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Women in Ministry

Women History Commission - The Unfolding Mystery of "Yes"

The Women's History Commission of the Evangelical Covenant Church released their latest book, "The Unfolding Mystery of "Yes"; Women Who Were Forces for Change" during Triennial XII. Five of the sixteen women featured in the book were in attendance at the international women's conference and were honored by the commission.

Ruth Hill, Executive Minister of Women Ministries writes, "They are women who recognized the voice of their Master, calling them to press against doors that were as yet untired, or at times even determinedly closed to them."

Glenn Palmberg, President of the Covenant writes, "In a church that affirms the gifts and call of God to both women and men, this is an important book." 

Philip J. Anderson, Professor of Church History at North Park Theological Seminary writes, "The Women's History Commissions has produced yet another compelling series of essays on women who have impacted the church by responding to God's call on their lives, often with extraordinary courage and determination in the face of obstacles rooted in cultural patterns limiting women."

The book is a must read on the impact of women on the Covenant denomination and can be purchased through Women Ministries for $12.00

"A Biblical and Theological Basis for Women in Ministry"

The following is just the opening and closing paragraphs of an 11 page Occasional Paper published by Covenant Publications. The entire paper can be obtained from Covenant Bookstore here.

"At its 1976 Annual Meeting The Evangelical Covenant Church voted to go on record as favoring the ordination of women. At the 1981 Annual Meeting a motion to rescind that action was overwhelmingly defeated. However, some Covenant people still question the role of women in the ordained ministry. ... " 

"...The ministry of the Church is an enormous and sometimes difficult task. The gifts and abilities of women are needed as much as those of men. Women will encounter the same kinds of problems that men do, but the Church cannot afford to erect additional obstacles that will inhibit their ministry. It is time to let the Sprit of God work through all God's people, including women. Enjoying the freedom of the Sprit will not only mean that women are allowed to minister, but that God's people will also allow themselves to be ministered to by all those who are gifted and called by God."

"This statement was prepared for the Board of the Ministry of The Evangelical Covenant Church by a committee consisting of Robert Johnston, Jean Lambert, David Scholer, and Klyne Snodgrass. The original draft, biblical translations, and the subsequent editing were done by Klyne Snodgrass. The statement was approved by the Board on October 19, 1984 and was subsequently revised after discussion with the Covenant Ministerium and then was approved again by the Board of Ministry on February 12, 1987."