1. Introduction to Women’s Ministries
Learning Objective: The purpose of this course is:
1. To acquaint the student with the origin and history of the Womens Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,
2. To provide an introduction to selected women in leadership during the history of the Adventist movement,
3. To provide a survey of current GC programs and resources provided for the use of the divisions.
Course Outline: 
I. The History of Women’s Ministries
  A. The Beginning of Women’s Ministries
B. A Women’s Ministries Time Line of Important Dates
C. When the Divisions Began Women’s Ministries
II. Women Serving God, Then and Now
A. Adventist Women Pioneers
3.  
Dorothy Eaton Watts
Leader Certification Program
Level 1

2. The purpose of this course is:
To acquaint you with the origin and history of the Women’s Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,
To provide an introduction of selected women in leadership during the history of the Adventist movement,
To provide a survey of current GC programs and resources.

3. Course Outline The History of Women’s Ministries
The Beginning of Women’s Ministries
A Women’s Ministries Time Line of Important Dates
When Your Division Began Women’s Ministries

4. Course Outline Women Serving God, Then and Now
Adventist Women Pioneers

5. The Beginning
In 1898 Mrs. S. M. I Henry, with the encouragement of Ellen G. White, headed a church department for Women’s Ministry.
Mrs. Henry began a system of correspondence by which women could get answers to their questions and could receive instruction through personal letters.
In 1899 she published a weekly column in the Adventist Review headlined, “Woman’s Gospel Work.” The column was filled with Bible studies, poetry, letters, and practical advice.

6. The Beginning
After Mrs. Henry died of pneumonia on January 16, 1900, the nine-member Women’s Ministries committee at the General Conference tried to carry on her work for a time. However, the committee became discouraged without their strong leader, and Women’s Ministries ceased as a department of the church.
It was revived again in 1990 with the re- establishment of Women’s Ministries at the General Conference.

7. THREE –MINUTES THINK/PONDER/DISCUSS
What traits of character might Mrs. Henry have possessed that made her a woman God was able to use is a mighty way?
Name one method Mrs. Henry used to inspire and teach women how to work for God?
How is our current Women’s Ministries program similar to that of Women’s Ministries a hundred years ago? How is our modern program different?

8. Women’s Ministries Time Line
1844 Ellen Harmon receives her first vision.

9. 1874 First Dorcas Society formed in Battle Creek, Michigan, by Mrs
1874 First Dorcas Society formed in Battle Creek, Michigan, by Mrs. Henry Gardner.
Mrs. S. M. I. Henry becomes a national evangelist for the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

10. 1896 Mrs. S. M. I. Henry joins the SDA Church after attending Battle Creek Sanitarium for treatment.
1898 March 30, Mrs. Henry given a ministerial license by the General Conference. She begins work of Women’s Ministries encouraged by Ellen G. White.

11. 1899 Mrs. Henry produced a weekly page in the Review called “Women’s Gospel Work.” She traveled extensively promoting Women’s Ministries.
1900 Mrs. Henry dies. Nine member committee continues a short while, then disbands. Organized work of Women’s Ministries stops.

12. 1913 Dorcas Society becomes part of the Home Missionary Department, later the Lay Activities and then the Personal Ministries Department. It focuses on helping the poor.
1915 Ellen White dies.

13. 1980 Dallas GC Session, President Neil C
1980 Dallas GC Session, President Neil C. Wilson calls for church to find ways to organize and use vast potential represented by women’s talents.
1985 Annual Council establishes Women’s Ministries Advisory Committee. Betty Holbrook is appointed Chair Person.

14. 1988. Karen Flowers becomes head of the Women’s Ministries Advisory Committee. They formulate a mission statement for Women’s Ministries, the same one now in use by the WM Department.
1989. Karen Flowers presented a study on women in leadership in the world field to a Commission on the Role of Women at Cohutta Springs. The meeting recommended that the GC open an office of Women’s Ministries with a full-time director for Women’s Ministries.

15. 1990 Annual Council, October 4, voted to open an office of Women’s Ministries. Rose Otis, elected the director of Women’s Ministries.

16. 1995 Women’s Ministries given full departmental status at the GC Session in Utrecht. Ardis Stenbakken is elected as Associate Director. By the end of 1995 the following divisions had established a Women’s Ministries Department: AID, ESD, NAD, APD, SAD, SPD, SUD, TED, and SAUC.

