January 1, 1994 - 12:00pm - Editors

More than 200 women from North America met in Seattle, Washington, October 14–17 for the 11th annual conference of the Association of Adventist Women, headquartered in Langley Park, Maryland. With the theme “Partners in Ministry,” the conference offered general sessions plus 22 different seminars on a wide range of topics, including sexual misconduct in the church, helping people involved in divorce, current issues in the church regarding the role of women, and finding the “abundant life.”

During the Sabbath School program, women in church leadership explained the activities of nine different women’s ministries. Elizabeth Sterndale, head of North American Women’s Ministries, outlined plans for a Women’s Day of Prayer on the Sabbath, March 5,1994 and for 1995 to be the Year of the Adventist Woman. She also discussed successful efforts to involve younger women, including high school students, in Adventist women’s activities and concerns.

Peggy Harris, of Beltsville, Maryland, reported on WASH-Women and Men Against Sexual Harassment and Other Abuses. In two seminars on this topic, Harris asserted that as many as 30 percent of Adventist women have been abused. “If you don’t feel we should hang our dirty linen out to wash, then WASH is not for you,” she suggested.

Nancy Canwell, from the pastoral staff of the Walla College Church, gave the homily for the Sabbath worship service, emphasizing a return to the basics of the Christian life.

Five “women of the year” were honored. Nancy Marter, Silver Spring, Maryland, received the Church Life Award. Marter has served on committees and held offices at all levels of church organization and has been praised for her recent role in merging a congregation of white people with an African American congregation.

Sheree Parris Nudd, philanthropy professional and vice president of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, Maryland, received the Professional Life Award for her work in raising funds for Adventist hospitals.

Cheryl Stowers, of Port Hadlock, Washington, received the Family Life Award. Although physically disabled, Stowers has been honored by her local community for several areas of service as a professional educator.

Lorna Tobler, of Mountain View, California, was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Award. The presenter praised Tobler’s pioneering effort to obtain equal payment for equal work of Adventist women and for carrying on this effort “without bitterness or rancor.”

Nyla Juhl, faculty member in family and community nursing at the University of North Dakota, received the Community Life Award. The presenter cited her work in statewide organizations on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities and on behalf of rural Americans.

Current president of the Association of Adventist Women is Elisabeth Wear. Founded in 1982, the organization now lists eight chapters and publishes the magazine Adventist Woman. AAW’s next North American conference is set for September 14,1994, in Washington, D. C.

 

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Recommendation to the North American Division by the Association of Adventist Women

It is recommended that the NAD take a strong position against abuse and endeavor to prevent our church in North America from becoming a haven for abusers, thus attracting many former members who have been harmed by physical, mental or sexual abuse; these goals will be accomplished by:

1. Utilizing a network of trained counselors through the Sexual Ethics Commission so that each union will have a list of resources available for their conference.

2. Holding accountable perpetrators of abuse by strongly insisting that a known abuser be disfellowshipped. When a church employee is charged with sexual misconduct, it is imperative that proper testing be done by competent therapists which will help to establish guilt or innocence. An offender could apply for membership again when recommended corrective procedures have been followed, including acknowledging their wrong doing to the victim(s) and long term counseling for the abuser. An offender must continue to be monitored and must never work or be alone with children.

3. A firm statement by the NAD President that a strong stand will be taken against this abuse to be published in the Adventist Review and the union papers.

4. Affirming local conferences (such as Georgia, Idaho, Oregon, and Kentucky/Tennessee) who are leading out in abuse prevention through Family Life Ministries and professionally trained counselors, as well as encouraging other conferences to also provide similar education.

5. Counseling pastors and church leaders to report abuse of a minor to state authorities as required by state law.