Exploring Race, Gender, and Unity in the Adventist Church
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Southern is notorious for its large population of international students. The photos below help paint a picture of just how diverse our campus is, providing information on all of the cultures represented at our school and a list of the top 5 most common ethnicity’s on campus.
The topic of women’s ordination within the Seventh-day Adventist church has been a controversial one for decades. Although it may seem like the church is completely against it, a study written by Ed Mcfield, associate professor at LLU School of Public Health, states otherwise.
In the document, Mcfield states that out of 13 divisions, seven of them indicated support of women’s ordination. There were five divisions that opposed it. Out of those five, four of the divisions stated that they would accept women being ordained only if it was approved by the church. The East-Central Africa Division’s stance on the issue is unclear. Interestingly, there was only one division — Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Division — that was “adamantly opposed to Women’s Ordination and even proposes to rescind women’s ordination for elders.”
As time goes on, women’s ordination may no longer be taboo within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Because of this, I wanted to reach out to women who are currently studying ministry at an SDA institution and ask them a few questions. Meet the future women leaders of our church.
Meet Hormar Barboza:
Hormar Barboza is currently a junior at Southern Adventist University. She is majoring in pastoral care.
It was a Sabbath evening when she felt the Lord calling her to ministry. Only 16 at the time, Hormar said, “As I was getting home I remember thinking it and feeling it.”
This moment occurred in 2005. At that time, she knew that women going into ministry was taboo. She clearly remembers thinking that if she were a guy, she would go into ministry.
“I pushed the thought of ministry out of my mind because I was a girl,” she said.
Barboza believes that, overall, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is supportive of women as pastors/religious leaders.
“Let’s not get stuck on the trivial stuff,” she said.
Barboza feels the topic of women’s ordination is taking people’s attention away from the church’s goal and the Gospel.
In the future, she sees herself working primarily as a chaplain, whether it be at a hospital or the military. With excitement, she shared that her ultimate career goal is to serve the Lord as the U.S. Senate Chaplain.
When finishing up the interview with Hormar, I asked her what would she say to younger girls that are wanting to pursue ministry.
She quickly replied, “Go for it. Do not doubt God’s call.”
Meet Claudia Reyes:
Claudia Reyes is finishing up her senior year at Southern Adventist University. While at SAU, she has been studying pastoral care. It all started while in high school. During that time, Claudia’s father began working as a chaplain at Florida Hospital (now AdventHealth) in Apopka, Florida.
Chaplain Reyes was a part of a hospital ministry that set out to sing and bring flowers to patients most Fridays. She recalls how shy she was the first time she went, but she quickly fell in love with it and never missed a Friday.
Because of her experience with this ministry, Claudia felt impressed by the Holy Spirit to go into ministry. This was not something she ever saw herself studying, but the conviction was strong and it led her to Southern. Something that has made the process of studying ministry easier has been the support that she’s received from her professors.
One of the changes that Claudia would like to see within the church is more culturally diverse women going into ministry. She’d like to see more Hispanic. African American, and Asian women. Being Hispanic herself, Claudia understands how going into ministry isn’t a norm in her culture.
“I’ve noticed in Hispanic churches it isn’t as accepted [compared to American/Caucasian churches],” she said. ” I want them to be more accepting.”
Claudia’s career plans are clearly defined. She wishes to work in a hospital and is setting her sights on AdventHealth in Central Florida. Starting off as a chaplain, and eventually, when she’s had more experience, being able to transition into a supervisor position.
Reyes wants young girls that are thinking about ministry to not be discouraged. People will give their opinions but she recommends not letting it distract them.
“God will bless you for following and listening to him,” she said. “Stick to what God has called you to do.”
Meet Jaude Valentine:
Jaude Valentine is also a senior at Southern Adventist University and is majoring in ministerial theology.
From the moment of her conversion, Jaude knew that she wanted to share the good news with others, though initially thinking she’d do so through Bible- teaching or nursing. God had other plans — calling her to ministry.
At first, Jaude felt “it was a crazy idea and that it required a very special girl to want to go into pastoral ministry.” Such feelings of denial followed her to Southern but eventually wore off.
