Women’s Ordination Does It Matter? Clinton and Gina Wahlen Where do we go from here? In the early days, our pioneers heard each other out. They studied both sides of an issue before making any decisions. There was fairness in the process. If we earnestly pray for the Holy Spirit and are not immovably bound to our own ideas, God will lead us into unity in our understanding of Scripture. Many people wonder whether the ordination of women is important enough to risk splitting the church. They are asking important questions such as: • What, if anything, does the Bible have to say about the ordination of women? • Does it matter how we interpret the Bible? • Was Paul’s counsel limited to a certain time, place, and culture? • Must women keep silent in church? • Should each division of the world church decide the issue of women’s ordination for their territory? • What is the secret to our unity as a world church? This timely book addresses these questions and more in a reader-friendly way, backed by solid scholarship. “Thank you for the major contribution this book makes to the biblical foundation of God’s expressed will.” – Dr. George W. Reid, Director, Biblical Research Institute (1984-2001) “A must-read for all members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.” – Dr. Gerhard Pfandl, Associate Director (part-time), Biblical Research Institute “This book’s value transcends the current debate on the ordination of women, addressing the underlying question of methods of Bible study.” – Sikhu Hlatshwayo, Administrator, Center of Adventist Ministry to Public University Students (CAMPUS) “Refreshing clarity, fairness, and simplicity—the Question & Answer section is worth the price of the book.” – Dr. Ingo Sorke, Professor of Religion, Southwestern Adventist University “This must-read book offers fresh insight in a sensible and sensitive manner.” – Shelley Quinn, Best-Selling Author and 3ABN Program Development Manager About the Authors Clinton and Gina Wahlen have been ministering together for more than 30 years. Clinton is currently serving as an associate director of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He holds a Ph.D. in New Testament from Cambridge University, U.K. Gina currently serves the world church as editor of the Mission quarterlies. She holds an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Religious Communication from Andrews University. Bright Shores Publishing ISBN: 978-0-9962661-1-6 P. O. Box 4826 Silver Spring, MD 20914 www.womensordination.com Cover design by Haley Trimmer Interior design by Ken McFarland Copyright © 2015 by Clinton and Gina Wahlen Printed in the United States of America All Rights Reserved Bright Shores Publishing P. O. Box 4826 Silver Spring, MD 20914 www.womensordination.com Except where otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the New King James Ver- sion® (NKJV). Copyright © 1982 by Tomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All italics appearing in Scripture quotations are added for emphasis. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV® Bible (Te Holy Bible, En- glish Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version, public do- main. Scripture quotations marked NASB or NAS95 are taken from the New American Stan- dard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by Te Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org.) Scripture quotations marked NIV or NIV11 are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW IN- TERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-9962661-0-9 Contents Dedication ......................................................................................iv Acknowledgments .........................................................................v What Readers Are Saying...........................................................vii Introduction: Getting Started ...................................................xi 1. Same Bible—Different Answers? ..............................................13 2. Is Ordination Biblical? ................................................................ 19 3. Some Notable Women in the Bible ..........................................27 4. Te Husband of One Wife...Really? ..........................................37 5. Must Women Keep Silent? .........................................................51 6. Te Headless Horseman Rides Again ......................................55 7. But What About Ellen White? ...................................................69 8. A “Woman Ministry” ..................................................................93 9. What We Can Learn From Acts 15 ....................................... 111 10. Does the Bible Support Women’s Ordination? ................... 119 11. More Questions and Answers ................................................ 129 APPENDICES .................................................................................... 171 1. Consensus Statement on a Seventh-day Adventist Teology of Ordination ........................................................... 173 2. English Bible Translations of 1 Timothy 3:2 ........................ 175 3. Similarities Between 1 Timothy and Titus ........................... 180 4. Reply on Behalf of W. C. White Regarding Ellen G. White’s Credentials .................................................................. 182 5. Women Licensed as Adventist Ministers, 1869–1975....... 183 6. Teology of Ordination: Position No. 1 ................................ 185 7. Why the Tird Option Is Not an Option ............................. 197 8. Summary of Teology of Ordination Study Committee Presentations: Looking at All Sides of the Issue ................. 205 Dedication To our daughter Heather Grace Wahlen and all young women whose heart’s desire is to serve the Lord iv Acknowledgments his book represents the work of many minds, and grows out of many ideas and suggestions from members of the Gen- eral Conference Teology of Ordination Study Committee T(GC-TOSC), as well as countless interactions with colleagues and friends, including cordial discussions with members of the North American Division Teology of Ordination Study Committee (NAD-TOSC) and division Biblical Research Committees world- wide. A number of Bible scholars, teachers, pastors, and lay people have carefully read and contributed to this book. We would especially like to thank Dr. George Reid, Director of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) from 1984-2001 and Dr. Ger- hard Pfandl, long-time Associate Director of the Biblical Research Institute for their reading and endorsing of this book. We are also grateful to Dr. Ingo Sorke, Professor of Religion at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, for taking time from his busy teaching schedule to review the manuscript and write an endorsement. A special thank you to Pastor Jim Howard, member of GC- TOSC, for his very important contribution of Appendix 7, “Why the Tird Option Is Not an Option.” Tis valuable addition to our book summarizes the GC-TOSC paper, of which he was the prin- cipal author, that evaluates Position #3. We are grateful to Shelley J. Quinn, Speaker and Co-Director v for Word Warrior Ministries. In spite of a packed schedule, Shel- ley carefully read the manuscript and wrote an endorsement. As a best-selling Christian author and popular Bible teacher, Shelley Quinn travels extensively in the United States and international- ly, preaching the Gospel of Christ at revivals, retreats, and camp meetings. She works in program development at Three Angels Broadcasting Network and hosts Exalting His Word and many oth- er programs seen around the world on 3ABN. We want to thank Sikhu Hlatshwayo for her incisive comments and endorsement. Sikhu is a graduate of Wellesley College in Mas- sachusetts, has served as a campus chaplain, and is currently the Administrator for the Center for Adventist Ministry to Public Uni- versity Students (CAMPUS), in East Lansing, Michigan. An especially big thank you goes to our daughter, Heather Grace Wahlen, for meticulously going through the manuscript, asking helpful questions, checking readability, and for her proofreading accuracy. Heather Grace is currently studying at Fountainview Academy, in British Columbia, Canada, where she enjoys playing the piano and French horn with the internationally recognized and televised Fountainview Academy Orchestra and Singers. We deeply appreciate the many friends who have supported this book project with their encouragement, prayers, godly counsel, practical wisdom, and timely advice. Finally, we would like to thank you, the reader, for taking the time to carefully and prayerfully consider what is presented in this book. We are grateful to God for granting us the privilege of writ- ing it, and our sincere prayer is that you will find this material to be a blessing as you seek for clarity on the important issues presented here. vi What Readers Are Saying... From: George Reid, T.D. Director of the Biblical Research Institute (1984-2001) With this volume you have an unusual discussion by an internationally