Mrs. White’s View

Posted in: | June 5, 2012 at 6:54 pm

What … was Mrs. White’s view of the ministry of women? Though there are no indications that she called for women to serve as ordained elders or pastors, she presents a broad view of service for women in God’s work. She saw women as able to do a great work for Christ in personal contacts, bringing the message for this hour into homes and families. And she recognized and cited important contributions they could make in various leadership responsibilities in the church as well.

For instance, she called for training to be offered for women in our schools. Speaking of Avondale, the newly opened school in Australia, she said, “The Lord designs that the school should also be a place where a training may be gained in women’s work.” After enumerating certain domestic and educational training to be included, she added, “They are to be qualified to take any post that may be offered — superintendents, Sabbath school teachers, Bible workers. They must be prepared to teach day schools for children.”

She described the important mission women could fulfill: “Wonderful is the mission of the wives and mothers and the younger women workers. If they will, they can exert an influence for good to all around them. By modesty in dress and circumspect deportment, they may bear witness to the truth in its simplicity. They may let their light so shine before all, that others will see their good works and glorify their Father which is in heaven. A truly converted woman will exert a powerful transforming influence for good. Connected with her husband, she may aid him in his work, and become the means of encouragement and blessing to him. When the will and way are brought into subjection to the Spirit of God, there is no limit to the good that can be accomplished.”

While Mrs. White emphasizes a husband-wife ministry here, single women (“the younger women workers”) are also included. The type of work is not designated, but would surely include the various lines of work that we have noted before. She says that with modesty and propriety, with the will and way brought into subjection to God, women may let their light shine and may exert a limitless influence for good.

- Prove All Things, p. 283

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Ron Stone M.D.

Exactly. This bogus “proof” of the WO group is proof of their deceptive practices.
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It will be recalled that Ellen White was given her first vision in December 1844, in Portland, Maine. Shortly thereafter she was prompted by the Lord to tell others what she had seen. {DG 252.6}7. Ellen White did not concern herself with women’s rights movements. When she was urged to join others in the crusade for women’s suffrage, she declined the invitation. She wrote to her husband: {DG 252.7}8. It is likely that Ellen White did not suggest at any time that the Seventh-day Adventist Church should commence the practice of ordaining women to the gospel ministry. Her secretary, C. C. Crisler, says that she was very cautious on this point. Here is the correspondence relating to this question: {DG 253.2}“March 12, 1916“Mr. Clarence Crisler, Sanitarium [California]“Dear brother,“Will you please inform me in regard to the setting apart of women who can give some time to missionary work, by laying on hands in prayer, found in Review and Herald, back in the early part of the nineties, probably back in about 1892 or 1893, from the pen of Sister White.“The reason I ask for this, I was in a recent meeting where Elder Andross set aside women by the laying on of hands, and when I asked him for the authority for so doing, he referred me to you, and as I have been a Bible worker for a number of years and have recently been granted a ministerial license, I want this information. {DG 253.3}“Please answer at once, as I want to hear from you before I go to the Southwestern Union Conference, which convenes April 7. Please send me two or three copies of her statement, as the president of our conference wants one.”—Mrs. L. E. Cox, 134 Agarita Avenue, San Antonio, Texas. {DG 254.1}“March 22, 1916“Mrs. L. E. Cox, San Antonio, Texas“Dear sister,“I have your letter of the twelfth, making inquiry regarding the ordination of women who give some time to missionary work—particularly to some statement which you believe to be found in a Reviewearly in the nineties, from the pen of Mrs. Ellen G. White. {DG 254.2}“As this query will require some study on my part, and searching, and as I must go to Mountain View in the morning for a few days, I am under the necessity of asking that you excuse me from answering for a few days. Upon my return, early next week, I will endeavor to send you a reply, accompanying same, if possible, with the extracts called for. However, I might say that I have not understood these extracts as teaching positively the ordination of women as ministers of the gospel. I have supposed, rather, that they refer primarily to the ordination of God-fearing women as deaconesses in local churches. But of this I will speak more fully when I write again. {DG 254.3}“I hope to write you about the twenty-eighth, and will address you as above. If you are leaving San Antonio for other parts, it would be well for you to leave a forwarding order, so mail addressed as above will reach you in due time at the Union Conference.”—Clarence Crisler. {DG 254.4}“June 16, 1916“Mrs. L. E. Cox
Paul

