Who Killed Azaria? W omen Pastors Begin Baptizing - Journal of the Association of Adventist Forums Vohune 15 Number 2 THE GREAT CREATION DEBATE Beyond Arithmetic Conservative Takeover at Geoscience Odyssey of a Creationist SDA Creatl·om·sm _, .. ,. __ ..... _... _,_ .. ___ .. _. el·enT 'T p.ars AL F; r!q.c:=--I:-'~\;;;;~~~- ~-I,,- -, ,- -,,- - , _,' _ -_' - ___ _ -__- - '_ - -- _' SPECTRUM Editorial Board Consulting Editors Edward Lngenbeal Editor Roy Bruuon Earl W. Amundson Anthropology Ethics, Kennedy Institute President Kettering. Ohio Roy Branson Georgetown University Atlantic Union Conference Margaret Mcfarland Associate Editor MPhoyslliceiuann u COUperul EHrisicto Aryn derson WAtatoshrninegyt on, D.C. Charles Scriven Angwin, California Pacific Union College LaV oane Neff Gene Daffern Roy Benton Publishing Senior Editor· Physician Mathematics Downers Grove, Illinois W-asliington;·~D.C. CQ)~mbia Uni90·.Coliege Ronald Nnmben Tom Dybdahl BoanieDwyer Bonnie Catey History of Medicine Journalism Writer/Editor University of Wisconsin News Editor Lorna Linda, California Wash.ington, p.C ... Gary PattersoD Bonnie Dwyer TomDybdahl George Colvin President Edi~or Government Georgia-Cumberland Conference Mattuscript Editor AIlc:!ntown, Pennsylvania Claremont Graduate School Edward E. RobiDson Richard Emmerson Raymond Cottren ··Attorney Gene· Daffern Engluh Theology , Chicago, I!linois .. Book Review Editors wall. W.ll. College Loma Linda, California Gerhard Svrcek-Seiler Alvia L. Kwiram" Ged Fnller Psychiatrist Peggy Corbett·· Ch~mistry . Public Relations Vieruia, Austri~ University of Washington W~shington, D.C. ,Clrolyn Stevens Rennie Schoepflin Gary Load Lawrence ~ty Engluh History Old Testament Walla Wall. College .Editorial Associate Andrews Univers~ty SDA Theological Seminary Helen W~ n.ompsoD Penelope Kellogg Winkler Rennie $choepflin Fritz G~~ Administration History Tlieology Walla w.lI. College Editorial Assistant University of Wisconsin SDA Theological Seminary L.E.Tndet CharI. . Scriven F.E.}. Harder Education Dana Lauren West Theology Educational Administration Marienhoehe Gymnasium w.lI. Wall. College College Place, Washington West Germany Ottilie Stafford JorgeD HeDl'ikIeD Louis Venden English Artist Pastor Atlantic Union College Boston, Massachusetts Loma Linda Univeristy Church Association of Adventist Forums Northern Pacific }o. ... Brant Theology Wall. w.ll. Coliege President Directors Regional Representatives College Place, Washington Lyndrey A. Nil. . Communications AtlantiC Southern Howard University, Washington, D.C. Of Chapter Development Jo. ... Homer T. Grace Emori Walter Donglu Business Nursing Administration Vice President Church History Hudson, Massachusetts Atlanta, Georgia Edward Lagenbed Andrews ·University Central Southern Pacific Systems Management Of International Relations Darrell}. Huenergudt Mike Scofield Kettering, Ohio Mo1leunu COa.,..... Attorney Business Physician Kimball. Ncbraska Anaheim, California ECxlaeicruet iHveO Slteecnr etary Angwin, California Central Pacific Staff Attorney Of Membership Norman C. SOIl~Dg Washington, D.C. Ronald D. COple Physician Legal Consultant Business St. Helena, California Bndley Litchfield Treasurer Silver Spring, Maryland Columbia Attorney Richard C. Olborn Of Promotion· E. Theodore Agard Washington, D.C. Principal Richard B. Lewis, Jr. Radiation Physicist Secretary Takoma Academy Advertising Kettering Medical Center Villette AndenOD Takoma Park, Maryland Weston, Massachusetts .K ettering, Ohio Takoma Park, Maryland Editor Of Special Projects Lake Systems Manager Roy BraJIIOD GleanE •. Coe Donald Gillespie Don McNeil Ethics, Kennedy Institute Attorney Health Care Admiilistratio~ Comp.uter Programmer Georgetown University . Wes~ J:Iar.tford, Connecticut Stevensville, Michigan Spencerville, Maryland SPECTRUM is a journal established to encourage quarterly by the Association of Adventist Forums. Direct • Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of all editorial correspondence to SPECTRUM, 7710Carroll contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912. Manuscripts without prejudice at all sideS of a: subject, to evaluate the should be typewritten, double spaced and in matters of merits of diverse views, and to foster Christian intel style and documentation, conform to A Manual of Style lectual and cultural growth. Although effort is made to (University of Chicago Press). Submit the original and ensure accurate scholarship and discriminatingjudgment, two copies, along with a self-addressed, stamped enve the statements of fact are the responsibility of contrib lope. Responses from readers may be shortened before utors, and the views individual authors express are not publication. necessarily those of the editorial staff as a whole or as individuals. Subscription Information: In order to receive SPEC- The Association of Adventist Forums is' anonsubsi- TRUM, send a membership f~e ($15 per 4 issues, except dized, nonprofit organization for which gifts are deduc- $18 in Canada and in other foreign countries; $2 less for tible in the report of income for purposes of taxation. The students) to Association of Adventist Forums, Box 5330, .....p ublishing.o.