1
Name five women in the Bible who played an important role in God’s plan of salvation. Discuss their contribution.
2
Name three women (other than Ellen White) God used during the Millerite movement to help proclaim the end-time message of Christ’s soon return. Learn and share about the Second Great Awakening and how religious revivalism created opportunities for women to share the gospel.
3
List various ways that Ellen White’s contributions as both a woman and a prophet shaped Adventism. Joel 2:28-30 describes that both men and women will do what during the latter days? How do Seventh-day Adventists see this as being fulfilled through the prophetic ministry of Ellen White?
4
Research the ideologies and social changes, such as the Cult of Domesticity and Women’s Suffrage Movement, that occurred during the 1840s through the 1920s. How did early Seventh-day Adventists respond to these viewpoints? Discuss how Ellen White mediated between these two viewpoints to both elevate the role of women in the home while empowering them to be educated and think for themselves.
5
Study Sarah A. Hallock Lindsey, who was the first woman in Seventh-day Adventist history to hold a ministerial license:
You can find more information on the life of Sarah in the online Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists.
5a
Where was she born and raised?
5c
Describe her call to ministry.
5d
Give some examples from her ministry of her desire to win souls.
6
Study the life of Sarepta Myrenda (Irish) Henry:
You can find more information on the life of Sarepta in the online Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists.
6a
Where was she born and raised?
6b
With what reform activity was she involved?
6d
Describe her efforts to involve women in the church.
7
Study Flora Plummer who was the first woman to serve as a conference president:
7a
Where was she born and raised?
7b
What ways did she contribute to the church as an administrator?
7c
What books did she write along with her other contributions through writing and editing?
8
Review the story of Irene Morgan, whose refusal to give up her seat on a bus served as a catalyst for the start of the civil rights movement in the United States.
You can find more information on the life of Irene in the online Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists.
8a
Where was she born and raised?
8b
How did her civil disobedience contribute to the history of race relations in the United States?
8c
How did this Supreme Court decision play a part in the American Civil Rights movement?
8d
What other key roles did women play in the waves of social movements and change?
9
Identify and describe the contributions of three of the following early Adventist women who served actively in evangelism or in the development of the Adventist organization:
9d
Marinda (Minnie) Day Sype
9f
Nellie Rankin Druillard
9g
Maria L. Huntley (1848-1890)
10
How have women in different parts of the world been able to earn the right to vote and participate in society? How have the rights of women changed over time?
11
Research the historical movement known as "Bible women" and the role they played in the expansion of Seventh-day Adventist missions. Share a devotional or Sabbath School presentation on any of the following influential Seventh-day Adventist women who participated in mission service.
11a
Georgia Burrus Burgess
11c
Jessie Rowley Halliwell
11f
Violet Minnie Jane Hawkins Crisler
11g
Charlotte "Vera" Chilton
11i
Olga Bertina Osnes Oss
11j
Petra Tunheim Skadsheim
11c
Jessie Rowley Halliwell
11m
Another example as approved by your instructor
12
Research in detail the life and contributions of any of the following more recent Adventist women who have had an impact on the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Present your findings in a creative manner (skit, video, slide presentation, song, tri-fold display, scrapbook, etc.).
12a
Josephine Benton (first woman to be ordained as a local church elder in 1975, college professor)
12b
Pauline Schilberg (missionary and first woman to teach Biblical languages at the Foreign Missionary Seminary)
12c
Leona Glidden Running (distinguished academic and seminary professor)
12d
Elizabeth Sterndale (first director of women's ministries for the North American Division)
12e
B. Lyn Behrens (Australian physician, professor of pediatrics and first female president of Loma Linda University)
12f
Ardella Vernell "Del" Delker (musician and contralto soloist for the Voice of Prophecy radio program with 70 albums)
12g
Louise C. Kleuser (promoter of evangelism and women in ministry)
12h
Ruth Janetta Temple (first Black graduate from Loma Linda University School of Medicine and first Black female physician licensed in California; lifelong public health advocate)
12i
Betty Ahnberg (pioneered religious radio programming for children as "Aunt Sue" in "Your Story Hour")
12j
Eva Beatrice Dykes (first Black woman to earn a PhD from Radcliffe College, educator, first Black woman to complete the requirements for this degree in the United States; chair of the English Department and the Division of Humanities at Oakwood College)
12c
Leona Glidden Running (distinguished academic and seminary professor)
12l
Hong Xiao Mei (pastor and evangelist who raised up a large church congregation and training center in China)
12m
Hao Ya Jie (pastor of Shenyang Seventh-day Adventist Church in China, largest SDA church in the world)
12n
Hyveth Williams (first Black woman to serve as the sole pastor and as director of Andrews University’s Doctor of Ministry program)
12o
Nancy Vyhmeister (first woman to be editor of Andrews University Seminary Studies, seminary professor)
12p
Lisa M. Beardsley-Hardy (first woman to direct the General Conference Department of Education)
12q
Andrea Luxton (first woman to be president of Andrews University, as well as Newbold College and Burman University; General Conference associate director of education)
12r
Ginger Ketting-Weller (first woman to be president of Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies in the Philippines)
12s
Ella Lousie Smith Simmons (first woman to be a General Conference vice-president, elected in 2005, previously educator and university administrator)
12t
Another example as approved by your instructor
13
Do one of the following as a presentation for an Adventist Youth/Pathfinder/Church meeting, or equivalent (in addition to those researched earlier):
- Create a display of pictures, articles, and resource materials about five significant Seventh-day Adventist women for your local church or school.
- Find three positive examples of women in the Bible and write a one-page review of each story.
- Prepare a sermon about an important female role model in the Bible to be shared, in consultation with your local pastor, with your local church.
- Develop a set of trading cards (minimum 10) featuring influential women from Seventh-day Adventist church heritage.
- Research your local church’s history by reading articles in the old Reviews, Union paper, church board minutes, or old church bulletins or newsletters to discover what leadership roles women have played.
References