Jul 17, 2024, 9:49 AMTottenham Lighthouse Church Communications
Dr Jude Jeanville Shares Vision for Women's Justice at Jamaica Union Conference
President of Jamaica Union Conference, Pastor Everett Brown, welcomed Dr Jude Jeanville to their mid-year administrative meeting as a friend of the Jamaica Union. Pastor Levi Johnson, Executive Secretary of the Union, introduced Dr Jeanville to the team. They shared ministry together in an evangelistic series in London in 2021.
Dr Dudley Hosin, Publishing, Health and Prayer Ministries Director of the Union, was delighted to meet with him after sharing ministry and friendship together online over the past four years.
Dr Jeanville said, "You never have a second chance to make a first impression. From the moment I landed, I experienced true Jamaican hospitality. The reception at the airport was welcoming. The punctuality, hospitality, and kindness of my host continued throughout my stay. I love Jamaicans, and I love Jamaica."
Jamaica has over 340,000 members and five conferences. It is estimated that one in every twelve people on the island is a Seventh-day Adventist, including the Prime Minister and the Governor General. Jeanville attested to the vicarious impact of the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica and the diaspora, as Jamaican nationals contribute copiously to Adventism and national government in many countries around the world.
Dr Jeanville, who was on a sabbatical trip to the island, shared inspiring worship devotionals and a brief presentation on the theological rationale for fundamental belief number 14 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as it relates to equality and the role of women. It states, "The church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In Christ, we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation."
Jeanville is the author of the recently and widely endorsed book, "Justice for Women: the cry to end the pandemic of the discrimination, intimidation, patriarchy, misogyny, inequality, and abuse of women in society and religious communities."
The foreword is written by Mrs Karen Holford, Women’s Ministries Director, Trans-European Division, and Dr Lorraine Vernal, Women's Ministries Director of the Jamaica Union Conference. Dr Vernal was also delighted to add her welcome to Jeanville.
Jeanville was interviewed by field Presidents, Pastor Karl Archer, President of North Jamaica Conference, Pastor Glen Samuels, President of West Jamaica Conference, and Pastor Nevail Barrett, President of Central Jamaica Conference. He also met with Dr Meric, Dale Walker, President of East Jamaica Conference, and Dr Danielo Daniels, President of North East Jamaica Conference. He presented copies of his research on women in the church to the above and to Dr Lincoln Edwards, President of Northern Caribbean University, Dr Nanibala Paul, Associate Provost, and to Dr Donmayne Gyles, President of Andrews Memorial Hospital.
Among the rich insights he shared were:
"That sin is the cause of inequality. Sin brought dysfunction in the ecological world; leaves began to fall from trees, animals became hostile to one another, and human beings were not exempt: Cain killed his brother Abel, and men and women began to relate in disharmonious ways. Equality and harmony in interpersonal relationships were replaced with hierarchy, domination, and inequality. However, Jesus came not only to redeem humans but to restore his image of love, oneness, and equality in mankind. Therefore, the gospel challenges us to relate in ways that God intends. "That the phrase 'He shall rule over thee' was not prescriptive but descriptive. Meaning, God was not saying this was how it should be but how it would be. In other words, God was not prescribing that men should rule women, rather, he was describing the consequences that would come about because of sin.
"Saint Paul’s instruction to Timothy illustrates this hermeneutical principle. 'This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come' 2 Timothy 3:1. In this pericope or passage, was the Apostle Paul describing or prescribing perilous times upon the last day generation? Indeed, he was describing what would happen in the last days, not prescribing or wishing peril upon human beings. Jeanville explained, 'The way we interpret a text or passage of scripture must not only fit the context of the passage, but it must also be congruent with other passages of scripture on the nature of God and the theme of salvation.' Similarly, the phrase 'In pain she shall bring forth children' was not a prescription from God, but rather a description of the travail a woman will experience in childbirth. 'By the sweat of thy brow thou shall eat bread' was a description of the toil that men would have to endure, not a prescription. Today, many males do not work in an agrarian society nor do manual labour. They work in offices; does that mean that they should not eat bread? Therefore, God was not prescribing but describing the laborious nature of mankind's responsibility to provide for his existence. God did not pronounce a sentence for men to rule women nor for men to do manual or physical work only.
