles women play, the challenges they face, and their achievements as they participate in the total ministry of the church. As the church seeks to find new ways of witnessing to the fact that Jesus is Lord, we must also find ways of recognising and supporting the many women who want to be involved in the mission of the church. As the church unlocks and utilises the gifts given by the Holy Spirit to all members, men and women, the world around us will be blessed. Ellen G. White’s writing affords us a basis for looking at the place of women in Seventh-day Adventist ministry. An examination of her writings on these subjects reveals in more detail her thoughts concerning the involvement of women in the total ministry of the SDA church. White understood the great value women could render to God, both in the church and in the world. In several of her writings, she enunciates her principle of women’s active participation in gospel proclamation and, therefore, in the total ministry of evangelism and preaching, which is included in the concept of pastoral ministry. The fact that women were to serve God in so many ways made it necessary that White advocated their active participation in the ministry of evangelism and in other areas of church life and work. To White, men and women were equal co-labourers in the Lord’s vineyard.
Ellen G. White's teachings paved the way for the Adventist Church to accept and acknowledge the role of women in pastoral ministry. White taught that the Spirit gives gifts “not according to the evil nature of men, nor to the malice they harbour against one another, nor to their prejudices or conflicting opinions, but according to the measure of the capacity each has received. He gives men gifts equally with women, according to each one's capacity.” The feminist view of ministry, which White contributed toward, differed from the traditional and contemporary understanding of ministry in White's time, and she did not recognise the subordination of women as divinely ordained. Rather than view women as subordinate to men or limited to certain types of religious service, White envisioned women participating fully in gospel work and holding responsible, leading positions in the church and in its programs of teaching and pastoral evangelism. White's vision for women in ministry was prophetic, pointing the way for the church to view the value of women's contributions and to redefine the total ministry for the Adventist church.
Ellen G. White had a direct impact on the lives of many women and provided countless real-life examples of women participating in active ministry. For example, Mary McKillop, a major educator of her time, lived during White’s lifetime and established schools throughout Australia and South Australia, achieving much in the area of women’s education, an area that White felt women should be empowered to pursue. Women such as evangelist Fannie B. Johnson and the sisters of the Singers’ family had their ministry validated by the words of the prophet and were thus empowered to carry out extensive evangelism and pastoral work. The lives of the women mentioned above demonstrate how White’s teachings about women impacted them personally and thus impacted the work of the church.
Part three (3) next week. Let us all be Inspired for the Mission!
