I’ve been studying about women’s ordination. Here are the top seven, absolute most-persuasive arguments I’ve ever seen against ordination of women pastors:

1. Recognition of God’s ordination of women would violate the “biblical principle of male headship.” I haven’t really found a verse to support that theory, but it sure sounds good anyway. (After all, we gotta keep those women-folk in subjection, barefoot and pregnant, or they might try to take over the world. Imagine the horror of woman clergy staging a coup d’é·tat, armed with Bibles and communion bread!) Continue reading

The highly-respected minister, scholar, and leader Dr. Calvin B. Rock recently offered some valuable counsel regarding women’s ordination in this video and the message below:

“I think that the essential understanding is that of giftedness. The scriptures do not say in Joel 2, ‘God’s going to pour out his spirit in some limited manner on one group or the other.’ Giftedness, as described in I Corinthians and Ephesians and other places, does not come to us with gender label.

“For me, the whole ordination question boils down to one simple question: Does this person have the gift? And the other part of that question is: If so, who are we not to recognize it? Continue reading

In honor of Women’s Equality Day, commemorating August 26, 1920 when women received the right to vote in the USA. But before there was Congress, there was God–who created male and female as equals. “There is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)

“Men & Women, Ordained by God, Ministering as Equals. Galatians 3:28.”

God ordains men and women to serve as pastors, evangelists, and ministers for the salvation of souls. “There is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28) “Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit.” (Acts 2:18)

(These lapel buttons are available through Davidson Originals.)


Elder Charles Bradford, retired President of the North American Division (1979-1990), gave this inspiring message on women’s ordination in 1991, reminding us that the Holy Spirit determines to whom He will give the gift of ministry, and the Church should recognize those who have received it. Elder Bradford declared: “A gift is a terrible thing to waste.” Continue reading

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 28:19). We are thankful for the Adventist women in ministry who have answered the Spirit’s call. Here are some of them, doing what they love most: helping to fulfill the Great Commission. Don’t miss the video under the photos. Continue reading


“Rights and Wrongs” – The Real Issue in Women’s Ordination. In this presentation in Loma Linda on January 24, 2015, Kessia Reyne Bennett explained that the real issue is not who has the right to choose ministry for themselves; the issue is God’s right to choose whom He will. This is an important contribution to the discussion on women’s ordination.

“Recognizing the Holy Spirit-ordination of women into the gospel ministry with full ecclesial authorization (what we currently call ‘ordination’) is important because to reject, de-legitimize, or neglect His movement is an affront to the Spirit’s authority and to His right to do with us whatever He wants.”

She points out that “issues of church policy, Continue reading

On August 8, 2015–one month after the vote at the General Conference Session–President Dave Weigley of the Columbia Union presented this sermon about various forms of oppression he has seen, from the streets of inner-city Baltimore to the halls of ecclesiastical decision-making in San Antonio.

When God has called a woman to the ministry, it is a mistake for the Church to treat her as a second-class pastor. But, drawing parallels to the Continue reading

Dr. William G. Johnsson was the Editor of the Adventist Review from 1982 to 2007. Based on his 40 years of study and observation on the ordination issue, he urges the Church to take the logical and biblical step of recognizing women’s ordination. In 1990 the General Conference recognized that God has given His stamp of approval to women as ministers; so who are we to withhold official recognition? Dr. Johnsson issued this statement before the 2015 GC Session, saying “We cannot go back, we must go forward.” Continue reading

Like Jonah in the Bible, Hyveth Williams was reluctant to answer God’s call to ministry. She used to denounce women’s ordination and proclaim that females must not be pastors — because she was trying to convince herself that God was not calling her. This background helps her to be understanding and forgiving of those who oppose women in ministry. We are fortunate, however, that she finally answered God’s call. Listen to her brief but powerful testimony.

Dr. Williams served as a senior pastor for 20 years, most recently as senior pastor of the Loma Linda Campus Hill Church, before accepting a call in 2009 to join the faculty of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, where she trains pastors in Christian Ministry and Homiletics.