3 December 2015 | Copenhagen, Denmark [Anne-May Müller] Anne-May Müller reports on the second affirmation meeting between female pastors and Church leaders in the Trans-European Division.
It may be dark and cold on a December morning in Copenhagen, Denmark, but when 36 women pastors meet, their enthusiasm and love both light up and warm the room with a beautiful atmosphere. However, behind the smiles and warm hugs there are also tears and hurting hearts.
Pastor Guiséle Berkel-Larmonie from Holland opened the day reminding us of Micah 6:8, where the only thing God requires of us is “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”. Raafat Kamal again stated his own and the Division’s commitment to keep working on solving the issues of ordination and inequality. The Union presidents each took a few minutes to update the pastors on how they have been working post San Antonio. Many of the Unions have made statements of support and have taken a variety of approaches in finding solutions.
The most important part of the meeting happened in the groups that were formed, where the women had the opportunity to share their hurts, find comfort, listen to each other’s stories, find support in good colleagues, seek wisdom with each other, and pray for strength, humility and a continued willingness to serve despite some opposition and difficulties. The male leaders also met and talked about how they can support and affirm their women colleagues, and how they can help the church to move on after San Antonio.
A Q&A time with the leaders showed an openness from both sides to share the hard stuff, to listen to each other, but also to keep working for the Lord who has called us to do His work. Gratitude was expressed to the TED leadership for creating an opportunity to meet.
When we left the meeting, the dark December night had fallen over the city of Copenhagen, but our hearts were warmer and our desire to follow God’s leading and be a light to a dark world had been strengthened. [tedNEWS]
See also:
TED affirms women in Church Leadership, 17 November 2015
Church Leaders affirm Women in Ministry (British Union Conference & TED), 29 October 2015
Response to No Vote on Women’s ordination, 8 July 2015
tedNEWS Staff: Deana Stojković, editor
119 St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ted-adventist.org
tedNEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division.
You are free to re-print any portion of the bulletin without need for special permission. However, we kindly request that you identify tedNEWS whenever you publish these materials.
