|
* I’ve just been elected
as my church Women’s Ministries leader. Where do I find
out what I am supposed to do?
* What is the Women’s
Ministries Leadership Certification program?
* What can I do if there is
no Women’s Ministries in my church? Or conference?
* About the devotional
book: Where can I get it? Who can write for it? What is its
purpose?
* What special days does
Women’s Ministries observe?
* What is the difference between
Dorcas and Women’s Ministries?
* Where and how can I learn
about mentoring?
* How does Women’s
Ministries relate to the feminist movement?
* Is it all right for a woman
to teach a Sabbath School class or preach?
* I want to nominate someone
for the Woman of the Year. How do I do that?
* What programs
or materials do you have for young women and sexual purity?
* I’m curious about
the history of Women’s Ministries. When did it begin?
* I’ve heard about
six challenge issues in Women’s Ministries. What are
they and how can I help?
* Does Women’s Ministries
have sermons by women available to use? How do I get one or
more?
* Who should I contact to
request a Women’s Ministries speaker to speak at my
church for a special event?
* I’m having a retreat
weekend and want some thing special to give out. What do you
suggest?
I’ve
just been elected as my church Women’s Ministries leader.
Where do I find out what I am supposed to do?
First, contact your conference Women’s
Ministries Director for information and resource material.
If there is no director in your Conference, contact the union
Women’s Ministries Director. Reviewing the Job Description
here on our web site will be helpful to you. The General Conference
Women’s Ministries has Resource material available as
well. Two suggested resources you can order are Organizing
Your Women’s Ministries Committee and How to Begin Women’s
Ministries in the Local Church. After you have read them you
will know where to begin.
What
is the Women’s Ministries Leadership Certification program?
The certification program is a series
of seminars designed to equip women to serve in leadership
roles within the church. It is divided into three levels of
study, each with certain core requirements and some electives.
A total of 10 seminars must be completed from each level to
receive certification in that level. You will find a more
complete answer as well as information on how you may become
involved at the following link: Leadership Certification.
What
can I do if there is no Women’s Ministries in my church?
Or conference?
Contact your conference leadership
and request guidance on starting a local Women’s Ministry.
If there is no conference Women’s Ministries director,
then contact your union director.
About
the devotional book: Where can I get it? Who can write for
it? What is its purpose?
The devotional book is 365 personal
spiritual stories, experiences, and insights written by women
for women. Any woman can write for it though authors are not
paid in any way. All proceeds from the book go to fund scholarships
for young women. Click here for more information.
What
special days does Women’s Ministries observe?
There are three principal days:
Women’s
International Day of Prayer (First Sabbath in March)
Women’s
Ministries Emphasis Day (Second Sabbath in June)
Abuse Prevention Emphasis
Day (Fourth Sabbath in August)
The Women’s International Day
of Prayer provides an opportunity for women and men worldwide
to strengthen bonds of spirituality and corporate faith through
a day dedicated to the celebration of prayer. Women’s
Ministries Emphasis Day is an occasion for local Women’s
Ministries to educate the general membership about the purposes
and ministries of the department. Abuse Prevention Emphasis
Day provides an opportunity for local churches to address
the issues of abuse, educate their memberships, and reach
out to victims.
There is a packet supplied for each
of these days to help you in your planning if you should wish
to use it (click on the link above and it will take you to
the material), but you are free to plan your own program also.
back
to top
What
is the difference between Dorcas and Women’s Ministries?
Because both involve women there is
a great deal of confusion in many places. Very briefly, there
are three principle differences:
* Women’s Ministries is a full
church department for the nurture and empowerment of women
in all areas of ministry. Dorcas is the community outreach
of the Sabbath School Personal Ministries Department.
* The primary objective of Dorcas is to reach out to the poor
and needy in the community, principally non-church members.
Women’s Ministries is for the spiritual growth of the
women in the church. From that spiritual base they are encouraged
to become involved in a ministry—it may be in the home,
the church, or the community; these ministries may be composed
of just women or they may be working along side the men of
the church.
* Women’s Ministries provides many resources and training
to help each woman become the best woman she can, using the
gifts God has given her. There is church leadership at almost
all levels to accomplish this; Dorcas is organized for training
in a few places and has almost no special resources for this.
Women’s Ministries also has many retreats and congresses
to help women develop personally and professionally, as well
as spiritually.