"The Bible does not substantiate the subjugation or limitation of women as some Church Fathers taught. Jesus knew well that justice for women was the bedrock of a happy home, church, and society; hence, he made room to include them in his ministry. He did not sanction the norms regarding the ill-treatment and marginalisation of women.
"Jesus’s first resurrection appearance was not to John the beloved disciple, or Peter, but to Mary of Magdala! A woman! This was scandalous in the time of Jesus, as women could not be witnesses. Yet Jesus went against the conventions of his day regarding women and sent her as his witness. The gospels even record the reaction of the male disciples as not believing her. Yes, Jesus was intentional in including women while his disciples felt they should not. Hence, the gospels record so many stories of Jesus’s interaction with women.
"Jesus went as far as setting up a memorial to women, 'Wherever the gospel is preached, let it be known what this woman hath done.' Jesus gave women back their value, voice, visibility, and equal opportunity. The church will do well to follow the example of its Lord and Saviour.”
Jeanville said justice for women is not about women only; it means justice for all. When women succeed, families and nations win. With 57% of our 22 million members (about the population of New York) being female, it makes sense for the church to protect the well-being of all its members, especially the majority, if we are to complete the mission.
In his 33 years of service to the church, Jeanville has served as Vice President, Conference Director, Magistrate, Ministerial Coordinator and District Pastor. He is the current Pastor of Tottenham Lighthouse and Barnet churches in the South England Conference, United Kingdom.
He is passionate about the truth and the whole truth about women being told from the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy so that the lived experiences of women can be changed.
He would like this book to be read by every family. "Justice for Women: the cry to end the pandemic of the discrimination, intimidation, patriarchy, misogyny, inequality, and abuse of women in society and religious communities," is available on Amazon. See link below.
President of Jamaica Union Conference, Pastor Everett Brown, welcomed Dr Jude Jeanville to their mid-year administrative meeting as a friend of the Jamaica Union. Pastor Levi Johnson, Executive Secretary of the Union, introduced Dr Jeanville to the team. They shared ministry together in an evangelistic series in London in 2021.
Dr Dudley Hosin, Publishing, Health and Prayer Ministries Director of the Union, was delighted to meet with him after sharing ministry and friendship together online over the past four years.
Dr Jeanville said, "You never have a second chance to make a first impression. From the moment I landed, I experienced true Jamaican hospitality. The reception at the airport was welcoming. The punctuality, hospitality, and kindness of my host continued throughout my stay. I love Jamaicans, and I love Jamaica."
Jamaica has over 340,000 members and five conferences. It is estimated that one in every twelve people on the island is a Seventh-day Adventist, including the Prime Minister and the Governor General. Jeanville attested to the vicarious impact of the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica and the diaspora, as Jamaican nationals contribute copiously to Adventism and national government in many countries around the world.
Dr Jeanville, who was on a sabbatical trip to the island, shared inspiring worship devotionals and a brief presentation on the theological rationale for fundamental belief number 14 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as it relates to equality and the role of women. It states, "The church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In Christ, we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation."
Jeanville is the author of the recently and widely endorsed book, "Justice for Women: the cry to end the pandemic of the discrimination, intimidation, patriarchy, misogyny, inequality, and abuse of women in society and religious communities."
The foreword is written by Mrs Karen Holford, Women’s Ministries Director, Trans-European Division, and Dr Lorraine Vernal, Women's Ministries Director of the Jamaica Union Conference. Dr Vernal was also delighted to add her welcome to Jeanville.