17. 1996 - EAD, EUD, and IAD establish a Women’s Ministries Department
EAD, EUD, and IAD establish a Women’s Ministries Department. First Women’s Ministries World Advisory held in March.
Dorothy Eaton Watts chosen to replace Rose Otis who resigned to become a Vice-President for the North American Division. 

18. 1997 At Annual Council, Ardis Stenbakken was chosen to replace Dorothy Watts who resigned when her husband became President of SUD.

19. Inter-American Division
Inter-American Division
Began Women’s Ministries in 1996 with Waveney Martinborough as the Director.

20. Adventist Women Pioneers Nineteenth Century
Do further research on one of the women on this list.
Minerva Chapman – General Conference Treasurer and editor of Youth’s Instructor
Annie Smith – Hymn writer
Maria Huntley – General Conference Lay Activities (Personal Ministries) Leader
Katherine Lindsey – Foremost teacher of nurses
Maud Sisley Boyd – First single Adventist woman missionary (Europe)
Ellen White – Had the prophetic gift
Georgia Burrus – Pioneer missionary to India
Adelia van Horn – First woman GC Treasurer
Helen Druillard – Founder of Madison College

21. Adventist Women Pioneers First Half, 20th Century
Do further research on one of the women on this list.
Lara E. Clement edited the Youth’s Instructor for 29 years.
Gertrude Brown was a physician who worked in Ireland and Scotland.
Louise Kleuser trained people in the art of giving Bible studies and was an associate secretary of the CG Ministerial Association for 16 years.
Anna Knight was the first African-American missionary.
Anna Ingles Hindson served in Australia as both a union and Conference officer as well as an editor and leader of the Sabbath School Department.
Eva Dykes was the first black woman to receive a doctorate in the United States. She was a notable educator for more that 50 years.

22. Adventist Women Pioneers First Half, 20th Century
L. Flora Plummer was director of the GC Sabbath School Department and editor of The Worker for 23 years.
Ana Stahl served as a pioneer missionary to South America for 29 years.
Minnie Sype was a pastor, evangelist, administrator, and missionary for 54 years.
Mary Walsh was an evangelist, pastor, and Bible worker. She wrote The Wine of Roman Babylon.

23. Adventist Women Pioneers Second Half, 20th Century
Answers: 1. Del Delker, 2. Leona Running
Can you tell which one of these women was not a pastor or evangelist?
Margaret Prange
Del Delker
Elsa Luukkanen
Ana Alvardo
Which of these women was NOT involved in the re-establishment of Women’s Ministries:
Rose Otis
Karen Flowers
Betty Holbrook
Leona Running

24. Adventist Women Pioneers Second Half, 20th Century
Answers: 1. Jessie Halliwell, 2. Lyn Behrens
Which of the following was NOT a division Women’s Ministries Director?
Jessie Halliwell
Rose Otis
Elazabeth Sterndale
Nancy Baasham
Which of the following was not a GC Departmental Director or Associate?
Carol Hetzell
Karen Flowers
Lyn Behrens
Shirley Burton

25. Overview of Women’s Ministries Programs and Resources
B. Overview of Women’s Ministries Programs and Resources
1. Scholarship Program. Most scholarships are funded by profits from the Women’s Ministries’ daily devotional books for women which have been published yearly since Hundreds of women from all over the world contributed daily devotionals for these books. Royalties have been assigned to the scholarship program.
Contributions are distributed directly to the educational institution involved. The money is divided among all the world divisions of the SDA Church.
Any woman who is planning to attend an SDA college in the division in which she lives may apply. Primary consideration is given to those in the last two years of college-level study. Scholarships are for those who would otherwise be unable to afford a Christian education. These are awarded on the basis of need, ability and the recipients determination to improve herself. She must be committed to serve the Lord in whatever way He directs and to be a part of the mission of the SDA Church.
2. International Women’s Day of Prayer. This is a day in March of each year when Women of most Christian denominations celebrate a day of prayer. Women usually plan a full day of prayer, meetings, and activities centered around a spiritual theme. A packet of materials is prepared by the General Conference department of Women’s Ministries for use on this day. It includes sermons, skits, liturgies, and prayer group ideas. This packet is prepared in English and sent out to the division directors at least 9 months in advance for translation and distribution.
3. Women’s Ministries Emphasis Day in June. The second Sabbath in June is usually designated on the church calendar as Womens Ministries Emphasis Day. Women usually plan a full day of meetings, seminars, and activities around a spiritual theme. It is also a day to report to the church on the activities of Women’s Ministries and to promote local projects. The General Conference Department of Women’s Ministries prepares a packet of materials for use on this day. It includes a variety of materials including sermons, skits, dialogues, liturgies, and program ideas.
Scholarship Program
International Women’s Day of Prayer in March
Women’s Ministries Emphasis Day in June

