Female Adventist Leaders Recognized
- The Association of Adventist Women (AAW) awarded 8 distinguished women and men on November 15.
- Ginger Hanks Harwood, PhD, Chico, CA, received the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award.
- Woman of the Year awards went to Dynnette Hart and Nyslie Guerrier—Community Life award, Dina Salas Montoya and Hilde Thorkildsen Huru—Spiritual Life award.
- Champion of Justice Award recipients were President Ricardo Graham, Pacific Union Conference, Columbia Union Conference President Dave Weigley, and 2019 recipient President Dan Jackson of the North American Division.
From AAW – 26 November 2020 | The Association of Adventist Women awarded 8 distinguished women and men on November 15 at its annual awards program via Zoom, and is still available at associationofadventistwomen.com. Ginger Hanks Harwood, PhD, Chico, CA, gave the keynote address on global issues needing Christian commitment and service. She received the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award.
Woman of the Year awards go to Dynnette Hart and Nyslie Guerrier—Community Life award, Dina Salas Montoya and Hilde Thorkildsen Huru—Spiritual Life award. These Adventist leaders from around the world have diverse resumes, listed on the AAW website.
“Champion of Justice leaders have stood for truth, followed their conscience and the will of their constituents to treat men and women clergy equally,” says President Nerida Bates. Champion of Justice Award recipients are President Ricardo Graham, Pacific Union Conference, Columbia Union Conference President Dave Weigley, and 2019 recipient President Dan Jackson of the North American Division, who was to be honored at the cancelled GC session.
Harwood, ordained, helped found the Women’s Resource Center at La Sierra University. She has written and presented papers on Bible women and Seventh-day Adventist women in our church history, published in Spectrum magazine and Andrews University Seminary Studies, and has a soon-to-be published book. “She has been appreciated by her theology students during her lifetime career at La Sierra University (LSU) and Pacific Union College (PUC),” says colleague Fritz Guy.
Dynnette Hart, Associate Dean at Loma Linda University (LLU) School of Nursing, is recognized for her teaching career and for inspiring Christian nursing students at LLU, San Manuel Gateway College, Tanzania, Zambia, and Kenya. She also served at and helped organize the Norton Clinic Social Action Corps Health System.
Pastor-Chaplain Nyslie Guerrier serves God as elder, preacher, Director of Family Life, and Women’s Ministry Coordinator at Mount Rubidoux Church. She is a dynamic motivational speaker, and has a Sabbath afternoon weekly online Chat program highlighting women’s issues and social justice topics. Her passion is to restore those battling addiction, socio-economic and health injustices, and to form a non-profit organization to address these areas.
Dina Salas Montoya served as dean and chaplain in Peru. She preached her first sermon at age 7, and consecrated her entire life to serve God as missionary, including three months evangelizing in New York City. She completed the Theological Studies Program at São Paulo, Brazil, and later became the first and only woman missionary district leader in Peru. She has participated prominently in many world congresses and conferences in different countries. She is a member of the UN Council of Ambassadors for Peace, was distinguished as an Outstanding Miraflorina Woman, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for Merit by the town mayor for her spiritual healing ministry. She has brought over 500 souls to Christ.
Hilde Torkildsen Huru gave her first Bible studies as a teen. After receiving her BA in theology, she pastored and was the first female member of the Norwegian Union Conference executive committee. She helped draft their statement of equality for men and women in ministry and their decision to only commission new pastors after 2012. As a member of the Trans-European Division (TED) executive committee, she helped draft a statement to the General Conference explaining that the TED could not go against conscience and needed to treat clergy fairly, in light of the Biblical call for justice and many statements made by Ellen White. The committee stated it was a religious liberty issue. She translated Harwood and Beem’s paper, “Your Daughters Shall Prophesy” for Advent News Norway, which also published her story of her call to ministry.
AAW President Nerida Bates says, “Go to associationofadventistwomen.com, where more information on awardees, past awardees, current women’s stories, goals, and membership information can also be found.”
Submitted by Priscilla Walters, AAW Officer