Regarding #2, it is my understanding that they didn't have anything for a Messenger of God, therefore, they used that one in its place.
DAryl, there is a pile of SDA Mythology that has built-up to attempt to explain away why EGW was given teh crenentials of a SDA minister. There isnotsubstantion of any of it and much of it does nto make sense.
1) Take the response above, nothing else to give her. If that had been the issue the GC could have developed a new credential to give her. They could have called it anyting--Recognized Messenger of the Lord, for example. after all, every credential that had been issued at that time came into place because a decision was made to do it.
2) Another myth: The did this because thay had to do it i order to pay her what they wanted to pay her. Nonsence. They could have established a seperate salery schedule for her, called it whatever they wanted, and paid her the same as they paid her with the credential that they gave her.
You get my point? Just myth, not based upon fact, not substantiated and often not rational.