WASHINGTON ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATES IN THE INAUGURAL 2023 WOMEN IN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST HISTORY CONFERENCE

In coordination with the North American Division (NAD) and Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church, Washington Adventist University (WAU) is honored to be partnering with the NAD for their first 2023 Women in Seventh-day Adventist History Conference, scheduled for October 12-14. With the institution set to open its doors to conference attendees come Thursday evening (October 12), there is much excitement for a transformative gathering celebrating the contributions of Adventist women throughout history. 

The Honors College at WAU played an essential role in the planning and coordination of this event. In the initial planning stages of the conference, there were some considerations as to where it would be hosted. Dr. Michael W. Campbell, Director of the NAD’s Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research, was one of those who suggested the possibility of using the Washington Adventist University campus and its services, collaborating with the Director of the Honors College, Bradford Haas, Director of Transportation, Michael Polan, Director Mike Womack with Aladdin Food Services, Dr. Olive Hemmings, the Chair of the Henry and Sharon Fordham Department of Religion, and Dr. Daniel Lau, the Chair of the Music Department, in coordination with Sligo SDA Church to make the event a success. 

With the administration’s endorsement, the Honors College created a course titled “Women in Adventist History” under the tutelage of Dr. Campbell and various guest lecturers to teach topics on the roles and contributions of women in Adventism. Students registered for the class gained the opportunity to help organize and participate in the conference and the chance to present their research during the sessions. The Honors College will also host a reception for student attendees to mingle with other students from sister universities who have traveled to WAU for the conference.

“The WAU Honors College is grateful to help host this important conference on our campus. Dr. Michael Campbell and his staff have created an impressive program drawing on academics and leaders from across the denomination. The conference also speaks to our core mission as an Adventist institution of higher learning and has allowed Honors College students to explore the unique heritage of women in Adventism. WAU, located near both the General Conference and the North American Division, is surrounded by sites important to Adventist history, and it made perfect sense to use this unique location to host this event,” says Director Haas.

Dr. Cheryl Kisunzu, the Provost of Washington Adventist University, says, “It has been observed that we have nothing to fear for the future except if we forget how the Lord has led us in the past (E.G. White). It is for this reason that this weekend’s Women in Adventist History Conference is so amazingly significant – because as together, we are inspired by how the Lord anointed and empowered women to be his agents of transforming love in the formative years of our church – we can be confident that our best is yet to come (Job 42:10). Therefore, with rich anticipation – we anticipate our future!”

This event will be hosted by the NAD’s Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research and features esteemed researchers and keynote speakers like Ella Simmons and Anneke Stasson. This will take place at the Sligo SDA church in partnership with WAU. Furthermore, the conference organizers have made it as accessible as possible, with free registration available to all.

Since its announcement on August 16, churches have been invited to mark their calendars and spread the word about this highly anticipated event. Congregations were urged to reserve their spots and participate in a unique opportunity to delve into the remarkable history of Adventist women. 

WAU hopes to help provide a platform to increase the awareness of these women’s roles and contributions through history by having its faculty and staff in attendance and participation. WAU students will also have the opportunity to attend and participate in the conference, some through their ministry in music and a select few to present their papers researching the extraordinary stories of women who have shaped the history of Adventism and their impact on the world.

WAU’s participation in the inaugural 2023 Women in Seventh-day Adventist History Conference is a privilege. This event not only honors the past but also empowers the future, ensuring that the stories of Adventist women continue to inspire and inform generations to come.

The conference’s website offers a wealth of materials for those looking for more information or resources to share with their congregations. From a pulpit appeal to color posters, bulletin inserts, videos, and graphics for social media, tools are available to help spread the word about this event. The schedule can be found at https://www.nadadventist.org/womenshistoryconf.