Does the SDA church ordain women?

Following the controversy of Seventh Day Adventist church banning popular pastor Elizabeth Mokoro from preaching and later reinstating her, a debate raged on in various platforms about the ordination of female pastors in the SDA church.

According to the General Conference, which is the coordination hub of Seventh Day Adventists, ordination of female elders, associates in pastoral care and pastoral ministry was adopted as a policy in 1999.

In 2010, the president of the General Conference Jan Paulsen surveyed 13 world divisions in a bid to confirm their position on ordination of women and all the unions under the Trans European Division unanimously accepted that there were no biblical reasons to not ordain women.

Between 2013 and 2014 a panel was commissioned by the General Conference to examine the issue of ordaining women. Their conclusion after review and debate was that the bible does not forbid women from serving as church pastors.  

SDA church lifts ban on suspended pastors

The preaching ban placed on Pastor Elizabeth Mokoro, Pastor Kenneth Maina, Shaban Ndenge, Evangelist Millicent Odhiambo and Evangelist Lantena by the Seventh Day Adventist Church was lifted last week. However, the reason for the suspension was not explicitly stated.

The KCF (Kenya Coast Field) Executive Secretary, Pastor Eliab Ombuoro, wrote a letter on July 10, formally withdrawing the previous suspension order and instructing all receivers to ignore it.

“In reference to our letter dated July 4, 2024 on the above subject matter quoted, we wish to state that the letter is hereby withdrawn until advised otherwise. For those who might have read the letter, we request that you disregard it,"  the letter reads.

In a notice on the ban issued on July 4, Ombuoro said "Kindly note this is an adoption of the East Kenya Union Conference action for the above-mentioned not to serve as stated It is our hope that the above communication will be adhered to." the executive secretary, said.

However, in a U-turn, the SDA Church Kenya Coast Field lifted the ban on the five pastors. The official letter revoking the suspension was signed by Pastor Eliab Ombuoro, the KCF Executive Secretary. Members of the church can now welcome Pastor Mokoro and the rest to minister in their branches.