Although she’d like to see the support of women in ministry, Jaude feels the debate has led to the church neglecting the ministry that God called it to do. Shifting the focus to reach those who have never heard the name of Jesus is a change she feels is necessary.
“I would like to see our church take on a culture of evangelism, specifically friendship evangelism,” she said.
When asked what she would say to younger girls wanting to pursue ministry, Valentine said she would encourage them to read more of Ellen White’s writings for encouragement.
Also, she would tell them to “rely upon God for their strength, which comes from spending time with Him in prayer and meditating upon His love; reading His word, and developing a deeply intimate relationship.”
“Does anyone remember what they were doing on July 7th, 2016?”
This was the opening statement of Dr. Brian H. Williams, the speaker for last week’s convocation at Southern Adventist University.
On July 7th, 2016 in Downtown Dallas, a black U.S. Army veteran attacked white police officers who were providing security during a peaceful rally that was taking place. Williams shared his experience and explained that he was one of the surgeons on call by coincidence that day in the hospital. He told of the unforgettable memory and explained how he felt at that moment. Being the only black surgeon on call that night, he felt the pressure and all the eyes of the media on him, especially because the patients were white police officers.
In his talk, Williams touched on the issues regarding racial prejudice in the lives of minority. He is a trauma surgeon at Parkland Memorial Hospital , a speaker and an activist that talks about topics that aren’t comfortable to all audiences. On his official website, he is described as a speaker who tackles the tough topics head-on, “aiming to inspire empathy and action in his audiences…Dr. Williams shares insights on resilience and racial justice.”
Williams continued the thought by sayings that in that moment, he felt like it didn’t matter what the color of his skin was nor what the color of the injured people were. He was there for one purpose, to save their lives. Williams acknowledged that back in 2016, after the shootings, many people began to form Black lives matter movements, along with White lives matter and All lives matter. Williams shared his thoughts on the movements stating, “Do all lives matter? Of course they do, however, we have to recognize that some lives are given more importance than others.”
He talked about other things he experienced in the field such as racial prejudice and being left out of class and work activities because of his skin color. One of the memories he talked about had a happy ending. He spoke of his days in college when he was in med school. He had continuously felt left out of the scene and never felt welcome, until one white woman stood up for him by telling the others in the group that Williams was also part of the group. After that day, he was more engaged and felt part of the group because one person had stepped up and made a difference in his life.
Williams closed his talk saying, “It takes all of us coming together to make a difference. If you are not a minority, be conscious of what you say and what you do. If you are a minority, think of what you are going to say and what you are going to do.”
When I was 11 years old, my world was turned upside down. Up until that time, I had spent most of my life in Chile – a place where my family and I were foreigners, but we still called home. I embraced the environment that surrounded me and celebrated the same traditions as my friends.
Everything changed in 2009 when my family decided to move to the Philippines.
I felt completely lost. Everything, from the language to the food, was different. It was an immense cultural shock that left me crying for some normality.
What made things even more difficult, however, was that the shock came from various cultures, not just the Filipino one.
My father was a professor at an international institution, where than 50 countries were represented. Many families – – just like mine — had been living in their home countries, emerged in their cultures. They had just moved to a new environment, which became a melting pot.
For a long time, it was a struggle. Yet, as time progressed, I actually learned to appreciate the various cultures around me as much as my own.
Here are five steps that helped me do so. And I hope they help you, too.
This may sound silly, or even counterproductive (why am I looking at my culture when I am trying to learn about a different one?). But getting to know one’s own culture is the first crucial step to take when learning to appreciate others. We may not always realize it, but the culture in which we are raised has helped shape the way we view the world. Our opinions, assumptions and even the way we think is somehow shaped by the customs we follow.
There are certain things we may scorn because our own culture has taught us to do so. For example, why was I disgusted when someone would slurp on their soup? Because in my culture that is impolite to do. But just because it is rude in my culture does it actually make it wrong? If we understand from where that judgment originates, then we open ourselves to see things from a different perspective.
