Philosophy of Women’s Philosophy of Women’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 Women’s MinistriesWomen’s Ministries

Definition of Definition of PhilosophyPhilosophy

• Love and pursuit of wisdom by Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual investigation and moral intellectual investigation and moral self-disciplineself-discipline

• Inquiry into laws and causes Inquiry into laws and causes underlying realityunderlying reality

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

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

Definition of Definition of Philosophy Philosophy contcont

• The synthesis of all The synthesis of all learning learning

• All learning except All learning except practical arts and technical practical arts and technical preceptsprecepts

• A system of fundamental A system of fundamental or motivating principles: or motivating principles: basis of action or belief basis of action or belief

• The overall values by The overall values by which one liveswhich one lives

The biggest The biggest challenge for us challenge for us

as a as a department is department is

to help women, to help women, and men, and men,

understand the understand the it is not a social it is not a social

club, not a club, not a women’s women’s

society, but a society, but a ministry.ministry.

Women’s Women’s Ministries is a Ministries is a ministry that ministry that

nurtures, nurtures, supports, and supports, and

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

Ministry for Ministry for Whom?Whom?

List as many List as many categories as you categories as you

can.can.

Categories of Categories of WomenWomen

• Young mothersYoung mothers• Single womenSingle women• Professional womenProfessional women• Lay workersLay workers• Church employeesChurch employees• WidowsWidows• Physically challenged Physically challenged

womenwomen• Divorced womenDivorced women• Pastor’s wivesPastor’s wives

Categories of Categories of Women Women contcont

• Abused womenAbused women• Burned-out church Burned-out church

volunteersvolunteers• Women caring for both Women caring for both

children and parentschildren and parents• Women feeling guilty Women feeling guilty

because their children have because their children have left the churchleft the church

• Teens and collegiate womenTeens and collegiate women• Single mothersSingle mothers

FW 05 FW 05 PhilosophyPhilosophy

The department of The department of Women’s Ministries is Women’s Ministries is

committed to committed to encouraging, encouraging, challenging, challenging,

equipping, and equipping, and nurturing Seventh-nurturing Seventh-

day Adventist women day Adventist women as they do their part as they do their part

in carrying the in carrying the Gospel message to Gospel message to

the worldthe world..

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

Department of Women’s Ministries Department of Women’s Ministries is to nurture, facilitate, and support is to nurture, facilitate, and support

women in their Christian lives as women in their Christian lives as disciples of Jesus Christ and disciples of Jesus Christ and

members of His World Church. In members of His World Church. In consultation with administration consultation with administration

and other departments of the and other departments of the Church, the department shares the Church, the department shares the

responsibility for developing a responsibility for developing a global evangelistic strategy and global evangelistic strategy and provides training to equip the provides training to equip the

women of the church to uplift Christ women of the church to uplift Christ in the Church and in the world.in the Church and in the world.

The Department of The Department of Women’s Ministries will Women’s Ministries will focus on the six critical focus on the six critical issues that have been issues that have been identified as barriers identified as barriers

preventing women from preventing women from reaching their full reaching their full

potential: illiteracy, potential: illiteracy, poverty, risks to health, poverty, risks to health,

abuse, length of abuse, length of workday and poor workday and poor

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

and mentoring for and mentoring for greater involvement in greater involvement in

the mission of the the mission of the Church.Church.

FW 15 10 FW 15 10 ObjectivesObjectives

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

specialized specialized departments of the departments of the church to meet the church to meet the needs of women.needs of women.

FW 20 15 FW 20 15 Responsibilities of Responsibilities of

DirectorDirector2. The director shall represent, 2. The director shall represent,

and serve as advocate for and serve as advocate for departmental goals, programs, departmental goals, programs,

and activities to the and activities to the administrative bodies of the administrative bodies of the

Church; shall represent Church; shall represent administrative viewpoints to administrative viewpoints to the departmental staff; and the departmental staff; and

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

Department of Women’s Department of Women’s Ministries.Ministries.