that is an interesting quote in gospel workers. when reading sop(spirit of prophecy), a rule of thumb is to never make a doctrine based off of one quote, and 2, never base a doctrine off of sop. the reason I say this is because the sop is an a compliment to the bible. so if you do not understand where she is coming from, study the bible. If what she say seemingly contradicts what the word of God say clearly, than continuing studying! I’m glad we have the sop! she makes so many things clear, especially when it is read in context. Lets read this quote in proper context:
“All who desire an opportunity for true ministry, and who
will give themselves unreservedly to God, will find in the canvassing work opportunities to speak upon many things
pertaining to the future, immortal life. The
experience thus gained will be of the greatest value to those who are fitting themselves for the ministry.
It is the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit of God that prepares workers, both
men and women, to become pastors to the flock of God. As they cherish the
thought that Christ is their Companion, a holy awe, a sacred joy, will be felt
by them amid all their trying experiences and all their tests. They will
learn how to pray as they work. They will be educated in patience, kindness,
affability, and helpfulness. They will practice true Christian courtesy,
bearing in mind that Christ, their Companion, cannot approve of harsh, unkind
words or feelings. Their words will be purified. The power of speech will be
regarded as a precious talent, lent them to do a high and holy work. The human
agent will learn how to represent the divine Companion with whom he is
associated. To that unseen Holy One he will show respect and reverence because
he is wearing His yoke and is learning His pure, holy ways. Those who have
faith in this divine Attendant will develop. They will be gifted with power to
clothe the message of truth with a sacred beauty”.—Testimonies for the
Church 6:322 (1900). {CM 33.1}
Now by reading this quote in its full context, Mrs. White was addressing the canvassing work, as a matter of fact, the quote is taking from the book manual for canvassers. So we no the that the subject is about canvassing work not ordination. Now lets see what its is about this type of work we should know. she want s us to know that, “The
experience thus gained will be of the greatest value to those who are fitting themselves for the ministry.” this is the main focus. Now read the next part prayerfully and carefully. she says that, “It is the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit of God that prepares workers, both
men and women, to become pastors to the flock of God” did you catch the split. the first part she says ministers, the second she mentions pastors. she is referring to two groups. those that are fitting themselves for ministry, and those who are to be pastors the the flock. Both can equally gain great value from the experience gained thru canvassing. Please do not miss this point because we we continue reading the whole context of the subject matter, it makes since. now next she explains what that experience is:”They will
learn how to pray as they work. They will be educated in patience, kindness,
affability, and helpfulness. They will practice true Christian courtesy,
bearing in mind that Christ, their Companion, cannot approve of harsh, unkind
words or feelings. Their words will be purified. The power of speech will be
regarded as a precious talent, lent them to do a high and holy work. The human
agent will learn how to represent the divine Companion with whom he is
associated. To that unseen Holy One he will show respect and reverence because
he is wearing His yoke and is learning His pure, holy ways. Those who have
faith in this divine Attendant will develop. They will be gifted with power to
clothe the message of truth with a sacred beauty.” Now can’t we all, men and women benefit from learning these experiences? yes most definitely. which is why she mentions men and women. I know, you’re probably saying to yourself, ” that doesn’t address the fact that she used the word pastor”, actually it does. You see we commonly now a days associate pastor one meaning, which being the ordained leader or elder in the church. But the bible and the dictionary expresses different attributes of being a pastor. I quote from dictionary. com definition 2: ” a person having spiritual care of a number of persons.” Now doesn’t that definition sound familiar? sure it does, it sounds similar to the experience that Ellen White tells us that we would receive as canvassers. Now can only a ordained Pastor have spiritual care over someone? No. if that was the case than only ordained pastors would be saved. that would be very unfortunate don’t you think. Now if you do a word search on pastor you will see another definition of a pastor. Someone feeds the flock. which is another aspect of a pastor. Now I can say what we have done as a church was blurred the lines between an elder and a pastor. We have made them equal which can cause confusion. so to address this, Mrs. White distinguishes between the two by using the word minister or in ministry or going into the ministry. When she uses pastor as opposed to it being equal with an ordained minister, she includes what she is referring to.buy reading a a little further down in the article she wrote., she specifies how it was that she meant by “fitting themselves for ministry” in the following paragraph:

“Some men whom God
was calling to the work of the ministry have entered the field as canvassers.
I have been instructed that this is an excellent preparation if their object is to disseminate light, to
bring the truths of God’s word directly to the home circle. In conversation the
way will often be opened for them to speak of the religion of the Bible. If the
work is entered upon as it should be, families will be visited, the workers
will manifest Christian tenderness and love for souls, and great good will be
the result. This will be an excellent experience for any who have the ministry
in view”
Wait a second, this work goes right along with the pastors! Except one person is Ordained Pastor or Elder and the other pastorial work. Now this makes a whole lot more sense don’t you think. If you look as this view of it in lines with other quotes and the bible, you would find that they are totally in harmony. You see, the work of a minister includes being a pastor or pastoral duties. Here is another good quote that shows the two uses of the word. “The duties of a pastor are often shamelessly neglected because the
minister lacks strength to sacrifice his personal inclinations for
seclusion and study. The pastor should visit from house to house among
his flock, teaching, conversing, and praying with each family, and
looking out for the welfare of their souls.” gospel workers pg. 337. This quote is in harmony with the quote we are discussing. She even mentions on how the ministers fail to do some of the duties in the statement above.I hope this helps with your study for truth and please allow the holy spirit to lead you into all truth!