Philosophy of WomenPhilosophy of Women’’s s Ministries, Roles and Ministries, Roles and

ObjectivesObjectives

By By Ardis Dick StenbakkenArdis Dick Stenbakken

Leadership Certification Level 2Leadership Certification Level 2General Conference General Conference WomenWomen’’s Ministriess Ministries

Definition of PhilosophyDefinition of Philosophy

•• Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual investigation and moral selfinvestigation and moral self--disciplinediscipline

•• Inquiry into laws and causes underlying Inquiry into laws and causes underlying realityreality

•• Inquiry into the nature of things based on Inquiry into the nature of things based on logical reasoning rather than empirical logical reasoning rather than empirical methodsmethods

•• Analysis and critique of fundamental beliefs Analysis and critique of fundamental beliefs as they come to be conceptualized and as they come to be conceptualized and formulated formulated

Definition of Philosophy Definition of Philosophy contcont

•• The synthesis of all learning The synthesis of all learning •• All learning except practical arts All learning except practical arts

and technical preceptsand technical precepts•• A system of fundamental or A system of fundamental or

motivating principles: basis of motivating principles: basis of action or belief action or belief

•• The overall values by which one The overall values by which one liveslives

The biggest challenge The biggest challenge for us as a department is for us as a department is to help women, and men, to help women, and men, understand the it is not a understand the it is not a

social club, not a social club, not a womenwomen’’s society, but a s society, but a

ministry.ministry.

WomenWomen’’s Ministries is a s Ministries is a ministry that nurtures, ministry that nurtures, supports, and inspires supports, and inspires

women in a unique and women in a unique and personal way.personal way.

Ministry for Whom?Ministry for Whom?

List as many List as many categories as you can.categories as you can.

Categories of WomenCategories of Women

•• Young mothersYoung mothers•• Single womenSingle women•• Professional womenProfessional women•• Lay workersLay workers•• Church employeesChurch employees•• WidowsWidows•• Physically challenged womenPhysically challenged women•• Divorced womenDivorced women•• PastorPastor’’s wivess wives

Categories of Women Categories of Women contcont

•• Abused womenAbused women•• BurnedBurned--out church volunteersout church volunteers•• Women caring for both children Women caring for both children

and parentsand parents•• Women feeling guilty because their Women feeling guilty because their

children have left the churchchildren have left the church•• Teens and collegiate womenTeens and collegiate women•• Single mothersSingle mothers

FW 05 PhilosophyFW 05 PhilosophyThe department of WomenThe department of Women’’s s

Ministries is committed to Ministries is committed to encouraging, challenging, encouraging, challenging, equipping, and nurturing equipping, and nurturing SeventhSeventh--day Adventist day Adventist

women as they do their part women as they do their part in carrying the Gospel in carrying the Gospel message to the worldmessage to the world..

FW 10 PurposeFW 10 PurposeThe primary purpose of the Department The primary purpose of the Department

of Womenof Women’’s Ministries is to nurture, s Ministries is to nurture, facilitate, and support women in their facilitate, and support women in their

Christian lives as disciples of Jesus Christ Christian lives as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His World Church. In and members of His World Church. In consultation with administration and consultation with administration and other departments of the Church, the other departments of the Church, the

department shares the responsibility for department shares the responsibility for developing a global evangelistic strategy developing a global evangelistic strategy

and provides training to equip the women and provides training to equip the women of the church to uplift Christ in the of the church to uplift Christ in the

Church and in the world.Church and in the world.

The Department of WomenThe Department of Women’’s s Ministries will focus on the six Ministries will focus on the six

critical issues that have been critical issues that have been identified as barriers preventing identified as barriers preventing women from reaching their full women from reaching their full

potential: illiteracy, poverty, risks to potential: illiteracy, poverty, risks to health, abuse, length of workday and health, abuse, length of workday and

poor working conditions, and the poor working conditions, and the need for training and mentoring for need for training and mentoring for

greater involvement in the mission of greater involvement in the mission of the Church.the Church.