£:SPECTRUM.dependsonsubscriptions,.gi£ts ... ;.Takoma.J)ark, ... Mary:land20912;..~.P.hone:.~301.}270d)423. .. 1i0011~~u~ffn¥t$' . ot:::me:: ... ~~~ !1la}cEept1~.Eil4i":£atlj~ehd:ixmi,4e" - contributors and the staff. out to the Association of Adventist Forums. For address Editorial Correspondence: SPECTRUM IS published changes, send old address label along with the new @ 1983 All rights reserved. address. Litho USA 1 In This Issue Vol. 15, No.2, August 1984 From The Editor A Church Of, By, and For the People Roy Branson 2 Articles Women Pastors Begin Baptizing Judith P. Nembhard 7 Who Killed Azaria? Adventists on Trial in Australia Lowell T arling 14 Special Section: The Great Creation Debate The Conservative Restoration at Geoscience Edward Lugenbeal 23 Fifty Years of Creationism: The Story of An Insider Richard Hammill 32 Odyssey of An Adventist Scientist . Roy Benton 46 Beyond Arithmetic: The Truth of CreatIOn F.E.]. Harder 54 Responses About This Issue ministerial licenses in the Seventh-day Ad ventist denomination. They have begun 1 F baptizing new members into the church. An or many years, Ad essay in this issue explores how this has ventist scientists taken place, and draws attention to some of have met just before the annual meeting of the many women in the history of the the Geological Society of America. In t~e Adventist church who have received minis autumn of 1983, Richard Ritland and BIll terial licenses. Hughes, both members of the Andrews Other changes coming in the church University department of biology, orga particularly its structure-continue to be nized three days of lectures celebrating the discussed in this issue. Some may justifiably 25th anniversary of the founding of the wonder if questions about organization are Adventist Geoscience Research Institute. the most fundamental facing our church. Ritland, a former director of the Institute, But even apparently unrelated issues such as and author of Search for Meaning in Nature: A whether Adventist women may receive New Look at Creation and Evolution, selected as ministerial licenses become questions of speakers several past members of the Insti how much authority local conferences enjoy tute. We thank Dr. Ritland and Dr. Hughes in applying General Conference policy to for permitting us to print the views of four their regions. who participated in the conference they Finally, we introduce to our readers the planned. Dr. Edward Lugenbeal contri~ most celebrated murder case in the history uted not only his own essay, but also hIs of Australia. Those convicted of the crime editorial skills and energy in preparing this are faithful Adventists in good and regular cluster of articles for publication. standing. The second and concluding install Women pastors in North Amer~ca ~a~e ment will appear in the next issue. recently expanded the scope of theIr ~I~IS tl:Y,-·and~~te welL.on".the _w.ay.tQX~CelYJn~ -The.J~;(;ktgrs . Prom the Editor A Church Of, By And For the People by Roy Branson I n a few weeks Adventism: the historical, the corporate, Annual Council will and the representative. Recently, denomi be asked by a commission chaired by Francis national leadership has had difficulty con D. Wernick, vice president of the General tinuing to claim authority on the basis of Conference, to recommend to the 1985 historical or corporate models. Careful General Conference Session alterations in analysis of the structure of the church the way the church carries out its business. reveals that denominational leaders can also The reports of the commissions on church no longer say that their authority is based on structure established by the Pacific and the church being representative. Now, the North Pacific Unions, various local con higher the officers the less representative ferences and the Association of Adventist their selection, and in a church that claims Forums have already made a chorus of to be "truly representative," the