A Prayer for Adventist Women

2010 was the year of the 59th Adventist General Conference Session. The Georgia International Convention Centre was the home of Adventism for nearly two weeks. There was representation from all over the world, North America, Canada, France, Spain, Italy, Guam, Thailand, Mauritius, Australia, Jamaica, India, Russia, you name a country and it was probably there.

For some, the 59th General Conference session will be remembered as the time that the church did not address the issue of women's ordination, leaving it off the agenda. It will also be remembered as a missed opportunity. However, it was also a session that will be remembered for the effort that the Adventist Women's Centre in raising the issue among delegates and visitors.

After it was announced that women's ordination would not be on the agenda, they spent the months running up to the session planning how to get their message out. They would design, make and distribute buttons (badges) to attendees.

There were two designs and I wish that I had one of each to share with you. Unfortunately I don't have one to show you. They were so very popular that the entire stock of one design was distributed on the very first day of the session. The second design quickly ran out too and they had to resort to printed paper versions to pin onto people's lapels.

The Adventist Women's Centre knew that this would be an issue that there would be great support for and, they weren't wrong.

In the absence of a badge, I want to leave you with a prayer that was printed on the back page of the spring 2010 addition of Spectrum Magazine;

Roll back the Stone

When we are all despairing;

When the world is full of grief;

When we see no way ahead;

And hope has gone away:

Roll back the stone

Although we fear change;

Although we are not ready for change;

Although we'd rather weep and run away

Roll back the stone

Because we're coming with the women;

Because we hope where hope seems vain;

Because you call us fro the grave

And show the way:

Roll back the stone

- Janet Morely, Methodist Church