Association of Adventist Women is pleased to announce the recipients of their third annual Junia Awards. The 2026 awards highlight women in church leadership and ministerial roles throughout the Adventist world. Men and women in each division take great satisfaction in nominating women they see reflecting God’s image. And telling their stories helps to correct the misperception that the 2015 vote on women’s ordination forbade women from serving in pastoral roles.
While the number of women who study theology has not decreased, in many parts of the world it remains difficult for women to find employment in church leadership. Most women are still shunted to religion teaching and chaplaincy. Women who are seen as effective spiritual leaders are often hired to direct women’s ministries departments, and while this is often a good career choice, it furthers the perception that women should only lead women, not men. Women being kept from church leadership roles beyond teaching and chaplaincy stunts change because the most effective way to convince a man that God is calling women to spiritual leadership is for him to work with one—an opportunity often missed.
With all that women have to overcome to be considered equal partners in the church, it is notable that all but four of this year’s Junia Award winners spent time leading, or co-leading, churches. While top-down leadership and tradition have significantly limited the positions and titles open to women in a few divisions, more and more young professionals throughout the world are coming to believe that women have the same calling as men. Each winner of this year’s awards, a manifestation of that hope.
Read the whole article and see the Award Winners 2026: https://spectrummagazine.org/news/association-of-adventist-women-announces-2026-junia-award-winners/