Seventh-day Adventists to decide whether women can become clergy

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After an afternoon of discussion and debate, Seventh-Day Adventist women will still not be allowed to serve as ordained clergy.
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In town for the church’s international General Conference session, over 2,500 delegates discussed changing the language and policy of the 28 fundamental beliefs the church holds, one of those being whether or not women can officially be ordained as clergy.
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The vote came late Wednesday afternoon and the decision was announced shortly after — women cannot be ordained as clergies.
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According to officials, 2,363 ballots were cast: 5 abstained, 977 voted in favor of the proposal and 1,381 voted against the measure.
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mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Seventh-Day-Adventists-vote-against-women-clergy-6373902.php
 
I would say they will continue to put the question to a vote and in time, women will be allowed to be ordained. The margin was not that great.

It will be interesting to watch not only the SDA church but other denominations where women have been excluded from leadership roles/ordination. I think these decisions come in clusters.
 
spedteacherita said:
I already know a woman who is a pastor of an SDA church…
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This subject is complex and it has been misunderstood by many SDA members.

SDAs have two levels of Elders, both of whom are ordained. The higher level are their ordained clergy, who are considered able to serve anywhere. The lower level are considered only able to serve in a local congregation and are expected to be supervised by a clergy person. These local elders serve in a more limited role than do the clergy. IOW, they are not considered to be clergy, although they may serve in some ministry functions.

For a number of years, both men and women have been able to serve as local Elders and to be ordained to that position.

Recently the SDA church added another level of clergy-commissioned. Both men
& women maybe commissioned Commissioned clergy can perform almost every service provided by ordained clergy.

The vote in July was not whether women could be ordained. It was whether an administrative unit known as a Division had the authority to decide. That answer was No.

A major issue is the question as to what organizational level to decide Some believe the authority lies with the administrative unit known as a Union. Others disagree.
 
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