Women and men are created in God's image. Both are essential to the Church and its mission today. To minister is to serve, to help and to attend to needs. We are all called to serve God. It is not only those who are ordained who undertake Christian ministry.
Zimbabwe: Sikhangezile Phili
According to custom, women take lesser roles in the Church. But in a dynamic society we have to accept change if we are going to work together in a better way. Church structures need to be revised to allow equal opportunities for men and women. Women have to be encouraged to work their way into Church life. I think we can achieve a spirit of cooperation if we really accept each other.
I want to join the ministry because I believe I have been called to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom. Although there has been a gradual change some people still have a problem accepting women ministers.
In 1998 Miss Phili begins training for the ordained ministry with the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) Zimbabwe Synod.
Guyana: Claire Smith
In Guyana, we hope the gap between leadership and members will be bridged. Hopeful signs include the increase of women in leadership positions of the Guyana Congregational Union and the effort by ministers to use inclusive language.
When women and men interact more, think more of each other and what we are in the Church, we will be led to deeper commitment and spirituality.
Botswana: Cheryl and Prince Dibeela
I'm minister of the Broadhurst Congregational church in Gaborone and it involves pastoral work, visiting the bereaved, the sick. I strongly believe that the Church is not there to maintain structures and traditions, but to change for the glory of God. That is what excites me about the Church. Cheryl
I work for the Botswana Synod of the UCCSA, as the Secretary for Mission. I enjoy worshipping at Broadhurst and being ministered to by Cheryl; I try and take the back seat so there is no confusion as to who is the minister. At home I help look after the house, do baby-sitting and so on. That's very unusual for a Tswana man to do, but we are partners.
We need deliberate strategies to uplift women so their talents can enrich our ministry as a Church. Instead we pay lip service to the partnership of women and men because deep down we still believe men should dominate.
Prince
Scotland: John and Lindsey Sanderson
Both John and I are ministers in the Scottish Congregational Church (SCC). I work as the Mission Enabler for the denomination and John works as the Youth Adviser for the Church of Scotland. Although working in different denominations our ministry and life together is in many ways a partnership. We work together by giving one another support, networking, or just sharing what is happening in our jobs. We each bring our own perspectives to an issue shaped by our different life experiences, education, gender and upbringing. Often we have been fortunate in being asked to work together on specific tasks for the denomination and represent the SCC together.
South Africa: Pauline and Terry Sparks
We met while studying theology in London. Both of us had heard God's call to full-time Christian work and had stepped out of secular employment to do further study.
Our first experience in the ministry was in Mauritius, later moving on to Natal with the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa (PCSA). Pauline was occupied with containing three active daughters, youth, ladies and music ministries. Partnership in the workplace meant a partnership also in homelife. With time, Pauline, now an elder, began lay preaching and was "set apart" for this work.
It was with a spirit of seeking out God's will that Pauline applied in 1990 to the Ministry Committee for ordination. The Session had encouraged her, so after much prayer and personal struggle, Pauline took the step. Resistance to the couple ministry has come from those who've seen Pauline as a paid minister's wife. Others are still struggling with the concept of women's ordination. Over the last three years we have worked as colleague ministers, each in our areas of gifting to hopefully provide a holistic approach in sharing the Gospel. Perspective (PCSA's newspaper)
Bible study:
Activity
Individually or in pairs, write down the answers to the following questions. Each question can be answered "men", "women" or "both".
Compare your answers with the others in the group. What strikes you?
Reading
Read together the following Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 12.4-30
Discuss
(together or in several smaller groups)