26. Overview of Women’s Ministries Programs and Resources
These materials are prepared in English and sent to division directors at least 9 months in advance for translation and distribution.
4. Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day. The fourth Sabbath of August was voted into the Church calendar as Abuse Prevention Emphasis Day in 2001 at Fall Council. A packet including sermons, brochures, a suggested Sabbath program, children’s story and much more, all focused on abuse, is prepared by the WM department at the General Conference and is for the use of the church congregation and those who need the caring, safe environment of the church.
5. PALS Program. PALS is an acronym for Prayer and Love Saves. This is a support program for parents whose children have turned away from God and/or the church. It is a complete seminar with a topic presentation, a group Bible study, discussion questions, prayer ideas, handouts, and ways to use the program. It has been given to every division and has been translated already into many languages. Each division also has a large prayer book in which are recorded names of children who need prayer. This is circulated by the director of each division and the names are prayed for on a regular basis both at the General Conference and in each division.
6. Women’s Ministries Handbook. This is a book that contains the mission statement, roles and objectives, philosophy and history of Women’s Ministries. It contains information on many ministries of Women’s Ministries and policies for the smooth running of the department. It also contains a listing of resources for the work of Women’s Ministries. The original handbook was revised in The division directors translate this in languages of her division as the need arises. It may be used as a guide for the development of a division or union handbook. It is the how-to-do-it guide for all Women’s Ministries directors and should be studied carefully.
7. Leadership Certification. The General Conference Department of Women’s Ministries produces a series of seminars to train women to fill leadership roles. This is a three-year-training program that continually recycles, thus providing continuing professional education and the development of women for leadership in women’s ministries as well as other areas of church work. The seminars can be used for leadership retreats, training programs at local churches, as well as for self-study by those who miss the group training sessions. Each seminar will contain material for a lecture as well as handouts, resource material, and overheads.
The total program has material for instruction in the following areas of Women’s Ministries leadership: History and Philosophy, Biblical Studies, People Skills/Personal Growth, Speaking Skills, Leadership Skills, Writing Skills, Nurture Projects, Outreach Projects.
The course outline with seminar descriptions has been given to each division director and the completed seminars will be supplied to each division for translation as they are completed. The first set of courses will be available early in 2002 and the subsequent two sets in 2003 and 2004.
EnditNow Campaign
PALS Program
Women’s Ministries Handbook
Leadership Certification

27. Resources Seminars Newsletter Devotional Book
So You Want to Begin a Literacy Program
Women’s Ministering Evangelism Manual
Women’s Ministries web site:
Abuse Emphasis brochure
8. Resource Materials. Here are some of the other resource materials available through the Department of Women’s Ministries. (This list is as of January 1998 and should be updated as needed by each division director listing what is available in your division).
a. Pamphlets. Pamphlets supplied by the General Conference Department of Women’s Ministries in English are as follows (Presenter: Please supply copies of each pamphlet for the students in your course):
1. Women’s Ministries: What It Is, What It Is Not
2. Adventist Women of Distinguished Service
3. Scholarship Program
4. Devotional Book Guidelines
5. How to Begin Women’s Ministries in the Local Church
6. Abuse Prevention brochures (6 in all)
7. Logo Guidelines
b. Books. The following books are published by the Women’s Ministries Department and are available in English.
1. When Your Child Turns From God. By Dorothy Eaton Watts. This is
a companion book for the PALS program, organized on the same general outline, but with 85% new material and new stories. It is for use by individuals rather than in a seminar support group. Published by the
Review and Herald Publishing Association, royalties go into the
Scholarship Fund.

28. Which WM Program or Resource Would Help?
You want to establish a support group to help parents whose children have wandered from God and the Church. __________________________
Which would give you ideas for nurture and outreach projects you could do? _____________
Where would you get ideas for program and resources available? _______________________
Where would you find information about the mission, purpose, goals, objectives, and philosophy of Women’s Ministries?