Ordination Issues -- Adventist Review Readers Share Their View

[CGMedley]

This week the Adventist Review features special letters section and our readers share their views on the ordination issue.

Read more.

http://www.adventistreview.org/article/5665/archives/issue-2012-1525/inbox-letters-from-our-readers

[phkrause]

Interesting article, that's for sure.

[olger]

The Adventist Arab Spring.

[whbae]

I am not convinced by either pro or con of wo. I would like to see in the Bible where it states that wo is against God's will. Often times, those who are against wo states that women should not be in control of men, etc. Having a woman ordained becomes controlling men, they say. It is all right for women to be a teacher as most us know, but then is it not ok to be a principal of a school where there would be many male teachers? Traditionally, field of nursing dept. was occupied by mostly women, thus a woman was supervising the department and became the head of the department. Now, the trend has been changing, there are lot of male nurses working. Should the woman supervisor relinquish her position to a male nurse. Some say Ellen White was not ordained, but I saw the written certificate of her ordination. I would like to have someone convince me either way. Right now I am standing at the middle of the road.

Won

[olger]

Won my friend, if you haven't arrived at a conviction on this vital topic by now, chances are high that you will default to the "acceptance of wo side".

[Dr. Waite]

I am not convinced by either pro or con of wo. I would like to see in the Bible where it states that wo is against God's will. Often times, those who are against wo states that women should not be in control of men, etc. Having a woman ordained becomes controlling men, they say. It is all right for women to be a teacher as most us know, but then is it not ok to be a principal of a school where there would be many male teachers? Traditionally, field of nursing dept. was occupied by mostly women, thus a woman was supervising the department and became the head of the department. Now, the trend has been changing, there are lot of male nurses working. Should the woman supervisor relinquish her position to a male nurse. Some say Ellen White was not ordained, but I saw the written certificate of her ordination. I would like to have someone convince me either way. Right now I am standing at the middle of the road.

Won

I saw the ministerial license of Ellen White at Elmshaven, but I did not see a certificate of her ordination. I did not know that she had a certificate of ordination.

[Gordon1]

Hi Won,

The Bible order is for Christians in the church and home.

This principle may also apply to the secular world & workplace, but God's Word is first a guide for believers. The Christian's privilege is to be an example at home and in the sanctuary that God's ways are holy and just. (God is not the author of confusion, as many would believe from our poor behavior.)

Until Satan's rebellion, "all heaven was in order, harmony and perfect subjection to the will of GOD.") 1 Spiritual Gifts 17. 1858. And Early Writings 145.

------------------------------------------------

Certificates or licenses may not mean much. They may not even be wanted.

Finance companies have "pre-approved" me for limits and sent me cards I don't want & didn't solicit.

A prophet would not take these papers too seriously. Christ had none. Let's recall that Ellen White was hated by much of the leadership. They tried to silence her voice, hounding her out of Battle Creek and then banishing her to a penal colony (Australia). Same story for all the OT prophets, many of whom were slain.

Sadly, many think that EGW's prophetic call justifies women's ordination. Maybe we should expect all carpenters to raise the dead as well. No. Prophets do not go to seminaries to be taught such confusion as 'spiritual formation'. They do not argue for their rights or for a salary or recognition. They walk, talk, eat, sleep in subjection to the Master. They earn their bread by the work of their hands. Poverty is no threat, but rather riches. It's possible one could arise within modern Adventism, but less likely, as we've not been holding to the first prophet's message.

[Alchemy]

If I may qualify a point for my own edification.

Is the issue WO, or WOPE? Women can be ordained for certain positions, just not Pastor or Elder, right?

The issue is actually WOPE, not WO. Right?

[Alchemy]

Certificates or licenses may not mean much. They may not even be wanted.

Finance companies have "pre-approved" me for limits and sent me cards I don't want & didn't solicit.

A prophet would not take these papers too seriously. Christ had none. Let's recall that Ellen White was hated by much of the leadership. They tried to silence her voice, hounding her out of Battle Creek and then banishing her to a penal colony (Australia). Same story for all the OT prophets, many of whom were slain.

Sadly, many think that EGW's prophetic call justifies women's ordination. Maybe we should expect all carpenters to raise the dead as well. No. Prophets do not go to seminaries to be taught such confusion as 'spiritual formation'. They do not argue for their rights or for a salary or recognition. They walk, talk, eat, sleep in subjection to the Master. They earn their bread by the work of their hands. Poverty is no threat, but rather riches. It's possible one could arise within modern Adventism, but less likely, as we've not been holding to the first prophet's message.

(bold emphasis mine)

Amen!

We may want to be careful with riches as well.

[Gordon1]

If I may qualify a point for my own edification.

Is the issue WO, or WOPE? Women can be ordained for certain positions, just not Pastor or Elder, right?

The issue is actually WOPE, not WO. Right?

Not entirely sure which aspect of this topic is at play.

The whole "official ordination" issue seems a bit overplayed, for men or women.

But I see no Bible pattern of women leading men.