16 November 2011 Becici, Montenegro [Miroslav Pujic, Breaking News, tedNEWS] Today, forty-five delegates and twenty five invitees (union secretaries and treasurers) from the thirteen Unions and three attached Fields, which constitute the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European region (TED), discussed a Motion on Women in Leadership. After prayer, the 91% of the delegates voted by secret ballot to express approval of the motion at the annual year-end executive committee meetings. The invitees affirmed the motion by a similar per cent in a secret ballot.
In 2010 the TED asked the General Conference a similar request to that posed by the North American Division regarding a variance to the policy to allow commissioned ministers to be conference or union presidents. In addition the TED asked for the study of the theology of ordination to be prioritised and permission to ordain women within its territories. Although no formal answer was voted at Annual Council this year we understand that an answer, if formally given, would have been negative.
The committee expressed sadness and disappointment at the response of the Annual Council and recognised the Bible-based conviction that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a fellowship of the “priesthood of all believers” and that the Holy Spirit calls and equips men and women with various gifts, including that of leadership. For many within the TED it is an ethical and legal matter that strongly affects their consciences.
The committee prayerfully voted to affirm that each union can apply parity between male and female pastors within the framework of TED’s existing policies and guidelines for ordained/commissioned minister credentials.
As far as the North-American Division decision is concerned, to keep the variance they asked for in 2009 and then voted both in 2010 and 2011, we understand their need for this and regret that Annual Council was unwilling to endorse their decision.
Dr Bertil Wiklander, TED President says: “What works best for the TED at this time is to let all know where we stand and what we want regarding women in leadership, while doing all we can to promote women as pastors and leaders in our church within the working policy. We will continue to work with our unions to see how we can support and enable the many women who the Holy Spirit has clearly called to leadership.” To read full voted document please click here [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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