less legiti suggestions for improving the church (see mate their authority. Spectrum, Vol. 14, No.4). What emerges at General Conference must be more than Historical Model cosmetic, half-way measures. What is necessary is nothing less than completely reestablishing the basis for the authority of church leadership. The historical model Adventists want to respect their elected places authority in leaders. But those officials themselves now the hands of those providing persuasive wonder if they actually have the authority interpretations of the inspired writings on they supposed. General Conference leaders which the church was founded. In early could not remove union conference officials Adventism, those with the most convincing involved with Davenport (see Spectrum, Vol. interpretations of the Bible were often 13, No.4). A local conference committee acknowledged as the leaders of the move- has authorized granting ministerial licenses ment. Even Ellen White usually waited until to women, even when some General James White and other students of Scripture Conference officials objected (see pages 7 came to a consensus before she publicly to 13). endorsed their views. After Ellen White's Legitimation of authority differs accord- death, the president of the General Con- ing to which model of the church prevails. ference, A.G. Daniells, continued to -=======::::;'':: ::;' '::J-flr:~MF"-·:;tc," :ge:;~s,r,=::r::l:,w,·;tt:-t':H':m'~ ;~e==htt~:n;;p"~ re--=be~"'-):l1:"t':'.g ett=:ttt"'::-:u:;'' lt1np:g;'O' Olt' l::'tt;a:alll:11tt:;:;;,,~it.tn=,-;;::;,;;;tb~~utlt:tt1r~-umn¥~e.wng;hi~ Volume 15, Number 2 3 knowledge of Ellen White's thinking. To a ment of public affairs, warned that the significant degree, subsequent presidents Adventist church was more and more often based their authority on conforming to Ellen being referred to as a corporation. The White's writings, housed within the Ellen church, he said, must never forget that it is G. White Estate at General Conference first and foremost a church, not a business. headquarters. But Adventism, committed to spreading the However, authority to interpret Scrip gospel as widely and rapidly as possible, ture and the writings of Ellen White has easily puts premiums on the corporate spread beyond the top administrators of the values of effectiveness and efficiency. Pas denomination. Milestones include the pub tors and evangelists have long been eval lica tion of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Com uated in terms of numbers. The develop mentary in the 1950s; it was clearly the work ment during the 1970s and 1980s of Adventist of Adventist scholars, not church execu Health Systems, U.S.-the seventh largest tives. Not only the establishment of a semi health system in America, after New York nary, but the requirement in the 1960s that City's Municipal Health and Hospitals every pastoral candidate in North America Corporation-provided the church with a should be instructed by professors at the concrete example of how the corporate Seminary, acknowledged the central role of model can foster growth. Aggressive con theologians in the church. A small, quiet ference administrators listened more atten committee on "defense literature" eventu tively to Adventist business executives and ally became, in the 1970s, the Biblical began reading the literature of corporate Research Institute, staffed and headed by America. academics. The Glacier View Conference Within such a framework, the church, on Desmond Ford's theological views and like the corporation, is understood as an theological Consultations I and II in the organization that must achieve clearly 1980s, relied on presentations by academics. defined-even quantifiable-goals. The Indeed, much of the subsequent controversy church has a bottom line: baptisms, tithes about those conferences revolved around and offerings, and returns on investments. just what the scholars attending them Some conferences have adopted the no actually said and believed. 1t .. --.--------. -- menclature of the corporation and now call .