Confused about ordination? Watch this video! Dr. George Knight, professor emeritus of church history at the SDA Theological Seminary, clears up the confusion. Dr. Knight is a leading Adventist historian, theologian, author, and educator. He is the best-selling Adventist author of the past 30 years and is one of the most influential voices in the denomination. Here is a brief summary of some of the fascinating facts explained by Dr. Knight in the video:

1. Ordination is not a biblical concept (it is a post-biblical Catholic concept).

2. The laying on of hands is a biblical concept, but they received their “commission from God Himself, and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification.” It was simply a human recognition that God had called the person. (AA, p. 161)

3. After Bible times, the Catholic church started to associate “ordination” with 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


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


“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

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.

On July 8, 2015, Dr. Jan Paulsen, past president of the General Conference, made an eloquent and powerful appeal to the Church to recognize that God calls both men and women to ministry, and we should trust the leaders of our respective Divisions to make wise decisions about what works best in their territories regarding ordination. Reminiscent of another great presidential speech of history, a fitting title would be “The San Antonio Address.” Here is the full text:

I appeal to my brothers and sisters to vote “Yes” on the motion before us. A “No” vote will 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.