Where
and how can I learn about mentoring?
Your local women’s ministries
leaders may have established mentoring programs in which you
can participate or resources on the subject which they can
provide for you. If you are the local leader there are several
resources available from this website (see Resources page)
including a brochure entitled Mentoring Young Women and the
Women’s Ministries Revised Handbook. There is also a
seminar on mentoring in the Leadership Certification program
that you can order.
How
does Women’s Ministries relate to the feminist movement?
It really does not. Both are concerned
for women and are against sexism, but the feminist movement
has earned a bad name because of some of its stands and tactics.
Many feel that feminism isn’t even in touch with the
real needs of women in the twenty-first century, needs to
address issues such as prostitution, sex slavery, illiteracy,
abortion, AIDS, poverty, etcetera.
Women’s Ministries, however,
is based on the fact that God created women and values and
gifts them just as He does men. Women’s Ministries desires
that women have the opportunity to use their gifts and fully
participate in the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
It therefore seeks to address all the needs of women within
a biblically based value system.
Is it all
right for a woman to teach a Sabbath School class or preach?
Absolutely. The only prerequisite for
individuals performing such functions is that they be members
of the church in regular standing. For more detailed information
refer to the Church Manual, pages 96 and 98. You can also
find helpful information in the article written by Angel Rodriguez
entitled "Women's Ministries and the Bible."
I want
to nominate someone for the Woman of the Year. How do I do
that?
The Woman of the Year awards are given
out by the Association of Adventist Women. The Women’s
Ministries Department is not involved with it in any way.
Requests for information regarding the award should be sent
to :
Toini Harrison, Woman of the Year Coordinator
24414 University Avenue, #167
Loma Linda, CA 92354
Phone: (909) 799-5448
back
to top
What programs
or materials do you have for young women and sexual purity?
There are a number of resources on
the subject available from the Resources section of this website.
These include three different booklets from the Scriptographic
Series, a seminar from Level 1 of the Leadership Certification
program, and a brochure entitled Women’s Ministries
and Our Teens. Advent Source also offers several resources.
An excellent non-Adventist source that many of our leaders
have found helpful is True Love Waits.
I’m
curious about the history of Women’s Ministries. When
did it begin?
Briefly, Women’s Ministries was
originally started in 1898 by Mrs. S. M. I. Henry who served
as its first director. When Mrs. Henry died in 1900 no new
director was appointed and the work begun under her died out.
The idea of such a specialized ministry was taken up again
beginning in 1973. Over the next 22 years the concept gained
momentum. At the division level, North America began Women’s
Ministries in 1989 and the General Conference voted the Office
of Women’s Ministries at the Annual Council in 1990
under the leadership of Rose Otis. In 1995 the General Conference
in Session voted that Women’s Ministries should become
a full department. Between 1990 and 1996 each Division established
its own Women’s Ministries department. Ardis Dick Stenbakken
presently serves as Director of the General Conference Department
of Women’s Ministries.
I’ve
heard about six challenge issues in Women’s Ministries.
What are they and how can I help?
The six challenge issues are areas
of particular concern for women. They are abuse, health risks,
leadership training and mentoring, literacy, poverty, and
work load. Each of these challenges is an opportunity for
ministry. Your local women’s ministries may already
have ministries to address some of these issues which you
may become involved in. If such programs do not yet exist
you can start your own using support and resources from your
Women’s Ministries directors. To learn more about these
issues click here.
Does Women’s
Ministries have sermons by women available to use? How do
I get one or more?
Yes, we do. You can go to Sermon of
the Month and find a new sermon each month or a variety or
sermons that have been specifically prepared for or by women.
There are also sermons that are part of the Special Day Packets
for this year and those from past years that are archived
that are available. Don’t be afraid to develop your
own. You might want to begin with some of the stories of women
in the Bible as you can identify with those women.
Who should
I contact to request a Women’s Ministries speaker to
speak at my church for a special event?
Start at your Conference. If they are
unavailable or cannot recommend anyone, then ask your Union.
I’m
having a retreat weekend and want some thing special to give
out. What do you suggest?
Several giveaway items are available
for sale in the Resources section of this webpage. These include
items such as buttons, pens, gold seals, bookmarks, and postcards
which range in cost from five to thirty-five cents per item.
Small handmade items created by craft-gifted women within
your church would most likely also be greatly appreciated.
|
