Departmental Policies
(From the 1997 -1998 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 six critical issues that were identified by the division Women's Ministries directors, and voted by the Women's Ministries Advisory, as being barriers preventing women from reaching their full potential: illiteracy, poverty, threats to health, length of workday and poor working conditions, abuse, 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.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Departmental Responsibilities

1. Assist divisions in achieving their objectives for the women in their constituency.
2. Advise and counsel divisions in the structure, organization, and direction of Women's Ministries.
3. Provide leadership training seminars and workshops for Women's Ministries personnel at the division level and, by division request to union personnel.
4. Develop manuals, training materials, and other program resource materials, in cooperation with the divisions, to meet the multicultural and multiethnic needs of women worldwide.
5. Heighten awareness of the talents and resources that women bring to the Church.
6. Assist women in identifying their spiritual gifts and inspire them to cultivate these gifts for use in the Church's global mission.
7. Promote spiritual growth among women in the World Church.
8. Reclaim women who have left the fellowship of the Church.
9. Assist in developing strategies that increase opportunities to win back children who no longer walk in the faith of Jesus.
10. Affirm women who serve the Church as laypersons, denominational employees, and in the ministry.
11. Promote education, spiritual growth, and bonding among young women in the Church.
12. Encourage Christian education for young women by providing scholarships through the division Department of Women's Ministries, as funds permit.
13. Identify opportunities for service and leadership in the Church.
14. Heighten awareness regarding the inclusion of women's perspectives in the decision-making process of the World Church (boards, committees, etc.).
15. Establish and maintain a close liaison with church leaders and administrators through frequent consultation.
16. Facilitate the building of networks among women in the world Church to encourage bonds of friendship and mutual support, and to encourage the creative exchange of ideas and information.
17. Encourage Seventh-day Adventist authors and editors to write on subjects that minister to women and to encourage women authors.
18. Maintain a statistical database in order to determine trends and give direction to the work of the department.
19. Recommend policy relative to Women's Ministries.

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

• 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.
• 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