FW 15 10 ObjectivesFW 15 10 Objectives

4. Liaison and cooperate 4. Liaison and cooperate with other specialized with other specialized

departments of the church departments of the church to meet the needs of to meet the needs of

women.women.

FW 20 15 Responsibilities of FW 20 15 Responsibilities of DirectorDirector

2. The director shall represent, and serve as 2. The director shall represent, and serve as advocate for departmental goals, programs, advocate for departmental goals, programs, and activities to the administrative bodies of and activities to the administrative bodies of the Church; shall represent administrative the Church; shall represent administrative viewpoints to the departmental staff; and viewpoints to the departmental staff; and

shall serve as liaison between other shall serve as liaison between other departments and the Department of departments and the Department of

WomenWomen’’s Ministries.s Ministries.

The WomenThe Women’’s Ministries Committees Ministries CommitteeThe WomenThe Women’’s Ministries leader works with s Ministries leader works with

the pastor and church board to the pastor and church board to establish a Women's Ministries establish a Women's Ministries Committee to foster a ministry to Committee to foster a ministry to women in the church. This women in the church. This committee committee should be composed of should be composed of persons interested in the broad persons interested in the broad spectrum of women's needs and spectrum of women's needs and services. To form a balanced team, the services. To form a balanced team, the

members should be persons with varied talents members should be persons with varied talents and experience. The major responsibilities of and experience. The major responsibilities of the Women's Ministries Committee will be the Women's Ministries Committee will be the following: the following:

•• To assess the needs of women in the local church To assess the needs of women in the local church and community, by utilizing surveys and interviews, and community, by utilizing surveys and interviews, and in council with the pastor and church leaders;and in council with the pastor and church leaders;

•• To brainstorm, develop strategies, and cooperate To brainstorm, develop strategies, and cooperate with other specialized departments of the Church to with other specialized departments of the Church to foster programs and activities which minister to foster programs and activities which minister to women;women;

•• To plan and implement these and other initiatives To plan and implement these and other initiatives which relate to women's specific and varied needs, in which relate to women's specific and varied needs, in cooperation with the pastor, departmental specialists, cooperation with the pastor, departmental specialists, and other church leaders;and other church leaders;

•• To facilitate local church participation in To facilitate local church participation in annual programs and activities initiated by the annual programs and activities initiated by the conference/union/division/General conference/union/division/General Conference such as the International Women's Conference such as the International Women's Day of Prayer, Women's Ministries Day, and Day of Prayer, Women's Ministries Day, and small group ministries to support and small group ministries to support and encourage them in service. Information encourage them in service. Information regarding these programs is available through regarding these programs is available through the conference/mission Department of the conference/mission Department of Women's Ministries.Women's Ministries.

Assumptions that Affect PhilosophyAssumptions that Affect PhilosophyAssumptions about women in general:Assumptions about women in general:1.1. Relationally orientedRelationally oriented2.2. Need support and reinforcement of other women in Need support and reinforcement of other women in

similar situationssimilar situations3.3. Need support and reinforcement of other women in Need support and reinforcement of other women in

similar situationssimilar situations4.4. Tend toward intimacyTend toward intimacy5.5. Like to talk and share opinionsLike to talk and share opinions6.6. Want to feel needed, respected, and appreciatedWant to feel needed, respected, and appreciated7.7. Often suffer from low selfOften suffer from low self--esteem and selfesteem and self--confidenceconfidence8.8. Often competitive and comparative, especially toward Often competitive and comparative, especially toward

other womenother women

Assumptions about women in general (cont.):Assumptions about women in general (cont.):

8.8. Will gossip and complain unless directed constructivelyWill gossip and complain unless directed constructively9.9. Oriented toward selfOriented toward self--improvementimprovement10.10. Need role modelsNeed role models11.11. Busy: family, personal, and career responsibilitiesBusy: family, personal, and career responsibilities12.12. Want relevancyWant relevancy——will join if a ministry interests themwill join if a ministry interests them13.13. Have practical needsHave practical needs

