80
Pastoral Ministry
successfully as visitors and Bible readers. Women who work in the
cause of God should be given wages proportionate to the time they
give the work. God is a God of justice, and if the ministers receive
a salary for their work, their wives, who devote themselves just as
interestedly to the work as laborers together with God, should be paid
in addition to the wages their husbands receive, notwithstanding that
they might not ask. As the devoted minister and his wife engage in
the work, they should be paid wages proportionate to the wages of
two distinct workers, that they may have means to use as they shall
see fit in the cause of God. The Lord has put His Spirit upon them
both. If the husband should die, and leave his wife, she is fitted to
continue her work in the cause of God, and receive wages for the labor
she performs.—
Manuscript Releases 5:323, 324
Woman who labor in the gospel to be paid—Seventh-day Ad-
ventists are not in any way to belittle woman’s work. If a woman puts
her housework in the hands of a faithful, prudent helper, and leaves her
children in good care, while she engages in the work, the conference
should have wisdom to understand the justice of her receiving wages.
Women helped our Saviour by uniting with Him in His work.... If
women do the work that is not the most agreeable to many of those
who labor in word and doctrine, and if their works testify that they
are accomplishing a work that has been manifestly neglected, should
not such labor be looked upon as being as rich in results as the work
of the ordained ministers? Should it not command the hire of the
laborers? Would not such workers be defrauded if they were not paid?
This question is not for men to settle. The Lord has settled it. You
[79]
are to do your duty to the women who labor in the gospel, whose
work testifies that they are essential to carry the truth into families.
Their work is just the work that must be done. In many respects a
woman can impart knowledge to her sisters that a man cannot. The
cause would suffer great loss without this kind of labor. Again and
again the Lord has shown me that women teachers are just as greatly
needed to do the work to which He has appointed them as are men.
They should not be compelled by the sentiments and rules of others to
depend upon donations for their payment, any more than should the
ministers.—
Manuscript Releases 5:324, 325
.
Ministers are paid. Should their companion’s labors be
counted for naught?—The minister is paid for his work, and this