Ask yourself:
How has my worldview been affected by my culture?
What part of my culture is holding me back from understanding someone else’s?
Quote:
“Your culture is your limit; if you can’t go beyond it you will remain as a frog of your little lake.” – Mehmet Murat Ildan
One of the things that bothered me in the Philippines was having to take off my shoes whenever I went to a friend’s house. What if their floor was dirty? What if my feet got cold? What was the point of all this fuss?
To me it was ridiculous. Then I learned that in many Asian cultures home is viewed as one’s private space and traditionally history most things were done on the floor (Yes, even eating and sleeping). So, the fact that someone is inviting you to their personal space, means they are opening themselves to you. Taking off your shoes means that you appreciate and respect that act of kindness.
If we do not try to learn about someone’s culture, then we will miss the chance of seeing the beauty behind each tradition.
Ask yourself: What can someone’s culture teach me about the person?
How will understanding their culture help me see the beauty in their traditions?
Quote:
“When you learn something from people, or from a culture, you accept it as a gift and it is your lifelong commitment to preserve it and build on it” – Yoyo Ma
Growing up, I was a picky eater. That is why my first potluck in the Philippines consisted of me wrinkling my nose as I scanned all the dishes I knew I was not going to eat. This was the first time I had seen food from places such Thailand, Kenya or China. The food looked weird; it looked different. Even with the variety of choices, I ended up having what my mom had brought.
Now, imagine my surprise when I tried all those different foods and found out how delicious they actually were. Soon enough, dumplings, pancit, tkeok-bokki, curry and chapatti became my favorite meals. But even more importantly, I became a fan of trying new cuisine.
One of my personal and favorite theories is that to truly know a country’s culture you have to try their street food. Yet, this was something I would have never discovered if I had not allowed myself to try.
Ask yourself: What could I be missing because I am not trying? What choices could I make to change that?
Quote:
“Never be afraid of trying something new, because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know” – Unknown
I respected other traditions
While I tried to learn and appreciate other cultures, there were certain things that I could not fully comprehend. I learned that we are all unique and hold various viewpoints.
Disagreements are bound to occur. However, it is important to realize that though we may different times, it does not give us the right to disrespect other people or their cultures.
No culture is superior to another. Despite what ethnocentrism tries to teach, all cultures hold the same value and are special in their own ways.
Ask yourself: Do I want others to respect me and my culture? Am I showing that kind of respect to those who are different from me?
Quote:
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde
One of the cultures I had the hardest time relating to was the Korean culture. Though I had tried my best to enjoy the traditions, it just seemed like I could never quite get there.
A majority of my classmates were Koreans, and whenever I was around them I felt lost and out of place. I respected them, but I still was unable to appreciate their traditions like I appreciated others.
Then during my freshman year of high school, I became friends with a girl named Deborah. I did not know it then, but she would become one of my dearest friends. Talking to her did not only give me the chance to get to know her as a person but also a chance to see the Korean culture in a new light.
Ask yourself: What have I learned from the friends I already have? How can I expand my circle of friends?
Quote:
“Every person is a new door to a different world.” – Unknown
By Gia Arroyo
It is difficult to remember what life was like before my dad was a pastor. There is no point in me trying to recall because I was so small when he started.
My life has always been surrounded by church-related events — the whole routine of constantly being part of a congregation is normal.
The memories include spending hours after school in the sanctuary doing homework while my dad was in meetings, my dad stepping out and driving me to the McDonald’s across the street, and then rushing back to a meeting.
Once I finished my homework, I’d crawl under the church pews and count how many pieces of gum were stuck underneath. Sometimes I’d quietly stand behind the pulpit and mimic my dad.
Sabbath mornings were a rush for me. I would wake up early and leave for church with my father. I would follow him as he passed by each Sabbath School class, wishing everyone a “Happy Sabbath.”
My mother and I always sat in the front row to listen Dad preach. I loved how passionate he got when he’d read a verse. His analogies were often silly, but they helped get his point across. His energy behind the pulpit was something I looked up to.
