Something is Happening


In my blog of July 8, 2021, titled "We Should do Something,"[1] I wrote that things had seemed to be very quiet in recent years regarding women's ordination in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Nevertheless, I was able to point out interesting developments that had taken place more or less quietly. These little waves of change continue, and interesting decisions have since been made. Women have been called to higher leadership positions here and there, and decisions have been made to allow for women's ordination.

In various parts of the worldwide church, governing bodies have finally decided to do something to implement Fundamental Belief No. 14: “Distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation.“

At the swearing-in of the new German government on December 8, 2021, we heard the oath of office from Article 56 of the Constitution: "I swear that I will devote my strength to the welfare of the German people, increase its benefits, avert harm from it, uphold and defend the Basic Law and the laws of the Federation, fulfill my duties conscientiously, and do justice to everyone." In a democracy, the government undertakes to act for the good of the people. The authoritarian rulers of history first had to be forced with pressure from the people to make concessions for the good of the people. How glad I am that we live in a functioning democracy.

A worldwide church with more than 20 million members is numerically larger than many a nation. That can also give the president of that church a sense of power. Since the SDA church has only a sham democracy in which many decisions are made from the top down, there is a great danger that the welfare of the constituents will be forgotten by an authoritarian rule. Therefore, it is necessary that the lower organizational structures do not let themselves be paralyzed by pressure from above, but stand up for justice towards everyone.

That the South German Union now joins the unions that follow their conscience in matters of equality and justice and make no more distinction between their treatment of men and women in pastoral ministry, is a sign that the organizational structure of the church must be reconsidered. Important decisions need to be made by leaders where the church operates on the ground.

I am encouraged by the December 6, 2021, decision of the governing body of the national church leadership of the Church of Seventh-day Adventists in Southern Germany (South German Union/SGU) to allow equal ordination of men and women in pastoral ministry.[2]  Something is happening after all. From many small ripples, a movement will emerge that can no longer be ignored.

 


 Photo: H. Ottschofski

 

 


[1] https://womansoutlook.blogspot.com/2021/07/we-should-do-something-former.html

[2] bit.ly/3oCexV1

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