When we read Ellen White in context, she confirms what Scripture teaches. Men are the heads and priests of their families, and that headship role carries over into the church, to the male office of elder/overseer. Ellen White does not contradict Scripture on the roles of the sexes in the church, but rather fleshes them out, suggesting ways that women should be involved in a ministry that will complement the ministry of the male elders/overseers.
Read MoreHalting between two opinions
Perhaps the most significant development of the fourth and final meeting of the General Conference Theology of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC) was the development, by a recently-formed group within the Committee, of a “third way” or “moderate option."
Read MoreSurprise “third way” option emerges at final TOSC Meeting
The headline depends upon how one aggregates the votes. A clear majority—54 to 40—believes that the Bible teaches an ideal of male leadership. But the news being trumpeted in the church's liberal precincts is that an even larger majority—62 to 32—believes that unions should be allowed to independently decide the issue of female ordination.
Read MoreRoundup of divisional reports on female ordination
About a year prior to the first meeting of the Theology of Ordination Study Committee (TOSC), each of the biblical research committees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's 13 divisions were tasked with producing its own report. Some of the divisions did not have a biblical research committee, and so some committees were formed for this specific project.
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