Last year, my Dad decided to look for a slower-paced occupation. For the sake of his wellbeing and health, he wanted a 9 to5 job. A part of me was very happy for him. He was a hard worker and deserved to disconnect from work when he got home.
The other half of me took it really hard.
If I’m being honest, I still haven’t accepted it. Being a pastor’s kid was a part of my identity. My father’s retirement from pastoring was a tough pill for me to swallow.
It happened at the same time that was getting ready to leave for SAU. So, I was faced with a challenge once I arrived at Collegedale. What is church without my dad?
Any church without him seemed bleak. I wasn’t interested in going. I only went to vespers ’cause I needed the credit.
There was not a connection between God and me. So I stopped going to church for a year and a half. I wasn’t open to looking for a new church home because I believed I wouldn’t find one that made me feel good.
But, during this time away from church, I began to feel the negative impact of not going.
My goal for 2019 is to go back to church. Although we’re only a couple months into the year, I have been consistently church-hopping and trying to find my place.
I wish I could say that this story has a perfect ending, but I guess it doesn’t — at least not yet.
I am trying to be consistent, but my motivation to attend services comes in waves. I realize that I need to take care of my relationship with God. I’m determined to go to church.
I just have to learn to appreciate church without my dad.
It is difficult to remember what life was like before my dad was a pastor. There is no point in me trying to recall because I was so small when he started. My life has always been surrounded by church-related events; the whole routine of constantly being part of a congregation is normal.
The memories include: Spending hours after school in the sanctuary, and doing homework while my dad was in meetings. My dad driving me to the McDonald’s across the street and then rushing back to a meeting.
Once I finished my homework, I’d crawl under the church pews and count how many pieces of gum were stuck underneath. Sometimes I’d quietly stand behind the pulpit and mimic my dad.
Sabbath mornings were a rush for me. I would wake up early and leave for church with my father. I would follow him as he passed by each Sabbath School class, wishing everyone a “Happy Sabbath.”
My mother and I always sat in the front row to listen to him preach. I loved how passionate he got when he’d read a verse. His analogies were often silly, but they helped get his point across. His energy behind the pulpit was something I looked up to.
Last year, my Dad decided to look for a slower-paced occupation. For the sake of his wellbeing and health, he wanted a 9 to 5 job. A part of me was very happy for him. He was a hard worker and he deserved to disconnect from work when he got home. The other half of me took this really hard. If I’m being honest, I still haven’t accepted it. Being a pastor’s kid was a part of who I was. This was a tough pill for me to swallow. It happened at the same time as I got ready to leave the house and move to SAU.
I was faced with a challenge once I arrived at Collegedale. What is church without my dad? Any church without him seemed bleak. I wasn’t interested in going. I only went to vespers ’cause I needed the credit.
There was not a connection between me and God. Because of this, I stopped going to church for a year and a half. I wasn’t open to looking for a new church. I believed that I wouldn’t find one that made me feel good. During this time away from church, I felt the negative impacts of not going.
My goal for 2019 is to go back to church. Although we’re only a couple months into the year, I have been consistently church-hopping and trying to find my place. I wish I could say that this story has a perfect ending, but I guess it doesn’t — at least not yet.
I am trying to be consistent, but my motivation to attend services comes in waves. I realize that I need to take care of my relationship with God. I’m determined to go to church. I just have to learn how to do church without my dad.
Church photos by FernandezMedia
Before dating someone, there is a lot of thought that goes into that decision. After all, every relationship is full of potentials: potential break-ups, potential dates, potential memories, potential engagements, potential families, potential tears, potential laughs. And, if you are blessed enough, there’s a potential happily-ever-after.
No two people are alike, which is why relationships in themselves are hard. Adding another layer of dissimilarity, then, may make things even more difficult.
I recently conducted a survey trying to find out a bit more about one of those extra possible layers. There were 103 participants, and I asked them all the same question:
Before sharing the results (and voting for yourself), you should understand the definition of ethnicity. According to CliffsNotes:
Ethnicity is shared cultural practices, perspectives, and distinctions that set apart one group of people from another.
