GC First Woman Vice President!!

[Amelia]

World Church: First Woman Vice President, Regional Presidents Voted In

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Dr. Ella Louise Smith Simmons, center, with President Jan Paulsen, top left, and Jere Patzer, top right, chairman of the nominating committee [photo by Richard Dower]

July 3, 2005 St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Victor Hulbert/Braden Blyde/ANN]

In a historic vote, delegates to the 58th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church elected veteran educator Dr. Ella Simmons as a general vice president of the church. This is the first time a woman has been elected to this position and is an attempt by the world church to make the leadership more inclusive.

Until recently, Dr. Simmons was provost and vice president for Academic Administration at La Sierra University in Riverside, California, United States. As part of the 10-member leadership team -- world church President Jan Paulsen and nine vice presidents -- it is expected Simmons will bring her skills in education and as an administrator to the job.

Delegates responded very positively to the election of Simmons. Zeljko Porobija of Croatia stated, "I think it is a very, very good thing. As a matter of principle we should see more women in office."

Owen Lloyd Bryar Gayle, a delegate from Inter-America, agreed. "It is wonderful to give females a part in church leadership."

Anton Van Wyke from the church's South Pacific region believes "It is a breakthrough for our church in its standings with world organizations, and it will lead us from strength to strength in our mission."

It took a long day in session before the nominating committee presented its third report at 4:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon, recommending names for the nine vice presidents as well as the presidents of the 13 divisions around the world.

While six current vice presidents were returned to office, the three new officers demonstrate the emphasis on the church for both diversity and evangelism.

Also newly elected is Pardon Kandanga Mwansa, currently president of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean church region, who brings a wealth of experience to the world church leadership, having served in the Euro-Africa church region prior to his current position.

The third new vice president is popular Adventist evangelist Mark Finley, currently director of Global Evangelism at the world church headquarters and speaker/director emeritus of the It Is Written television program. Emphasizing the need to raise the profile of evangelism both in head office and worldwide, Paulsen took time to emphasize that Finley "is so saturated in evangelism that it is the center of his life." Finley's new position is not a change of job so much as recognition of the importance of evangelism to the church, he said.

Six incumbents were returned to other general vice presidential offices: Lowell C. Cooper, King-Yi Eugene Hsu, Gerry D. Karst, Armando Miranda, Michael L. Ryan and Ted N. C. Wilson.

Paulsen also paid tribute to outgoing vice president Harold Baptiste. Having faithfully served the church for many years, he indicated his desire to retire at this business session.

In the same report the presidents of 13 world church regions were elected. There were no surprises, with the only change being in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division where, due to the election of Mwansa as a world church vice president, Pastor Paul S. Ratsara, current secretary of the region, was unanimously elected as president.

The returned regional Adventist church presidents are: Geoffrey G. Mbwana, East-Central Africa; Ulrich W. Frikart, Euro-Africa; Artur A. Stele, Euro-Asia; Israel Leito, Inter-America; Don C. Schneider, North America; Jairyong Lee, Northern Asia-Pacific; Ruy H. Nagel, South America; Laurie J. Evans, South Pacific; D. Ronald Watts, Southern Asia; Alberto C. Gulfan Jr., Southern Asia-Pacific; Bertil A. Wiklander, Trans-European Division, and Luka T. Daniel, West-Central Africa.

"Source: Adventist News Network"

[darlene]

She sounds like a very humble, spirit-filled lady.

[Amelia]

Step in the Right Direction, Simmons Tells Church Press

July 4, 2005 St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Taashi Rowe/ANN]

"Pray that I will always hear God's voice and no others," Dr. Ella Simmons, the first woman vice president to the Seventh-day Adventist world church, asked church members at a press conference today. "Pray that I will always reflect and do the will of God."

Simmons said that although the request may sound noble, it was necessary as she understood that her new position would at times be very difficult. She was elected in a historic vote July 3 during the 58th business meetings of the Adventist world church in St. Louis, Missouri.

Simmons, 57, is a mother and grandmother and spent the past year traveling after leaving her post as the second in command at the Adventist-operated La Sierra University in Riverside, California.

"I love my children, I love my grandchildren. I love my family. I want to spend all my time with them," she said. However, she said God called her out of her comfort zone and she had no choice but to accept.

Simmons said although Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the world church, has not apprised all the vice presidents of their duties, she expected her new assignment to incorporate her extensive background in education.

Prior to her term at La Sierra as provost and vice president, Simmons served in other leadership positions, including vice president for academic affairs at Oakwood College in Alabama, associate dean at the University of Louisville, Kentucky School of Education, and chair of the Department of Education in the College of Applied Sciences at Kentucky State University. She received her doctorate in education from the University of Louisville and a masters degree from Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

With her background working in both public school and Adventist schools, Simmons has a unique view of Adventist education.

"My husband and I see education as a mission, a call from God," she said. "While I firmly believe in the in Adventist education ... the reality is there are large numbers of Adventist students who are outside that arena." She added that she hopes to focus on the "broader goal of salvation for all our children."

In response to a question about her paving the way and being a role model to other women around the world, she agreed that she was comfortable and happy in accepting the role. She acknowledged that her first assignment this morning was to spend time with women having separate meetings at the world church's business session.

"Women will look at me because of the position. I was raised as a little girl to reach out and reach back and reach over," said Simmons. A Louisville, Kentucky native, she also spoke of being one of the first African-American children to attend newly desegregated schools in the United States.

"The church as an organization cannot be efficient until it allows all people to contribute in ways God called them to contribute. I think the church is taking a step in the right direction," she said.

While a divinity degree and church ordination are often precursors to promotion in the church, Simmons said that her election did not mean the church will change it's stance against ordaining women pastors.

"I do not feel that I have to be ordained to do the Lord's work." She added that she is not a pastor but believes that she is a minister. "I've always been a minister. I think pastoring is a unique work and while I have been prepared to nurture, to teach, I am not prepared to pastor."

Source: Adventist News Network