--~- Over the last decade, interpretation of their secretary and treasurer "vice president Ellen White's writings has extended beyond for administration" and "vice president for the personnel of the White Estate at General financial affairs." The emphasis subtly Conference headquarters to trained his underscores the hierarchical relation of all torians at Adventist colleges writing to the other officers to the president, rather than to membership at large. However they may the conference committee or constituency. quarrel with a given professor, adminis Indeed, hierarchical relationships are not so trators have recognized that, increasingly, much justified as they are assumed. If church members consider trained academics objectives are going to be achieved, de to have authority in interpreting inspired cisions sometimes need to be made quickly writings, authority distinct from that of by someone clearly in charge. If they prove church executives. to be right, an administrator is promoted to Corporate Model a higher position, with more people im plementing his decisions. If the decisions are wrong, he is replaced. A t the 1983 Annual Management-by-objective, taken from Council, B.B. Beach, corporate America, was adopted by pro a former history professor, who now is the gressive church executives. Systems analysis dir.ect'?£:;~2ft~~ .. Q~¥ra!.Conference. . de tart-. ... hashecQme,. . pQP.ularJ.Mote~s.ymhQJic.ally,. but 4 SPECTRUM just as revealingly, local and union con tive form of government is that which pre ference headquarters are built to the vails in the Seventh-day Adventist church." dimensions of corporate headquarters. The It is not surprising that the founders of the planned General Conference building is Seventh-day Adventist Church were com being placed in an industrial park setting, mitted to a structure similar to that of the next to several headquarters of corpora United states, a nation they thought God had tions. The General Conference building, guided in its adoption of republicanism and a after all, should be as impressive as any other constitution guaranteeing self-government multinational organization with total assets to its citizens. when the church was much of over $5 billion, larger than many Fortune smaller, fewer layers of administration 500 corporations. When church officials came between the members and the General laud each other for their sacrifices on behalf Conference leadership. The will of mem of the church, they do not refer to the bers could be expressed more directly than it prominent non-Adventist pulpits or tele can be at present. vision ministries they could have held, but to Now, if the church has a "representa the high-salaried, corporate jobs they could tive form of government," it is a form have filled. unknown to the democracies of Western However, for the forseeable future, Europe, North America, or Australasia. At church members in North America will not least six levels separate members from the be able to respect church officials for their highest leaders of the church. * Members do management skills. For one thing, members not choose delegates to local conference have come to realize that in the area of constituencies of the unions; the local publishing, hundreds of thousands of dollars conference committees make those selec are lost every year because of duplication in tions. The delegates chosen by conference Adventist printing facilities in North committees to union constituencies are America and unimaginative means of distri predominately clergy (two-thirds to three bution. If denominational leaders were to fourths are typical ratios). The union persist in trying to rest their church committees elected are even more heavily authority on their managerial acumen, there dominated by church employees, and in is the Davenport case. Not only was so much North America, it is these clerical union money lost in certain parts of North committees that select delegates to the America that salary increases of pastors and General conference Sessiori. In preparation teachers have been imperiled, but some of for the last General Conference in 1980, it the most prominent leaders of the denomi was necessary to urge committees selecting nation violated the minimum moral stan delegates to at least try to see that 10 percent dards practiced in American corporations. of the delegates elected to the General Conference Session were laypeople. Finally, the General Conference Committee also selects delegates. As recently as the 1975 Representative Model General Conference Session, just those delegates selected by the General Confer ence comprised 40 percent of those eligible R ecent developments to vote at the General Conference Session. make it difficult for The structure of the church beyond the church leaders to find legitimation within local conference could be described as a historical or corporate models, but the representative democracy only if one present church structure also prevents them thought the United States could be called a from truly "representing the world