Dagmar Dorn has been active in Women’s Ministries in the Team in German Swiss Conference for 20 years. She knows Women’s Ministries from the grass-roots level, and this is where change and ministry happens.
Dagmar is a native of Nuremberg, Germany, and is a nurse and midwife BSc. Until recently she was Midwife and Deputy director of the obstetric ward in Buelach hospital (Canton of Zurich) and she will continue to work there with a part-time job. She has served as a church elder for 7 years. Her interest in missions has led her to spend time in missionary service in Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia and other places.
Dagmar loves to hike in nature and traveling to meet other people and cultures is one of her passions. Reading when she has the time is another of her favorite hobbies.
Women and their needs have always had a special place in her heart and she is enthusiastic about serving God in this ministry.

Denise Hochstrasser held the position of Women's Ministries Director, General Conference for the Inter-European Division from June 2010 to April 2018. She is mother of 3 adult daughters and has 3 grandchildren. Prior to coming to EUD for several years she was responsible for Women's Ministries in Switzerland. She started Women’s Ministries on a local level when she started organizing Women’s Breakfast Groups in 1988, long before this Department was established in our Church. She therefore looks back to 30 years of ministry for women. During this time, she has seen many changes in the ministry for women.
Her favourite topic has always been encouraging women to find out about their gifts and to motivate them to use these gifts and be engaged inside and outside the Church. This she implemented by putting much emphasis on organizing leadership training for women in Europe. She has seen many women flourish as they found their new God-given gifts and developed their skills. Her wish is that many more women will experience this change in their lives.
She also is a strong promoter of women to accept their calling and take up any tasks, including leadership positions in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. If God calls, who am I to deny a calling? This question has become important to her. She accepted her calling and started her ministry a long time ago. The question of women’s position is much discussed in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She believes that from a biblical stance ordination is not necessary, whether for men or for women. A simple laying on of hands for them to be sent out would be the biblical way. But if ordination, the way it is practised in the SDA Church is necessary in order to fulfil a calling to certain tasks, then there should be a way to offer it to women and to men in the same way. Who are we as a Church to deny a calling by God? It is a strong wish for her to see this become possible very soon so that men and women can work together, side by side, equally supporting each other with their personal gifts.
Denise is very grateful for the experiences. She has given much during these years, but she says she has received even more. She has grown much, spiritually and personally, for which she is very thankful.
Denise loves her home in the countryside of the beautiful Alps of Berne, Switzerland, where she lives with her husband who has been retired for several years now. She is very much looking forward to joining him in retirement. All three daughters are now married, and the couple is free. They plan many trips in their little campervan, with which they will start exploring Europe before fulfilling their dream to ship their little housing overseas.
Her favourite texts are: Philippians 4:8 - Concentrate on what is beautiful and on what is positive in life, and Joshua 1:9 - May the Lord be with you, wherever you go.

Mario Brito, president of the Inter-European Division of Seventh-Day Adventists expressed on behalf of the Administrative Committee his appreciation of Denise Hochstrasser’s work, saying they would  always miss her questions, suggestions and utter and relentless defense of the women’s cause as well as her focus on mission – how women could be useful instruments in God’s hands to share the Gospel message at home, in the church and society. Her loving and skillful manner of motivating and rallying women, as a well-organized and hard-working team that has accomplished so much for the women everywhere in the EUD territories and beyond would be remembered.

Heather-Dawn Small, General Conference Women’s Ministries Director also expressed her appreciation for Denise, calling her most importantly a daughter of God and a willing vessel. God used her to touch the lives of many women – to comfort, to bring them joy, to encourage them in their walk with God and so much more. Denise was for her a colleague and partner in ministry, a supportive friend, a teacher and preacher, and a joy-filled child of God.

In the course of time projects and departments develop and evolve. Since 1996 when the Women’s Ministries Department began with Noelle Vitry as its first director and after her Christiane Vertallier, all the leaders have done their part and made an impact, devoting their God-given gifts to help His daughters, the women in this part of the world.
Reported by H.Ottschofski

What are the duties and responsibilities of a Women's Ministries Director on the various levels of the church organization?

Job description