Consider women in leadership.

Rose Otis was 12 years old when Velma Bevins, a young pastor’s wife, moved to her town in Michigan. 

“To me she was the epitome of a wholesome Christian woman. She was such a gracious woman,” Otis recalled. “She sang and talked up front. She was the first woman I wanted to emulate. I always saw her as someone who opened my eyes to being a woman of influence in the Adventist Church.”

For Otis, and many others like her, it was an aunt, a family friend, a Bible study teacher or a choir director who set the example of female leadership. Today, as leaders in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its affiliated organizations, five women shared with ANN their experiences on the way to these posts, their opinions on women leaders in the church, and advice for younger women who want to work for the church.

The Pioneer

In time Otis grew to serve the Adventist Church in several posts that were firsts for women. She was the first director for Women’s Ministries for the world church. She then became the first female vice president for the church in North America. As the first Women’s Ministries director, Otis spent six years laying the groundwork for the department.

“I tried to demonstrate how women could really lift the church, how many talents and gifts were not being utilized by not including women, and how they can be used if we only encouraged women more,” she said. “I saw lots of change in attitudes since I was there. Having Women’s Ministries programs has brought women out of the pews to organize initiatives from local church levels all the way to the world regional offices.”

The Administrator

As president and chief executive officer at St. Helena Adventist Hospital in California, JoAline Olson is well aware of what it means to be one of the few women in the upper echelons of an organization.

She says she and her husband try to teach their two teenage daughters that life is not limited by gender.

“The world is changing,” she said. “There are more and more women becoming CEOs of hospitals.

“But it is also important for women to exercise leadership wherever they are,” she continued. “Leadership isn’t just for certain defined roles. Lead where you are, lead out in your local church in Sabbath School or as a deaconess. Some of the most influential people are those in unofficial roles.”

The Advocate

Heather-Dawn Small’s career in leading out started when she was appointed to teach the kindergarten class at her local church. She was only 12-years-old. After years of taking on progressively more responsibility in her church, she made the decision in her first year of college to become a pastor. But it was 1977 and she was living on the Caribbean island of Trinidad where she was pressured to drop theology.

“At that time women who did theology could only become Bible workers, and I kept thinking it was unfair because to be a Bible worker you only need a two-year degree, but a theology degree meant four years of college,” she reminisced.

Small decided she never wanted to work for the church again. But here she is in 2006 serving as the director for Women’s Ministries for the world church.

“The Lord called me and I couldn’t say no,” she explained. In this role Small works with women all over the world, helping them find ways to contribute meaningfully to their churches. She encourages Adventist women to fully utilize their talents, provides leadership training and resource materials, and works closely with church administrators to learn how Women’s Ministries programs can complement and support existing programs in the church.

“The biggest obstacle to accepting women as leaders is our mindset,” said Small. “We need a change in mindset so that when we think of leadership, we don’t automatically think of men. We must re-frame our mindset to include women.”

She added, “When the first woman vice president was elected I was very surprised. I was elated and overjoyed. I definitely think it is a step in the right direction because what happens on the top levels of the church filters down.”

The Vice President

Reflecting on her historic appointment as the first female vice president for the Adventist world church, Dr. Ella Simmons said it truly signals hope for change.

“I never thought about coming to the [world church] and holding this position. I expected certain changes to occur but never thought they would include me,” said Simmons.

“We have to be willing to accept responsibility when it comes to an appointment set outside of our comfort zone, or we won’t have the right to speak out against injustice,” she said.

The Educator

Dr. Myrna Costa, president of Antillean Adventist University in Puerto Rico, agreed. She also advises other women who aspire to leadership to make sure God leads the way.

“The problem, as I see it, is that many women want to open their own doors, and that is when they fail. They open their own doors and when they fail, they blame the system or they blame others, but never themselves. My advice: be humble, prepare yourself academically, professionally and get enough experience; then do your job efficiently ... doors will open and opportunities will be offered. I believe if God wants us in positions, He will open the doors,” she concluded.