field." representative democracy if the governors The Church Manual says that "a representa- of the 50 states ( e:l~_~te_~.Qy F~gEle the Volume 15, Number 2 5 governors had helped to get their jobs), power, the more imperative it becomes that together with their cabinets, designated denominational officials be democratically their subordinates in the state governments elected. Greater concentration of power in as 60 percent of the delegates to a fewer hands never prevents its abuse. convention that elected the President of the Instead, those in power must be made United States. The remaining 40 percent of accountable. The greater the ability of lay the delegates would have been selected by members to determine which of their the incumbent president, his staff, and cabinet, or would be delegates because they occupied certain positions in the federal Now, if the church has a "representa government. Finally, the convention dele tive form of government, ,; it is a form gates-all of whom belonged to one party unknown to the democracies of would vote on only one name. Western Europe, North America, or The parallel to the way the top leadership Australasia. of the church is elected today is not Western representative democracy. A closer com parison is the forms of government found employees will lead them, the more in in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics formation members will have and the less and the People's Republic of China. No likely the secret abuse of power will doubt these governments achieve goals. But become. whatever else those regimes are, they are Fortunately, a more representative not representative democracies-neither is church structure will not only reflect the the present structure of the Seventh-day will of its members; it will also allow leaders Adventist Church. Right now, the members to be more effective. Denominational of the church have virtually nothing to say leaders will be able to convince better well about selecting those who decide denomina informed members to support major, long tion-wide policies and the allocation of the overdue changes without threatening the largest percentage of their tithes and unity of the church. Now, leaders some ---- offerings. times hesitate to take the decisive actions j any corporate executive would put into effect to improve the efficiency and effec tiveness of his organization. (One example is The Future the long postponed reorganization of Ad ventist publishing, including the role and function of colporteurs.) A more represen In the wake of the tative church will bring discussion into the Davenport case, it open more quickly and force action earlier. may be tempting for church leaders to The leadership of this denomination recommend to the General Conference should be influential. But that influence can Session that the central authority of the no longer be based on definitive interpreta church should be strengthened; that, for tions of Scripture or the writings of Ellen G. example, the General Conference Com Whi te. Nor, at least for a long time in North mittee should be able to convene a meeting America, can leadership expect to be of a union conference constituency, even if a followed because it enjoys a reputation for recalcitrant union executive committee sound, corporate management. objects. The fastest way for denominational Certainly, duly-elected officials of the leaders to regain the widespread respect and I church must have the power to carry out confidence of Adventist members is to go Jh~ir_ __ re~EQ:n~ibjli!t~s.J?l1tthe g~~_Clt~r t~ei~ 4i.~ect!y_~t() _t_h~ p~()P!e:T ~a~~()~ey~~~~is,_ • .-'-~ ."'.~ .--:". <--. :.- . .•• ••. .••. • _. - •• -•• f 6 SPECTRUM three basic changes need to be made in the important than institutional frameworks is present structure of the church. the quality of life the family of faith embodies-its sacrificial service to others, • One step is to reduce the levels of powerful preaching, and moving theology. administration between the members and But even if reforming structure is in the General Conference (for example, in sufficient, it is necessary. How we act as a North America, eliminating union confer group significantly defines our identify as ences ). Adventists. Our structure must reflect and • Another badly needed change is to see express our faith. Members should have an that laypeople-those not employed by the equal opportunity to participate in selecting denomination-comprise at least 50 percent those who lead the church because our of constituencies electing officers at each