Which milestone occurred first in the church's history?

• A. The Bishops Council was established
• B. Lee College was renamed
• C. The Declaration of Faith was adopted
• D. The Assembly approved women to preach

Answer: (D)

The earliest milestone is found in recognizing women preaching as part of the church’s early ministry practice. In its Pentecostal- Holiness revival era, women were already active preachers and evangelists, often filling preaching roles in meetings and circuits. When the assembly later formalized ministry roles, it codified an arrangement that aligned with what had already been happening in the churches. The other options reflect later developments: establishing a bishops’ council introduces a structured governance system after the church has grown; adopting a formal Declaration of Faith comes after doctrine is systematized in writing; and renaming Lee College represents an institutional branding step that occurs well after early ministry practices and organizational foundations are in place.