NAD's Agenda to Establish Women's Ordination Before 2015 GC Vote

[Larry Lyons]

This is a rather long document that has been sent to me, but I think it is important for people to be aware of.

"The North American Division (NAD) has identified six building blocks as the focus of mission. ]
1. Transformational Evangelism.
2. Retention of Young Adults.
3. Women in Pastoral Ministry.
4. Education for everyone-Online.
5. Emerging Immigrant Populations.
6. Media.
The following information is an adaptation of Women in Pastoral Ministry, a publication from the NAD secretariat. The Women in Pastoral Ministry building block is based on a human resources platform. It is very specific-increase the number of female pastors in the North American Division. Of the approximately 4000 pastors throughout North America, only 107 pastors are women. Studies show that 50 percent of the current pastors will be eligible for retirement in the next ten years. The goal is to double the current number of female pastors in the next five years. Part of this would involve creating a more positive environment in the minds of SDA church members that God calls both men and women into his (sic) service for pastoral leadership. This will be accomplished through four focus activities:
Communication/Education.
1. Educate local churches of God's call to men and women.
2. Publish articles in union papers.
3. Create and distribute the theological support in layman's language.
4. Distribute the NAD Theology of Ordination Report throughout the division.
5. Create and distribute videos of member's responses to female pastoral leadership.
6. Develop a special edition of the Adventist Review to be mailed to every home.
7. Create an assessment tool to determine local church receptivity.

Recruitment:
1. Actively recruit females who have graduated from the Seminary but are working in other professions.
2. Actively recruit females on Adventist college and university campuses who sense God's call to ministry.
3. Compile and maintain a list of highly qualified females who are available for pastoral leadership.
4. create a website for women to register their interests and be identified.

Mentoring/Nurturing
1. Identify female students who sense God's calling.
2. Partner those identified with current female pastors.
3. Develop a curriculum that would train current female pastors as successful mentors.
4. Sponsor an annual conference for female pastors.
5. organize regional partnerships through teleconference and online communication.

Funding Support.
1. Create a funding formula to encourage the hiring of female pastors.
2. Structure the formula with participation from the division, union and local conference.
3. Promote the funding formula and its availability throughout the division.
4. Review the funding initiative after five years.

The appointment of Esther R. Knott as associate director of the NAD Ministerial Department and formerly associate pastor of Pioneer Memorial Church is in keeping with this initiative. Knott is based at the Adventist Theological Seminary on the campus of Andrews University. One of Knott's responsibilities is to function as an adviser for women clergy issues. In order to finish God's work, we need the women who are called of God to work alongside the men who are equally called. Join us as we provide a partnership to support females who feel called by the Lord from college level through seminary, leading to a full employment into the local conference....
 
Any comments about this plan?

[restoretruth]

Larry,

Is the NAD implementing this immediately?   Are they not waiting for the GC?  Isn't this getting ahead of God's leading?  And couldn't this split the church?  What will happen if a Union, Regional or local Conference, or an individual Church agrees with the GC?  Will the NAD then say they are in rebellion against the NAD?  What if the GC holds to their current policy on W.O.?  Will the GC then say the NAD is in rebellion against the World Church?  Could Pastors start losing their credentials if they agree with one part of the Church, but disagree with another part. It seems to me this issue splits the Church & takes our focus away from the Three Angel's Messages, preparing for the Latter Rain & the finishing of God's work -- which is really our mission!

[sdazeal]

You will be assimilated- resistance is futile.

[Larry Lyons]

Larry,

Is the NAD implementing this immediately?   Are they not waiting for the GC?  Isn't this getting ahead of God's leading?  And couldn't this split the church?  What will happen if a Union, Regional or local Conference, or an individual Church agrees with the GC?  Will the NAD then say they are in rebellion against the NAD?  What if the GC holds to their current policy on W.O.?  Will the GC then say the NAD is in rebellion against the World Church?  Could Pastors start losing their credentials if they agree with one part of the Church, but disagree with another part. It seems to me this issue splits the Church & takes our focus away from the Three Angel's Messages, preparing for the Latter Rain & the finishing of God's work -- which is really our mission!

Restoretruth, I think they are already doing some of it. A pastor I know on another forum who is savvy re church politics and tends to be very aware of the trends within the church said that a split may come very soon if something is not done. The NAD is legally required to operate according to the policies of the General Conference. Dan Jackson learned that the hard way soon after he became NAD president. He tipped his hand in favor of ordaining women in the NAD and was quickly informed that he was under the General Conference rules, policies and guidelines. He had to retract his statement. 

A pastor on that same forum who is on the GC ordination study committee said that regardless of what the NAD says about WO, the world church at the 2015 GC has the last word, and he is convinced that the last word will be Bible based.