fundamental beliefs affirm the equality of level of the church, including the General members. Conference Session. God the Creator gives all members a • Third, and very importantly, delegates capacity to perceive truth, to know the to the General Conference Session should good. Unfortunately, the freedom given by be elected by local conference constituen the Creator allows us to reject Him, and to CIes. dominate and manipulate others. All of us have the capacity for insights; yet none Adopting the three proposals made here even in the church-can be trusted with un would overnight make the highest levels of checked power. God the Savior offers grace the church leadership accountable to the to ,all, equally. All respond directly to the membership, instead of a narrow group of offer of salvation; none is closer to God than fellow employees. At the same time, another because of his or her position in the General Conference leaders, since they church. God the Spirit came as tongues of would be elected as directly by the people as fire to all the dis«iples, and the spirit now any other level of church administrators, endows all believers with gifts, calling all to would have greater assurance they do be part of the priesthood of believers. As our indeed speak for the church. Protestant forebears insisted, members have the right to participate in interpreting God's will for the church; indeed, as much as any I mproving the struc one, they are the church. ture of the church We must renew the Protestant and Ad will not by itself bring a resurgence of the ventist vision of a truly representative Adventist movement-any more than re- church. We must be faithful to our heritage. NOTES AND REFERENCES *First level: Local conference constituency (electing Fourth level: Union conference executive committee local conference officers and executive committee). (selecting delegates to General Conference Session). Second level: Local conference conference executive Fifth level: General Conference Session (electing committee (selecting members of union conference General Conference officers and General Conference constituency). Committee ). Third level: Union conference constituency (electing Sixth level: General Conference officers and General union conference officers and executive committee). Conference Committee W Olllen Pastors Begin Baptizing by Judith P. Nembhard · On Sabbath, Feb. 25, extent to which a local conference has the 1984, Marsha Frost authority to set policy in its own territory. co-pastor of the Fairfax and Arlington, Va., In the North American Division, three Seventh-day Adventist churches, baptized conferences (Potomac, Southern California, Teresa Maria Castano, a young mother and Upper Columbia) employ a total of nine whom Frost had led to Christ. Two weeks women ,as pastors. Daffern, Frost, and later, on March 10, during the worship hour, Wiegand now hold commissioned minister Jan Daffern, associate pastor of the Sligo licenses, a special license granted only to Church, baptized Patty Parks, a 20-year-old women, and are ordained local elders. The community college student with whom she women have ministerial training. Frost, a had studied. Yet another baptism took place graduate of Southern College and valedic on June 2 at the Beltsville Church when torian of her 1982 class at the Seventh-day -j ,------- Frances Wiegand, associate pastor" bap Adventist Theological Seminary, holds the tized 18-year-old Mike Manimbo and four master of divinity degree. Wiegand grad seventh-grade girls, all of whom had studied uated from Southern College with a bach with her for several months. These baptisms elor of arts degree in religion and earned a in the Washington metropolitan area, the master of arts in religion from the seminary first by Adventist women in North Amer in 1979. Daffern will receive the master of ica, have touched off much discussion and divinity degree from the Seminary this year. debate in Adventist circles. The events have The three women have served from three to generated little or no controversy among five years in the Potomac Conference. pastors or in most local congregations; On Feb. 11, 1984, the Potomac Confer however, some General Conference of ence Executive Committee authorized eight ficials (several of whom attend the congre ordained local elders to perform baptisms. gations involved) have protested strongly In taking this action, the executive com against the baptisms. In fact, the baptisms mittee noted that have posed more than the question of who The Potomac Conference has given pastoral responsi can baptize. They also raise the issue of the bilities to a number of individuals who are not cre dentialed or licensed individuals. Therefore, the Potomac Conference Committee approves the concept (to grant permission to baptize) and authorizes Judith P. Nembhard, assistant professor of English at administration to extend the permission to baptize to Howard University, received a bachelor's from credentialed and licensed commissioned ministers who Columbia Union College and her doctora te from the are assigned a pastoral responsibility. They must be a ~niv:~rsi ~oL --~ . 