Jeanville was interviewed by field Presidents, Pastor Karl Archer, President of North Jamaica Conference, Pastor Glen Samuels, President of West Jamaica Conference, and Pastor Nevail Barrett, President of Central Jamaica Conference. He also met with Dr Meric, Dale Walker, President of East Jamaica Conference, and Dr Danielo Daniels, President of North East Jamaica Conference. He presented copies of his research on women in the church to the above and to Dr Lincoln Edwards, President of Northern Caribbean University, Dr Nanibala Paul, Associate Provost, and to Dr Donmayne Gyles, President of Andrews Memorial Hospital.
Among the rich insights he shared were:
"That sin is the cause of inequality. Sin brought dysfunction in the ecological world; leaves began to fall from trees, animals became hostile to one another, and human beings were not exempt: Cain killed his brother Abel, and men and women began to relate in disharmonious ways. Equality and harmony in interpersonal relationships were replaced with hierarchy, domination, and inequality. However, Jesus came not only to redeem humans but to restore his image of love, oneness, and equality in mankind. Therefore, the gospel challenges us to relate in ways that God intends. "That the phrase 'He shall rule over thee' was not prescriptive but descriptive. Meaning, God was not saying this was how it should be but how it would be. In other words, God was not prescribing that men should rule women, rather, he was describing the consequences that would come about because of sin.
"Saint Paul’s instruction to Timothy illustrates this hermeneutical principle. 'This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come' 2 Timothy 3:1. In this pericope or passage, was the Apostle Paul describing or prescribing perilous times upon the last day generation? Indeed, he was describing what would happen in the last days, not prescribing or wishing peril upon human beings. Jeanville explained, 'The way we interpret a text or passage of scripture must not only fit the context of the passage, but it must also be congruent with other passages of scripture on the nature of God and the theme of salvation.' Similarly, the phrase 'In pain she shall bring forth children' was not a prescription from God, but rather a description of the travail a woman will experience in childbirth. 'By the sweat of thy brow thou shall eat bread' was a description of the toil that men would have to endure, not a prescription. Today, many males do not work in an agrarian society nor do manual labour. They work in offices; does that mean that they should not eat bread? Therefore, God was not prescribing but describing the laborious nature of mankind's responsibility to provide for his existence. God did not pronounce a sentence for men to rule women nor for men to do manual or physical work only.
"The Bible does not substantiate the subjugation or limitation of women as some Church Fathers taught. Jesus knew well that justice for women was the bedrock of a happy home, church, and society; hence, he made room to include them in his ministry. He did not sanction the norms regarding the ill-treatment and marginalisation of women.
"Jesus’s first resurrection appearance was not to John the beloved disciple, or Peter, but to Mary of Magdala! A woman! This was scandalous in the time of Jesus, as women could not be witnesses. Yet Jesus went against the conventions of his day regarding women and sent her as his witness. The gospels even record the reaction of the male disciples as not believing her. Yes, Jesus was intentional in including women while his disciples felt they should not. Hence, the gospels record so many stories of Jesus’s interaction with women.
"Jesus went as far as setting up a memorial to women, 'Wherever the gospel is preached, let it be known what this woman hath done.' Jesus gave women back their value, voice, visibility, and equal opportunity. The church will do well to follow the example of its Lord and Saviour.”
Jeanville said justice for women is not about women only; it means justice for all. When women succeed, families and nations win. With 57% of our 22 million members (about the population of New York) being female, it makes sense for the church to protect the well-being of all its members, especially the majority, if we are to complete the mission.
In his 33 years of service to the church, Jeanville has served as Vice President, Conference Director, Magistrate, Ministerial Coordinator and District Pastor. He is the current Pastor of Tottenham Lighthouse and Barnet churches in the South England Conference, United Kingdom.
He is passionate about the truth and the whole truth about women being told from the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy so that the lived experiences of women can be changed.
He would like this book to be read by every family. "Justice for Women: the cry to end the pandemic of the discrimination, intimidation, patriarchy, misogyny, inequality, and abuse of women in society and religious communities," is available on Amazon. See link below.