Conference Ordains First Indian-American Woman

Conference Ordains First Indian-American Woman
Story by Tiffany Doss

“In the back of the Takoma Academy chapel, I gave my life to the Lord,” said Pranitha Fielder at her ordination ceremony. “I felt like I finally belonged and in that moment, I felt for the rest of my life like I needed to help other people feel like they belonged. It was at 14 that I knew that this is what I would be doing for the rest of my life.”

At the beginning of the year, Fielder transitioned from youth and children’s pastor of Sligo church in Takoma Park, Md., to Sligo’s associate pastor of discipleship and congregation care. Sligo has a history of ordaining women, including the first ordination of a female elder, Josephine Benton, in 1973, who was in attendance for Fielder’s ordination. In 2012 Benton, now 89, received emeritus ordained minister credentials during a special constituency session in which the Columbia Union voted to ordain without regard to gender.

“The greatest responsibility that a church has is to recognize the calling of someone to ministry,” says Bill Miller, conference president, during the homily of Fielder’s ordination. “So, here we are today to celebrate what only God can do. It’s His responsibility to call; it’s our responsibility to affirm. God has called you, Pranitha, and the church celebrates, for God’s salvation story will have a special chapter written just by you.”

Fielder was born in India to Jaya and Jasmine Pilli and is the first ordained Indian- American woman in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.

Potomac Conference President Bill Miller congratulates Fielder.