1~S3lel.d~rJsic) in-the,.chur-:ChLchun;hestow~ic~_t~ey: .- 8 SPECTRUM are assigned and the authority to baptize is only valid studies with Patty Parks, a Montgomery for the duration of their pastoral assignment. College student who had been introduced to In addition to the three women, the action Adventism by a student from Columbia also involved five men who are ordained Union College. Then Patty, a Roman local elders. On the strength of the Feb. 11 Catholic, decided to be baptized. The same authorization, the female pastors proceeded executive committee action which had with plans to baptize. allowed Frost to perform the earlier baptism Marsha Frost met Teresa Castano served as the basis of Daffern's March 10 through Teresa's sister, who had been taking baptizing. In preparing to perform the rite, Bible studies from Frost. Teresa, eight Daffern says she found both Sligo senior months pregnant when she moved to the Pastor James Londis and Potomac Con Arlington area from Minnesota, received ference President Ron Wisbey "very sup- . " much support from Frost. When Teresa portlve. went into labor prematurely, Frost took her Neither Daffern nor Frost told their to the hospital and, as Teresa's pastor, was candidates that they might not be able to allowed to be with her during the Caesarean baptize them, and there was no build-up of section delivery of her baby boy. Frost says tension before the event, the women point that she and Teresa developed a bond which out. In the Arlington Church, according to led to Teresa's decision to be baptized. She Frost, the focus was on Teresa. The service would have felt personally "let down" if she took place at the vesper hour, and three had not been allowed to baptize Teresa, church members-the church clerk, the Frost now says, but adds that if the head elder, and the head deacon-wel conference had not given its permission, she comed Teresa Castano into church fellow still would have entered the baptismal water ship afterwards. The reaction has been with Teresa. However, Frost's husband, overwhelmingly positive, says Frost. There Jim, with whom she co-pastors, would have was no negative feedback from the 60 people done the baptizing. who attended the service. The head elder For three months J an Daffern held weekly remarked: "You know, there was some- Women Ministers in Adventist History: An Overview by Josephine Benton S pot-checking the Ad 1881, p. 392). The committee did not adopt the ventist Yearbook for resolution but in 1904, five women in as many every fifth year from 1910 through 1975 reveals 32 different conferences were listed as licensed minis different women who were licensed ministers, some ters. If every year in the Yearbook were checked, one of them serving over a period' of decades. Other can only guess what the total might be. The follow women served as evangelists, pastors, missionaries, ing are only a few of the women who have held and administrators. ministerial positions during the early years of the The early categories of ministers were creden Seventh-day Adventist Church: tialed (ordained) ministers, licensed ministers (licen • Dr. Caro: Dr. Caro was aNew Zealand dentist tiates), and people who held the missionary license. with an excellent practice. Ellen White wrote of At the General Conference Session of 1881, the her: "She is a queenly woman, tall, and every way delegates voted that the following resolution be proportioned. Sister Caro not only does her busi passed on to the General Conference committee for ness, but she has a ministerial license and bears study: "Resolved that females possessing the neces many burdens in their church at Napier" (Manu sary qualifications to fill that position may, with script 22, 1893, p. 2). perfect propriety, be set apart by ordination to the • Minnie Sype: Mrs. Sype was an evangelist work of Christian ministry" (Review Herald, Dec.20, whose husband was listed as a credentialed inis-
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