Ty Gibson, co-director of Light Bearers, posted “A Closer Look at Women’s Ordination” (or printable PDF or Spanish) on June 5, 2015, as the result of an arduous 5-month study that began on January 14.

Ty says, that is when “I decided that it is time for me to knuckle down and study the subject of women’s ordination for myself” because “my church is engaged in a titanic conflict over the subject.” He came into the study with a mind set against WO. But he decided to study with an open mind, trying to lay aside his biases and preconceptions on the topic, and simply examine what the Bible and the writings of Ellen White have to say. Continue reading

On June 19 Pastor Ty Gibson of Light Bearers published “Women’s Ordination: Is the Church Free To Act?” —a powerful follow-up to his excellent “A Closer Look at Women’s Ordination.” Ty explains that the church is free to act on the ordination question, to do what is best for the mission of spreading the Gospel. It is an ecclesiastical (church operational) decision, not a theological issue. Continue reading

Matthew Quartey, an Adventist scholar from Africa, notes that all eyes are on the delegates from Africa because there is a growing sense that their three divisions, comprising roughly 23% of the delegates to San Antonio, will determine whether the measure on women’s ordination is accepted or rejected. He urges African General Conference delegates to vote Yes. They need to understand that God ordains men and women equally and His church should, too.

Dr. Quartey suggests, “As you vote on the issue of WO next month in San Antonio, think about the future generations of African Adventists Continue reading

Adventist elder statesmen weigh in. Retired Adventist leaders whose ministries have been on a global scale, with impact on the church throughout the world, speak from the heart to support a Yes vote at the General Conference Session to recognize World Division decisions in the ordination of women. “From The Heart: Thoughts on Mission and Unity from Adventist Elder Statesmen.” Read more at AdventistElders.com. You can also download a beautiful printable PDF version.

The General Conference Theology of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC) was the result of a request made from the floor by a delegate at the 2010 General Conference Session. The General Conference administration later took that request to the General Conference Administrative Committee for approval on September 20, 2011.

There have been a variety of commissions and committees studying women’s ordination since the 1970s, but the global General Conference TOSC was the first worldwide group elected to investigate the topic of women’s ordination. Continue reading