The Women’s Ministries The Women’s Ministries CommitteeCommittee

The Women’s Ministries leader The Women’s Ministries leader works with works with the pastor and the pastor and church board to church board to establish a establish a Women's Ministries Women's Ministries Committee Committee to foster a ministry to to foster a ministry to women in women in the church. This 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 spectrum of women's needs and and services. To form a balanced services. To form a balanced team, the members should be team, the members should be persons with varied talents and persons with varied talents and experience. The major experience. The major responsibilities of the Women's responsibilities of the Women's Ministries Committee will be the Ministries Committee will be the following: following:

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

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

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

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

Assumptions that Assumptions that Affect PhilosophyAffect Philosophy

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

other women in similar situationsother women in similar situations3.3. Tend toward intimacyTend toward intimacy4.4. Like to talk and share opinionsLike to talk and share opinions5.5. Want to feel needed, respected, and Want to feel needed, respected, and

appreciatedappreciated6.6. Often suffer from low self-esteem and Often suffer from low self-esteem and

self-confidenceself-confidence7.7. Often competitive and comparative, Often competitive and comparative,

especially toward other womenespecially toward other women

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

8.8. Will gossip and complain unless directed Will gossip and complain unless directed constructivelyconstructively

9.9. Oriented toward self-improvementOriented toward self-improvement

10.10. Need role modelsNeed role models

11.11. Busy: family, personal, and career responsibilitiesBusy: family, personal, and career responsibilities

12.12. Want relevancy—will join if a ministry interests Want relevancy—will join if a ministry interests themthem

13.13. Have practical needsHave practical needs

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

Assumptions Assumptions that that Affect Affect

PhilosophyPhilosophy

There are also some spiritually-oriented There are also some spiritually-oriented assumptions:assumptions:

1.1. Women matter to GodWomen matter to God2.2. Jesus Christ is the example of how Jesus Christ is the example of how

women should be treatedwomen should be treated3.3. Women are sensitive to spiritual feedingWomen are sensitive to spiritual feeding4.4. God is the ultimate solution to their God is the ultimate solution to their

problems and their attitudesproblems and their attitudes5.5. Women matter to the Seventh-day Women matter to the Seventh-day

Adventist ChurchAdventist Church6.6. Women are at a variety of levels in Women are at a variety of levels in

spiritual growthspiritual growth7.7. Women have been involved in the Women have been involved in the

mission of the church in the past. mission of the church in the past. Leadership and involvement are not new.Leadership and involvement are not new.

Assumptions that Affect Assumptions that Affect PhilosophyPhilosophy

Every born-again believer Every born-again believer should have a ministry. should have a ministry. Therefore go and make Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I commanded you. And surely I

am with you always, to the very am with you always, to the very end of the ageend of the age. Matthew . Matthew

28:19, 20.28:19, 20.

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

believers: believers: But you are a chosen people, But you are a chosen people,

a royal priesthood, a holy a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to nation, a people belonging to

God, that you may declare God, that you may declare the praises of him who called the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his you out of darkness into his

wonderful light. wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9.1 Peter 2:9.

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

Teach the older women to be Teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, reverent in the way they live,

not to be slanderers or addicted not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the is good. Then they can train the

younger women to love their younger women to love their husbands and children, to be husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be self-controlled and pure, to be

busy at home, to be kind, and to busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word that no one will malign the word

of God. of God. Titus 2, 3-5.Titus 2, 3-5.

•The world has changed for The world has changed for women women

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

•We must be creative in We must be creative in developing ministriesdeveloping ministries

•Ministries should be Ministries should be needs-basedneeds-based

•Most women don’t have Most women don’t have time for another meeting time for another meeting

““Christ’s method Christ’s method alone will give true alone will give true success in reaching success in reaching

the people. The the people. The Savior mingled with Savior mingled with

men as one who men as one who desired their good. desired their good.

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

needs, and won their needs, and won their confidence. Then He confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”Me.’” Ministry of Ministry of Healing, Healing, p. 143p. 143..

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

•Women’s Ministries Women’s Ministries consists of everything consists of everything women do in the women do in the churchchurch

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

““Christ’s method Christ’s method alone will give true alone will give true success in reaching success in reaching

the people. The the people. The Savior mingled with Savior mingled with

men as one who men as one who desired their good. desired their good.

