Mission Statement...

The Department of Women's Ministries exists to uphold, encourage, and challenge Adventist women in their pilgrimage as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His world church.

Our mission is in the larger sense common to all Christians -- that of uplifting Christ in the church and in the world. But more specifically, we are called to:

• elevate women as persons of inestimable worth because they have been created and redeemed
• enable women to deepen their faith and experience spiritual growth and renewal
• build networks among women in the world church to encourage bonds of friendship and mutual support and the creative exchange of ideas and information
• mentor young Adventist women, encouraging their involvement, and creating paths for them as they reach for their potential in Christ
• address the concerns of women in a global context
• bring women's unique perspectives to the issues facing the world church
• seek expanding avenues of dynamic Christian service for women
• challenge each Adventist woman with her potential to complement the gifts given to other women and men as they work side by side to further the global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church--

that out of the fullness we as women have personally found in Jesus Christ, we may be empowered to share the good news within our families, among our fellow believers, and in ever expanding circles in the unsaved world.

Department of Women's Ministries Church Manual Statement

Department of Women's Ministries—Church Manual Addition, from the 57th General Conference Session, July 7, 2000. Fourteenth Business Meeting Action.

The Department of Women's Ministries exists to uphold, encourage, and challenge Seventh-day Adventist women in their daily walk as disciples of Jesus Christ and as members of His World Church. The mission of Women's Ministries is, in the larger sense, common to all Christians—that of uplifting Christ in the church and in the world. In doing this, the ministry seeks to:

1. Foster spiritual growth and renewal among women;
2. Affirm that women are of inestimable worth by virtue of their creation and redemption, and to equip them for service in the church;
3. Minister to the broad spectrum of women's needs across the life span being sensitive to multi-cultural and multiethnic perspectives;
4. Liaise and cooperate with other specialized departments of the church to facilitate the ministry to women and of women;
5. Build goodwill among women in the World Church that encourages bonds of friendship, support for service, and the creative exchange of ideas and information
6. Mentor and encourage Seventh-day Adventist women, creating paths for their involvement in the church as they reach for their potential in Christ;
7. Find ways and means to challenge each Seventh-day Adventist woman to use her gifts to complement the talents of others as they work side by side to further the global mission of the Church.

Women's Ministries Leader

The Women's Ministries leader is elected by the church to develop specific ministries, to foster specific ministries, to nurture women, and to equip them for service to God and to the church. She serves as Chair of the Women's Ministries Committee, encouraging ideas and plans which maximize women's contributions to the mission of the Church. As Chair, she is responsible for putting together the agenda, moderating discussion, and developing group cohesion through personal sharing, prayer, and fellowship.

She also serves as a member of the church board, integrating activities and programs for women into the larger church program. It is her responsibility to keep the church informed of the contribution of Women's Ministries to church life. The leader's liaison for training and resource material is the local conference/mission/field Women's Ministries Director.

Qualifications of the Women's Ministries Leader--The Women's Ministries leader should be a woman with a sensitive, caring nature, a burden for women's ministry and concerns, a balance in her perspectives so as to represent a broad spectrum of women, and an ability to encourage other women to cultivate their spiritual gifts. She should be able to work well with the women in the church, the pastor, and the church board.

The Women's Ministries Committee--The Women's Ministries leader works with the pastor and church board to establish a Women's Ministries Committee to foster a ministry to women in the church. This committee should be composed of persons interested in the broad spectrum of women's needs and services. To form a balanced team, the members should be persons with varied talents and experience. The major responsibilities of the Women's Ministries Committee will be the following:

• To assess the needs of women in the local church and community, by utilizing surveys and interviews, and in counsel with the pastor and church leaders;
  
• To brainstorm, develop strategies, and cooperate with other specialized departments of the Church to foster programs and activities which minister to women;
  
• To plan and implement these and other initiatives which relate to women's specific and varied needs, in cooperation with the pastor, departmental specialists, and other church leaders;
  
• To facilitate local church participation in annual programs and activities initiated by the conference/union/division/ General Conference such as the International Women's Day of Prayer, Women's Ministries Day, and small group ministries to support and encourage them in service. Information regarding these programs is available through the conference/mission Department of Women's Ministries.
  

The Women's Ministries leader is also added to the church board (Church Manual page 79), The Lay Activities Council (Church Manual page 87), and the list of those who should be dealt with by the nominating committee (Church Manual pages 128-130).

Departmental Policies

(From the 2002-2003 GC Working Policy)

PHILOSOPHY
The Department of Women's Ministries is committed to encouraging, challenging, equipping, and nurturing Seventh-day Adventist women as they do their part in carrying the Gospel message to the world.

"The Lord has a work for women as well as for men. They may take their places in His work at this crisis, and He will work through them .... They can do in families a work that men cannot do, a work that reaches the inner life. They can come close to the hearts of those whom men cannot reach. Their labor is needed ." -- Welfare Ministry, p 145.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The primary purpose of the Department of Women's Ministries is to nurture, facilitate, and support women in their Christian lives as disciples of Jesus Christ and members of His world Church. In consultation with administration and other departments of the Church, the department shares the responsibility for developing a global evangelistic strategy and provides training to equip the women of the church to uplift Christ in the Church and in the world.

"... we may do a noble work for God if we will. Woman does not know her power ... There is a higher purpose for woman, a grander destiny. She should develop and cultivate her powers, for God can employ them in the great work of saving souls from eternal ruin."-- Testimonies for the Church, vol 4, p 642.

The Department of Women's Ministries will focus on the following six critical issues that have been identified as barriers preventing women from reaching their full potential: illiteracy, poverty, risks to health, abuse, length of workday and poor working conditions, and the need for training and mentoring for greater involvement in the mission of the Church.

OBJECTIVES
In order to fulfill the purpose of the Department of Women's Ministries, eight objectives have been identified by which the women in the Church may be empowered to share the good news within their families, among their fellow believers, and in ever expanding circles in the unsaved world.

1. Elevate women as persons of inestimable worth by virtue of their creation and redemption.
2. Enable women to deepen their faith and to experience spiritual growth and renewal.
3. Underscore the broad spectrum of needs and concerns of women across the life span from multicultural and multiethnic perspectives.
4. Liaison and cooperate with other specialized departments of the church to meet the needs of women.
5. Build networks among women in the World Church that encourage bonds of friendship, mutual support, and creative exchange of ideas and information.
6. Mentor and encourage young Adventist women, creating paths for their involvement in the Church as they reach for their full potential in Christ.
7. Bring women's unique perspectives on issues facing the Church to decision making bodies.
8. Seek expanding avenues of dynamic Christian service for women, challenging each Adventist woman to use her gifts to complement the talents of others as they work side by side to further the global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

DEPARTMENTAL STAFFING

Director and Associate Directors
The Department of Women's Ministries shall have a director and associate directors as needed. Qualified personnel shall be elected on the basis of their expertise and experience to care for the activities and responsibilities encompassed by the work of the department.

Specific Responsibilities
Each individual shall have specific responsibilities and assignments, which will be made known to other appropriate levels of Church organization.

Responsibilities of Director

1. The departmental director or designee shall chair the Women's Ministries Advisory. The director will maintain continuous contact with the staff and coordinate staff functions.
2. The director shall represent, and serve as advocate for, departmental goals, programs, and activities to the administrative bodies of the Church; shall represent administrative viewpoints to the departmental staff; and shall serve as liaison between other departments and the Department of Women's Ministries