Betrayal: the Shattering Sex Discrimination Case of Silver Vs. Pacific Press Publishing Association

by Merikay McLeod

True story of discrimation against women by a publishing house who publishes books for the
Seven Day Adventist Church.

paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a horribly sad time in the history of our church. Merikay's story of the hell she went through to win equal pay for women in denominational employ is heart wrenching. I stayed up until 2 am to finish it, and am so grateful she had the courage to stand up to the men in her world who told her, and all women, that they would never be good enough. Merikay's bravery and courage in the face of such adversary is admiral. Because of her, and many other's that supported her and fought along with her change has come into our church. But we still have a ways yet to go.

Betrayal is a quick, gripping read - and I encourage everyone in the church to educate themselves on where we've been so that we can have a firm grasp on where we need to go. Christ willing, all women will truly be equal members in this church one day.

[Cherilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This unassuming book reads like a suspense thriller inside a church run like a corporation. I started reading it one evening and stayed up all night reading it. I found it eye-opening and appalling to realize women in the Adventist Church owe their equal pay to the courage of Merikay Mcleod.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the GC2015 debates on the ordination of women in the Adventist Church,I came across a link to this book and read it online. It is a pretty shocking account of the author's experiences as an editorial assistant at the Adventist publishing house, Pacific Press. Merikay McLeod grew up as a smart, literary girl in the Adventist educational system. She experienced literary success in her teens when the Pacific Press published a book she wrote inspired by the apocalyptic latter chapters of Ellen G. White's "The Great Controversy". While she was still going to school to complete a Journalism degree, she was hired to work at Pacific Press. This was her 'dream job' but pretty quickly degenerated into a nightmare when she discovered that she made 40% less salary than her male workmates who did the same job.

I worked for an NGO in Vancouver around the same time (early to mid-70s), and was also young, naive and unsure of myself around authority figures. There wasn't much in the lines of job security, especially where women were concerned. This story of Ms. McLeod's reminds me of that time of tension and uncertainty in my own life, but I encountered less frightening abuse and toxic work place harassment than Merikay did.

Merikay eventually decided to sacrifice her own individual pursuit of justice and monetary desserts for the launch of a class action suit that would address the gender inequality in this institition. You will have to read this to find out how the story plays out. I would be interested to read your brief review. Read it online free at http://members.tripod.com/help_for_sd...
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[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very courageous woman goes to work for a publishing house who publishes for the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She finds that they discrimate against women in the work place and goes to court to help all working women. She not only looses her church membeship, but her husband as well, in her fight.
She must be very proud.
I think if I were in her shoes, I would have quit and found work where I was paid for my work, not my gender.
A brave woman for sure.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Couldn't believe that women really worked under these conditions and accepted salaries lower than the men working at the same company.