Why is the issue of the ordination of women as elders or pastors of such crucial importance for the Seventh-day Adventist church at this time?
What is at stake is the authority of the Bible for defining SDA beliefs and practices. The New Testament expresses its teaching on the role of women in the church in theological terms, basing it on interpretation of earlier Bible passages. It is presented as part of God’s “law” and as “a command of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:34, 37). If such a Biblical teaching is regarded as limited to the culture of Paul’s time, the same could be said of Biblical teachings regarding creation, Sabbath keeping, clean and unclean meats, footwashing, tithing, etc. The authority of Scripture as a whole would thus be undermined and discredited. The issue is important enough that it is scheduled for consideration and resolution at the 1990 General Conference.
Related Questions
- There has been much controversy in modern times about womens roles in the church. What does the Bible say about elders, pastors, preachers and ministry?
- Isn’t this issue of homosexuality just like women’s ordination and civil rights, and one day the church will just change and learn to accept it?
- What are the differences between Church of God (Seventh Day) and the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