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

needs, and won their needs, and won their confidence. Then He confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”Me.’” Ministry of Ministry of Healing, Healing, p. 143p. 143..

http://wm.gc.adventihttp://wm.gc.adventist.orgst.org

Six Six Challenge Challenge

Issues Issues Facing Facing WomenWomen

Six Challenge Six Challenge IssuesIssues

Facing WomenFacing Women•Poverty Poverty •Health risksHealth risks•LiteracyLiteracy•Work loadWork load•AbuseAbuse•Leadership training Leadership training

and mentoringand mentoring

SMI HenrySMI Henry1839-19001839-1900

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

done, God done, God chooses men chooses men and women to and women to do this work, do this work, and it will see and it will see the loss if the the loss if the talents of both talents of both

are not are not combined.” combined.”

EvangelismEvangelism, p. , p. 469.469.

““There never was a There never was a time when more time when more

workers were needed workers were needed than at the present. than at the present.

There are brethren and There are brethren and sisters throughout all sisters throughout all our ranks who should our ranks who should

discipline themselves to discipline themselves to engage in this work; in engage in this work; in

all our churches all our churches something should be something should be done to spread the done to spread the

truth. It is the duty of truth. It is the duty of all to study the various all to study the various points of our faith.”points of our faith.” Review and HeraldReview and Herald, ,

April 1, 1880.April 1, 1880.

““All who work for God should have All who work for God should have the Martha and the Mary attributes the Martha and the Mary attributes blended – a willingness to minister blended – a willingness to minister

and a sincere love of the truth. Self and a sincere love of the truth. Self and selfishness must be put out of and selfishness must be put out of sight. God calls for earnest women sight. God calls for earnest women workers, workers who are prudent, workers, workers who are prudent, warmhearted, tender, and true to warmhearted, tender, and true to principle. He calls for persevering principle. He calls for persevering women who will take their minds women who will take their minds

from self...and will center them on from self...and will center them on Christ, speaking words of truth, Christ, speaking words of truth,

praying with the persons to whom praying with the persons to whom they can obtain access, laboring for they can obtain access, laboring for

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

““Women can be Women can be instruments of instruments of

righteousness, rendering righteousness, rendering holy service. It was holy service. It was

Mary that first preached Mary that first preached a risen Jesus....If there a risen Jesus....If there

were twenty women were twenty women where now there is one, where now there is one,

who would make this who would make this holy mission their holy mission their

cherished work, we cherished work, we should see many more should see many more converted to the truth. converted to the truth. The refining, softening The refining, softening influence of Christian influence of Christian

women is needed in the women is needed in the great work of preaching great work of preaching

the truth.”the truth.” Evangelism, Evangelism, pp 471, 472.pp 471, 472.

““The Lord has a The Lord has a work for work for women women as well as men to as well as men to

do. They may do. They may accomplish a accomplish a good good work for God if they work for God if they

will first learn in the will first learn in the school school of Christ the of Christ the precious, all-precious, all-important lesson of important lesson of meekness. They must not meekness. They must not only bear the name of only bear the name of Christ, but possess His Christ, but possess His Spirit. They must walk Spirit. They must walk even as He walked, even as He walked, purifying their souls from purifying their souls from everything that defiles. everything that defiles. Then they will be able to Then they will be able to benefit others by benefit others by presenting the all-presenting the all-sufficiency of Jesus.” sufficiency of Jesus.” Testimony TreasuresTestimony Treasures, Vol , Vol 2, p. 404.2, p. 404.

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

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

do not realize the do not realize the necessity of what is to be necessity of what is to be done will be passed by, done will be passed by,

and the heavenly and the heavenly messengers will work with messengers will work with those who are called the those who are called the common people, fitting common people, fitting

them to carry the truth to them to carry the truth to many places.” many places.” 15 MR 15 MR 312 (1905).312 (1905).

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

they reside. Christ they reside. Christ speaks of women who speaks of women who

helped Him in helped Him in presenting the truth presenting the truth

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

done by those who done by those who could do a large work if could do a large work if

they would.” they would.” Evangelism, Evangelism, p. 465.p. 465.

““In the last days, God says, In the last days, God says,  I will pour out my Spirit on all  I will pour out my Spirit on all

people. people.   Your sons and daughters will Your sons and daughters will

prophesy, prophesy, your young men will see your young men will see

visions, visions, your old men will dream your old men will dream

dreams.dreams.Even on my servants, both Even on my servants, both

men and women, men and women,  I will pour out my Spirit in  I will pour out my Spirit in

those days, those days,   and they will prophesy.”  and they will prophesy.”

Acts 2: 17, 18.Acts 2: 17, 18.