14.14. Have specific needs in various stages in theirHave specific needs in various stages in their liveslives

Assumptions that Assumptions that Affect PhilosophyAffect Philosophy

There are also some spirituallyThere are also some spiritually--oriented assumptions:oriented assumptions:1.1. Women matter to GodWomen matter to God2.2. Jesus Christ is the example of how women should be Jesus Christ is the example of how women should be

treatedtreated3.3. Women are sensitive to spiritual feedingWomen are sensitive to spiritual feeding4.4. God is the ultimate solution to their problems and their God is the ultimate solution to their problems and their

attitudesattitudes5.5. Women matter to the SeventhWomen matter to the Seventh--day Adventist Churchday Adventist Church6.6. Women are at a variety of levels in spiritual growthWomen are at a variety of levels in spiritual growth7.7. Women have been involved in the mission of the church Women have been involved in the mission of the church

in the past. Leadership and involvement are not new.in the past. Leadership and involvement are not new.

Assumptions that Affect PhilosophyAssumptions that Affect Philosophy

Every bornEvery born--again believer should have a again believer should have a ministry. ministry.

Therefore go and make disciples of all Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything

I have commanded you. And surely I am I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the agewith you always, to the very end of the age. .

Matthew 28:19, 20.Matthew 28:19, 20.

The Adventist Church teaches the The Adventist Church teaches the priesthood of all believers: priesthood of all believers:

But you are a chosen people, a royal But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people priesthood, a holy nation, a people

belonging to God, that you may declare belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the praises of him who called you out of

darkness into his wonderful light. darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9.1 Peter 2:9.

The Bible instructs women to minister to The Bible instructs women to minister to each other:each other:

Teach the older women to be reverent in the Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or way they live, not to be slanderers or

addicted to much wine, but to teach what is addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger good. Then they can train the younger

women to love their husbands and children, women to love their husbands and children, to be selfto be self--controlled and pure, to be busy at controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their home, to be kind, and to be subject to their

husbands, so that no one will malign the husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. word of God. Titus 2, 3Titus 2, 3--5.5.

•• The world has changed for The world has changed for womenwomen

•• We need to help women find their We need to help women find their spiritual giftsspiritual gifts

•• We must be creative in developing We must be creative in developing ministriesministries

•• Ministries should be needsMinistries should be needs--basedbased•• Most women donMost women don’’t have time for t have time for

another meeting another meeting

““ChristChrist’’s method alone will give s method alone will give true success in reaching the true success in reaching the

people. The Savior mingled with people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their men as one who desired their

good. He showed His sympathy good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their for them, ministered to their

needs, and won their confidence. needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, Then He bade them, ‘‘Follow Follow Me.Me.’”’” Ministry of Healing, Ministry of Healing, p. p.

143143..

•• It is important to provide It is important to provide leadership training and leadership training and mentoring mentoring

•• WomenWomen’’s Ministries s Ministries consists of everything consists of everything women do in the churchwomen do in the church

•• There is a wide variety of There is a wide variety of ministries availableministries available

““ChristChrist’’s method alone will give s method alone will give true success in reaching the true success in reaching the

people. The Savior mingled with people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their men as one who desired their

good. He showed His sympathy good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their for them, ministered to their

needs, and won their confidence. needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, Then He bade them, ‘‘Follow Follow Me.Me.’”’” Ministry of Healing, Ministry of Healing, p. p.

143143..

http://wm.gc.adventist.orghttp://wm.gc.adventist.org

Six Challenge Six Challenge Issues Facing Issues Facing

WomenWomen

Six Challenge IssuesSix Challenge IssuesFacing WomenFacing Women

•• Poverty Poverty •• Health risksHealth risks•• LiteracyLiteracy•• Work loadWork load•• AbuseAbuse•• Leadership training and Leadership training and

mentoringmentoring

SMI HenrySMI Henry18391839--19001900

““When a great and When a great and decisive work is to be decisive work is to be

done, God chooses men done, God chooses men and women to do this and women to do this

work, and it will see the work, and it will see the loss if the talents of loss if the talents of

both are not both are not combined.combined.””

EvangelismEvangelism, p. 469., p. 469.