It is important to note that ethnicity is not the same thing as race. While race deals with the physical characteristics of a person, ethnicity has to do with their cultural traditions.
Loading ...Though I was not expecting any particular answer, I was still surprised by the results. Out of 103 people, 57.3 percent said that they would rather date someone of similar ethnicity while 42.7 percent said the opposite. This means that, if having to choose, the majority (59 individuals, to be precise) would choose to be with someone who has similar customs and perspectives.
What I found more interesting, however, was the reasoning behind their answers. Those who wanted to date within their own ethnicity speculated that the differences between cultures would cause profuse misunderstandings. In a way, many were afraid of the possible cultural shock. It seems easier to be with someone who has common values as it avoids the need for compromise.
“Sometimes being different causes drifts between individuals, ”one participant wrote.
There was a pattern, however, that stood out the most. On the one hand, it seemed like those who chose to date someone of a similar ethnicity were thinking of long-term plans when they made their decision. On the other hand, those who picked someone of a different ethnic background made their choice based on the “now.”
For the latter, they thought it would be amusing to learn about different cultures, try different foods, or even pick up another language. Though all great things, these responses reflect the fun of the moment. Contrastingly, the first group worried about the cultural disagreements that may arise once the relationship developed into something bigger.
Different cultures have different customs and values. Things that may seem insignificant, like where to go for holidays or what to eat at home, can cause disagreements. Other things, however, such as the right way to discipline children or handle money, has the potential to completely destroy a relationship.
There was no right or wrong answer to this survey. However, I was bothered by people’s unwillingness to compromise. Even as I thought of my own answer, I realized that I also have some set perspectives that I do not want to change.
Now, don’t get me wrong. We all have fundamental values and beliefs that should not, under any circumstances, be compromised. But ethnicity should complement one another, not challenge each other’s distinctions.
Why is it that many of us believe that, in the long run, cultural differences cannot work ? Why is it so hard for us to see a future with someone who was not raised in the same way? I think this is a lesson for me and everyone else.
Relationships may come with potentials, but which potential wins should depend on the individuals, not on the factors surrounding them.
Natalia Perez
When I was 16, I got my first job at McDonald’s. I was determined to start my own savings and be able to purchase most of my own things.
I saw a lot of different types of people on the job: druggies, frazzled moms, dads who would tell me their life stories while I rang up their fries, and middle-aged Hispanic men or young black men who would question me on my ethnicity.
“So. like, you’re not black, right?”
“Are you, like, mixed?”
And the dreaded: “I figured you couldn’t be black, you’re so pretty.”
And the: “Oh wow, you’re pretty for a black girl.”
(for a black girl? I’m sorry, what?)
The first time I heard it was like a punch to the face by a stranger (literally, but with words). Like, how do I make him aware that he just verbally punched me when he thinks what he said is a compliment?
For years, I’ve just kinda shrugged it off, seemed as if I didn’t really understand what the person was saying, and just moved the conversation literally anywhere else.
The standards of beauty and intelligence that have been praised and cultivated by the colonizer have then been adopted and cultivated by the colonized.
Issues of colorism run so, so deeply within Hispanic/Latin American and African American communities, and it’s very much become an “us vs. them” situation: light-skinned women vs. dark-skinned women. It’s an age-old oversimplification that really boils down to the belief that the lighter your skin tone, the more beautiful and valuable you are.
In the context of beauty, lighter skin is the metric of success in many communities. The standards of beauty and intelligence that have been praised and cultivated by the colonizer have then been adopted and cultivated by the colonized. They’ve been ingrained in us, to the point where, especially in Hispanic/Latin American communities, it can be so subtle you almost don’t even notice it. Almost.
It took me years to pin down why these comments bothered me as much as they did. As much as I love my people and our culture, I do believe we can be pretty racially unaware, in the sense that many of us are not completely — if at all — in touch with the effects of colonization in our culture and perspectives.
So growing up in a Hispanic community, we never touched race relations in America or its skewed beauty standards. We just kind of existed, handling things as they came. Everything was as it was for a reason and we didn’t explore too deeply as to how those reasons came to be.