Another experienced pastor believes that there will be a compromise in 2015 to avoid a split.
My thinking is that we are already in the shaking time and the an earthquake within the church is coming. We would do well to keep in mind that the "church will appear as about to fall but it will not fall." Perhaps someone could post the EGW statements about the shaking and its relationship to the loud cry of the three angels message. My understanding is that it is after the shaking that the work will go forward with great  power.

Zeal, that is exactly what they want us to believe. They are using the same organized comprehensive PR (propaganda) techniques that have been used for the last 2 or 3 decades by the homosexual movement to successfully further their agenda.

[Ed Sutton]

This is a fork in the road a subtle suttle  shift from God's path at first, that widens rapidly.

Women were to be evangelists not pastors.  As medical missionary Bibleworker / evangelists-full time for the Lord paid from tithe in an inspiration - defined established position from God - they would work in a way men could not and do what men could not.

Satan fears that - but uses the Balaam / Bal-Peor approach to subvert to turn the truths of God and the narrow path of God into a lie.

In essence Satan is repeating how he diverted Eve - (in principle) - Don't worry just eat from this tree first it will give you more power and wisdom and spirituality and godlikeness .

We know how that went.    Too many girls and women are being trained unto absolute equality and total empowerment from childhood upwards - they are primed for the delusion.

In a short survey in 2000 - 80% of NAD Pastors had never personally brought an individual to Christ, they were religious administrators only. 

[Larry Lyons]

This is a fork in the road a subtle suttle  shift from God's path at first, that widens rapidly.

Women were to be evangelists not pastors.  As medical missionary Bibleworker / evangelists-full time for the Lord paid from tithe in an inspiration - defined established position from God - they would work in a way men could not and do what men could not.

Satan fears that - but uses the Balaam / Bal-Peor approach to subvert to turn the truths of God and the narrow path of God into a lie.

In essence Satan is repeating how he diverted Eve - (in principle) - Don't worry just eat from this tree first it will give you more power and wisdom and spirituality and godlikeness .

We know how that went.    Too many girls and women are being trained unto absolute equality and total empowerment from childhood upwards - they are primed for the delusion.

In a short survey in 2000 - 80% of NAD Pastors had never personally brought an individual to Christ, they were religious administrators only.

I agree Ed. I am especially disturbed by their plan to actively identify and recruit young women in college who may "feel" that they are called by God. Unless a young woman knows and believes the biblical requirements for spiritual leadership, they will be easily directed towards being pastors, even if that was not their original thought.

[sdazeal]

I think one of the more disturbing, at least to me, statements in their little "mission plan" is the implication that Christ will not come unless we ordain women and make them pastors ( re: finish the work). Once again, red flags fly when I read something like that.

Yes, that modus operandus is nothing new and is simple brainwashing and manipulation. Once they make it common place to accept their view, then those who disagree will be vilified as heretics and "troublers of Israel".

[Larry Lyons]

I think one of the more disturbing, at least to me, statements in their little "mission plan" is the implication that Christ will not come unless we ordain women and make them pastors ( re: finish the work). Once again, red flags fly when I read something like that.

Yes, that modus operandus is nothing new and is simple brainwashing and manipulation. Once they make it common place to accept their view, then those who disagree will be vilified as heretics and "troublers of Israel".

That was exactly the strategy that the "elite homosexual establishment" planned and have had great success with according to Tammy Bruce, a former insider of that movement, who described in detail their plans to change society into an image of themselves. She also said that they are totally corrupt. Her books "The New Thought Police" and "The Death of Right and Wrong" are worth reading.

There are other similarities between that movement and the wo movement. The homosexual movement has a lot of support from many who tend to be liberal in politics and lifestyle, and the generation with the post modern mind set, and they use the pressure of political correctness to intimidate to further their agenda. I think that many Seventh-day Adventists support wo because they do not understand the biblical principles of spiritual leadership, and they may see it as a issue of fairness. Also those men and women who have been influenced by the feminist movement that arose in the culture a few decades ago and entered the church as well. Also I suspect that many families support wo who have family members who are female elders or in other leadership positions such as chaplains, pastors etc. I believe political correctness also plays a role of intimidation in the campaign to ordain women.

The above document is very much in line with a message that was sent to the North American churches in 1995 right after the vote by the General Conference in the Netherlands in 1995 against allowing a "variance" to the North American Division to give them permission to ordain women to the ministry. Alfred McClure, then president of the NAD made a video expressing his disappointment with the vote and outlined the plans to increase the role of women and bring them into pastoral ministry. I found an old copy of the video on a dusty shelf in our church. As I understand it, the world church at that session only voted against allowing the NAD to ordain women. They did not make a general statement for or against women's ordination. I think that fact is not understood by everyone. The 2015 vote will presumably settle the question biblically once and for all in a decisive manner, hopefully according to the Bible.