““There never was a time when more There never was a time when more workers were needed than at the workers were needed than at the present. There are brethren and present. There are brethren and

sisters throughout all our ranks who sisters throughout all our ranks who should discipline themselves to should discipline themselves to engage in this work; in all our engage in this work; in all our

churches something should be done churches something should be done to spread the truth. It is the duty of to spread the truth. It is the duty of all to study the various points of our all to study the various points of our

faith.faith.””Review and HeraldReview and Herald, April 1, 1880., April 1, 1880.

““All who work for God should have the Martha All who work for God should have the Martha and the Mary attributes blended and the Mary attributes blended –– a willingness to a willingness to minister and a sincere love of the truth. Self and minister and a sincere love of the truth. Self and

selfishness must be put out of sight. God calls for selfishness must be put out of sight. God calls for earnest women workers, workers who are prudent, earnest women workers, workers who are prudent,

warmhearted, tender, and true to principle. He warmhearted, tender, and true to principle. He calls for persevering women who will take their calls for persevering women who will take their

minds from self...and will center them on Christ, minds from self...and will center them on Christ, speaking words of truth, praying with the persons speaking words of truth, praying with the persons to whom they can obtain access, laboring for the to whom they can obtain access, laboring for the

conversion of souls.conversion of souls.””Testimony TreasuresTestimony Treasures, Vol. 2, p. 405., Vol. 2, p. 405.

““Women can be instruments of Women can be instruments of righteousness, rendering holy service. righteousness, rendering holy service. It was Mary that first preached a risen It was Mary that first preached a risen

Jesus....If there were twenty women Jesus....If there were twenty women where now there is one, who would where now there is one, who would

make this holy mission their cherished make this holy mission their cherished work, we should see many more work, we should see many more

converted to the truth. The refining, converted to the truth. The refining, softening influence of Christian softening influence of Christian

women is needed in the great work of women is needed in the great work of preaching the truth.preaching the truth.””

Evangelism, Evangelism, pp 471, 472.pp 471, 472.

““The Lord has a work for The Lord has a work for women as well as men to women as well as men to do. They may accomplish a do. They may accomplish a good work for God if they good work for God if they will first learn in the school will first learn in the school of Christ the precious, allof Christ the precious, all--important lesson of meekness. important lesson of meekness.

They must not only bear the name of They must not only bear the name of Christ, but possess His Spirit. They must Christ, but possess His Spirit. They must walk even as He walked, purifying their walk even as He walked, purifying their souls from everything that defiles. Then souls from everything that defiles. Then they will be able to benefit others by they will be able to benefit others by presenting the allpresenting the all--sufficiency of Jesus.sufficiency of Jesus.””Testimony TreasuresTestimony Treasures, Vol 2, p. 404., Vol 2, p. 404.

““He will raise up from among the He will raise up from among the common people men and women to do common people men and women to do

His work, even as of old He called His work, even as of old He called fishermen to be His disciples. There will fishermen to be His disciples. There will soon be an awakening that will surprise soon be an awakening that will surprise

many. Those who do not realize the many. Those who do not realize the necessity of what is to be done will be necessity of what is to be done will be passed by, and the heavenly messengers passed by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who are called the will work with those who are called the

common people, fitting them to carry the common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places.truth to many places.””

15 MR 15 MR 312 (1905).312 (1905).

““Women who have the cause of Women who have the cause of God at heart can do a good work in God at heart can do a good work in

the districts in which they reside. the districts in which they reside. Christ speaks of women who helped Christ speaks of women who helped Him in presenting the truth before Him in presenting the truth before

others, and Paul also speaks of others, and Paul also speaks of women who labored with Him in women who labored with Him in the gospel. But how very limited is the gospel. But how very limited is the work done by those who could the work done by those who could

do a large work if they would.do a large work if they would.””Evangelism, Evangelism, p. 465.p. 465.

““In the last days, God says, In the last days, God says, II will pour out my Spirit on all people. will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women, Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.and they will prophesy.””Acts 2: 17, 18.Acts 2: 17, 18.