Many of our perspectives are eurocentric, but not many of us are aware of it, especially if our families are first-generation immigrants. My parents’ major priority when coming to the States from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic was figuring out how to survive and integrate into “American culture,” and the hardships they faced were much different than the ones I’ve had to navigate.
Since it’s typically believed that kinky hair, dark skin and beauty are mutually exclusive, I remolded myself to fit the standard as best possible.
I remember attending our Hispanic SDA church every week on Sabbath as a young girl, carefully examining the women gathering in the ladies’ room, praising each other on their straightened hair. I enjoyed being praised for my own straightened mane when my time came along. I’d successfully assimiliated; I belonged.
I also remember noticing that our worship styles, the hymns we sang and our promotional materials presented, featured, well, — only white people. I noticed a lot of things but rarely questioned much. This was just the way things were. This was the way the world was run.
Our standards of beauty were what I most deeply grappled with throughout my life. Since it’s typically believed that kinky hair, dark skin and beauty are mutually exclusive, I remolded myself to fit the standard as best possible. For years, I presented a fabricated version of me, one with long straight hair. It took me longer than most to feel the disconnect within myself.
Once my college years beckoned, I realized I was exhausted of trying to reach a standard of beauty that would never truly be my own, and I chopped off all of my hair. I dreaded confessing this to my very conservative mother. Telling my less conservative father, who also religiously altered the texture of his own hair, was probably scarier. The scariest was facing my church, who’d only known me as the former version of myself.
Going back as a newly discovered Afro-latina wasn’t as bad I thought, but I had a few frustrating interactions. My friend’s father put his hands in my ‘fro as soon as he saw me.
“It’s like a sheep!” he said, laughing. I was less than pleased.
His wife walked over to me a few minutes later, exclaiming in disappointment.
“Natalia, what have you done? I don’t like it. You look crazy! Te vez loca!” she said.
I mustered all of the patience within me, along with some of the patience only God could give, and looked down at her.
“Amor,” I said. “If you don’t like it, you don’t have to look at it. But why do you think it’s crazy? This is how God created me. This is the way the hair grows out of my head naturally. I don’t think embracing that is crazy.”
She stared at me for a few moments and walked off. I’m not sure what her thought process was after that exchange because she hasn’t spoken much to me since then.
I don’t share this to sound like a sob story, but to bring to light that there’s much to be done in race relations and cultural understanding not just within black and white spheres, but also within the Hispanic population.
The diversity within our church is powerful, and we can harness it to its full potential only by intentionally striving to understand each other, embracing the beauty in each of our cultures.
Sitting in the nosebleed section of the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, my eyes panned the spectacular pageantry below. Nationals from across the globe decked in traditional garb. Colorful flags floating gracefully across the stage. Faces beaming with pride for church and country.
For attendees of the 2005 General Conference Session of Seventh-day Adventists, it was the moment that we had all been waiting for – a Parade of Nations to celebrate Adventism’s global diversity, and we were not disappointed.
From Panama to Papua New Guinea, Mongolia to Mozambique, Nigeria to New Zealand, representatives from each of the denomination’s 13 divisions paraded on stage to much pomp and circumstance, as compatriots in the bleachers cheered enthusiastically for their countries.
However, no group shouted louder than Seventh-day Adventists from the English- and French-speaking Caribbean, who let out a collective roar when Jamaica, Haiti and Guyana were called. That is when my eyes first opened to the true impact of Adventism in the Caribbean basin, the region of the denomination’s greatest success, according to some experts.
I am a fourth generation Adventist, with roots in Nevis and Antigua, where my great-great grandparents were among the first on their islands to embrace the Adventist faith. I am also a curious journalist who has written extensively about race, demographics and Caribbean culture over the decades.
I witnessed the demographic changes within the Adventist denomination first-hand, and I have long wanted to document them in a way that enhances the discussion about race, not only in the church but also in America generally.
Now, as an assistant professor at Southern Adventist University, I have the privilege of conducting this research with an amazing group of students.
Through “Investigating Diversity: Exploring Race, Gender and Unity in the Adventist Church,” we begin that journey