[Larry Lyons]

I think one of the more disturbing, at least to me, statements in their little "mission plan" is the implication that Christ will not come unless we ordain women and make them pastors ( re: finish the work). Once again, red flags fly when I read something like that.

Zeal, I noticed that too. It is a trick used in debates to sucker the opponent into to accepting an unproven point that supports the opponent's argument. I believe the technical term for that is "begging the question."

[Ed Sutton]

In this case it is the "strawwoman" technique .

Women who were supposed to be medical missionary evangelists with inside tracks on working in homes where men can not, want a position John Harvey Kellogg - side tracked and gutted by taking it away from Christ's training to physically minister & the healing arts, then becoming through the training programs too often given, administrative in nature, instead of innately soulwinning .

In a short survey in 2000 - 80% of NAD Pastors had never personally brought an individual to Christ, they were religious administrators only - so women the evangelists that could reach the heart of the family at the fire side as men often can not do - want to be administrators with a pulpit.

I wish godfearing SDA pastors would fill these women in about the heart burdens and stresses of aggressive soul winning especially starting new churches in unentered communities with no church plant options. 

Would the women want such, or would they want paperwork and a monthly check ?

When persecution comes it will clear out all but the most committed from the kitchen, like a hungry cat let loose in a house with mice.

[sdazeal]

Two monumental things happened:

1- Somebody first convinced people that "men-only" in pastoral leadership is somehow "unfair", that unless women are made Pastors and Elders then there is no equality.

2- Women were put in positions of pastors and elders even though they were not "ordained", but "commissioned". Simplistic semantics that demanded a permanent solution.

I must say that there are some very intellectually weak and blind leaders in our church if they could not see through those tricks. How could they POSSIBLY think that "commissioning" women as elders would not lead to a next step? That somehow the liberal progressives in the church would be satisfied and appeased?

[Raven]

I must say that there are some very intellectually weak and blind leaders in our church if they could not see through those tricks. How could they POSSIBLY think that "commissioning" women as elders would not lead to a next step? That somehow the liberal progressives in the church would be satisfied and appeased?

I'd say that it was inevitable.  Fixing it will take courage and fortitude.  And it will create even more division in the church.  But something has to give.  I believe it's all part of the shaking.  The lines are being drawn, and it is becoming clearer who is on which side.

It's very interesting and probably significant that those who are pushing the hardest for WO, are usually supporters of homosexuality, evolution, and "contemporary" worship services; while at the same time they don't believe in the sanctuary doctrine, and have a very low view of the SOP.  Curious indeed.

I remember an incident that occurred almost 15 years ago.  We were between pastors, and our first elder (a former pastor) was filling in until a permanent pastor could be found.  We were having some sort of meeting and the subject of choosing an female elder came up.  He spoke against it, and pointed out that in all the churches which had started ordaining women as elders and pastors, the next step was to ordain practicing homosexuals.  One woman got really offended by that.  But we now see many professed Adventists advocating for the acceptance of practicing homosexuals into the church.  And if they can become members in good standing, they can also be ordained.  And yet those advocating for this seem to be oblivious to the truth.

[Larry Lyons]

I read a statement by an minister from a Sunday church who doesn't agree with women's ordination. He said that it is interesting that the denominations who moved away from their Protestant history and heritage, then down played sola scriptura, then adopted a higher critical approach to Scripture suddenly discovered that the true biblical role for women is spiritual headship equal with men. After milleniums of error on the part of Bible scholars, experts in Bible languages and others who just got it wrong, those denominations finally got it right.
(paraphrased from memory.)
He was being sarcastic, of course.

[restoretruth]

I read a statement by an minister from a Sunday church who doesn't agree with women's ordination. He said that it is interesting that the denominations who moved away from their Protestant history and heritage, then down played sola scriptura, then adopted a higher critical approach to Scripture suddenly discovered that the true biblical role for women is spiritual headship equal with men. After milleniums of error on the part of Bible scholars, experts in Bible languages and others who just got it wrong, those denominations finally got it right.
(paraphrased from memory.)
He was being sarcastic, of course.

There seems to be a polarization in all of society as well as the religious world between liberal & conservative thought!  Also, less tolerance for opposing views!

[ColporteurK]

I think one of the more disturbing, at least to me, statements in their little "mission plan" is the implication that Christ will not come unless we ordain women and make them pastors ( re: finish the work). Once again, red flags fly when I read something like that.

Dwight Nelson said exactly that.

This is simply a warm up for the Sunday law. It will be said that Christ will not come until everyone observes Sunday.