Editorial Follows Adventist Women’s Congress in Africa: “Sideline Women at Your Own Peril”
by Adventist Today News Team
Last week the East-Central Africa Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church held an International Women's Congress in Butare, Rwanda, with 1,500 delegates from 11 nations. Jeannette Kegame, the nation's First Lady, was a keynote speaker and there was coverage both by news media in Africa and the Adventist News Network (ANN), the denomination's official news service.
Monday (August 12) The New Times, one of Rwanda's leading newspapers, published an editorial affirming the Adventist Church for "actively encouraging debate among its members about such an important public issue as gender equality." The editorial stated that "gender equality and women empowerment are critical subjects in modern-day society" and urged efforts to "advance these values" because it is "the right thing to do."
"Women have generally found themselves in a disadvantaged position compared to men and even in countries where they are increasingly taking their place they are playing catch-up," the editorial observed. "It is important that participants at the Adventist congress … return to their respective countries with a clear message: Sideline women at your own peril."
It is unclear to what extent the editorial writer was aware of the current discussion among Adventists around the world about removing gender discrimination from the ordination of clergy. The editorial came a few days after the release of the first papers about the issue from the General Conference (GC) Theology of Ordination Study Committee.
According to the ANN news release, delegates discussed "challenges facing women, including gender-based violence and obstacles to socio-economic development," as well as "living a purposeful life." It quoted Pastor Esron Byiringiro, the denomination's union conference president in Rwanda, that the location was chosen "because the country is a strong advocate of women's empowerment and gender equality." ANN explained that 56 percent of Members of Parliament are women, "the principle of gender equity and equality is enshrined in the Constitution [and] the country's laws protect women's rights to equal opportunity."
Similar Adventist congresses have been held in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania in recent years. Part of the event was a large exhibit hall that displayed "homemade food, new technology, clothing and interior design" produced by women. The denomination's women's ministries department played a key role in organizing the event. The New Times ran a picture of Raquel Arrais, associate director of women's ministries at the GC, with First Lady Jeannette Kagame.
The Adventist Church is the largest Protestant denomination in Rwanda, with nearly one million adherents out of a population of 12 million. The denomination operates a hospital and seven community health centers in Rwanda, three secondary schools and the Adventist University of Central Africa, as well as a number of projects under the auspices of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
"…Sideline women at your own peril."
That is a simplistic statement if it is intended relate to ordination of women; that is not at all the question. The issue is related to the appropriate function of the males and females with respect to spiritual headship. All through Scripture we find that spiritual headship is a male function.
Will someone explain exactly what is meant by "empowerment" of women? Why so little even no emphasis is on child rearing? And being a faithful spouse?
Maranatha
"Child rearing" and fidelity should certainly apply to either spouse, and never limited to only one as the definition of one exclusively.
I agree with Truthseeker in one respect – the issue of race, status and gender as might matter in the outside world don't matter inside the Church. Paul for example recognised that Christians had to live in the world, which in his down, meant telling slaves that they had to obey their masters. However, inside the Church, where the Holy Spirit reigns, such distinctions come to nothing.
I think it is actually the reverse of what Truthseeker says. If there is headship by males, then history demonstrates it tends to be in the World. In the Church – women can hold leadership – as Ellen White's own ministry shows.
Empowerment means that women and men be allowed and enabled to make decisions for their own lives free from gender, racial, ethnic, sectarian, health status, society bias provided that in doing so, they do not take away those very same right of others.
Luke 24v27 which says; And beginning at "MOSES" and all the prophets…. and 1Timothy 2v12-14 and 2 Timothy 1v1 and it says; This is a true saying; if a "MAN" desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a goodwork. Malachi 3v6 and Hebrews 13v8
1Peter 4v7 and 5v8, Isaiah 24v4-6, Psalm 119v126, but as it is written 2 Timothy 4v3-4 and 1 Timothy 4v1-2. Revelation 12v17…. God s church is under assult.
What is under assault is a simplistic, linguistic, King James said it, I believe it, misuse of the Bible. Jesus began at Moses, He didn't end at Moses. We should begin our understanding of gender issues in the same place (with equality) but not end with the Bible. We will not study the Bible in the New Jerusalem to learn truth. We need to learn how to use the Bible to lead us into truth, not as a weapon to supress truth.
Bible truth: Women was the crown of creation, not an afterthought. Bible truth: In Christ there is equality. Bible truth: women submit to men in love, men submit to woman in love, all submit to the Holy Spirit's leading us to advanced truth.
There is often more worship of the Bible than the person it's written about.