9. WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION AND
CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHURCH
Prasanna Kumari
Introduction:
The God given status for women is that of
dignity and equal status. But the status which society has given
them is based on the status often is discriminatory, oppressive and
inhuman. In other words their own position granted by God is
ignored and the one which is granted to them by the male members of the
family and society is ensured, thus leading to the subordination of
women to men.
Women’s quest to reclaim their God given dignity and
human rights has become a global phenomenon. It is true also in
India which still has deep roots of patriarchy. Gender division
is found in all walks of life. Such a division influences family,
division of labour, class structure and caste categories. Gender
has potential to become an overriding base of social stratification
according to class, power, caste, colour, ethnicity, language and so
on. In this social stratification, the most important fact is the
understanding of relations between man and woman.
Gender is reproduced within the institutions of
family, religion work and state. All forms of such stratification
result in discrimination and oppression and are found even in the
rapidly changing situations. However, women are now coming out of
their insulated enclosures into social spaces, reclaiming their dignity
and equality with men. They are learning to resist all forms of
controls. Caste, class and gender based oppression of women are
being opposed in several areas.
This phenomenon to challenge and break structures
that oppress women is not something new in our modern times. It
had been there throughout history glimpses of which can be drawn from a
few selected passages in the Bible.
Involvement of women to challenge the then existing
systems and structures, in obedience to God’s call to mission is seen
in all walks of life.
Death versus Life:
God created humanity in God’s own
image. Male and female God created them. (Gen. 1:26), God
breathed into their nostrils God’s breath and gave them life. On
this basis, women protest against forces that try to destroy God given
life from humanity. The Hebrew midwives chose to disobey the
king’s command which demanded killing of all male children. But
the midwives made them live. This they did at the risk of their
own lives. Moses’ mother and his sister Miriam sustained life
against structures of death. Pharoah’s daughter and her maid
servants, members of structures of death, also took efforts against
those structures in favour of sustaining life. This team of women
excelled as examples for women’s humility to obey God’s call and to
ensure continuity of God given life by opting to break all barriers and
structures that hindered life (Read this story in Ex. 1-2). Today
we women too often try to evade responsibilities for assuring life on
the pretext of limitations of structures within family, church and
society. The reason is people want comforts not risks.
Structures versus Rights:
The daughters of Zelophehad - Mahlah, Noah,
Loglah, Milcah and Tirzah -- challenged the inheritance laws, demanding
that Moses give them the inheritance of their father (Num. 27:
1-11). Moses had the ear to hear, eyes to see, the heart to
understand the nature of injustice and the need to restore
justice. Instead of following the traditional practices blindly,
he chose to seek God’s guidance. The Lord confirmed their demand
by saying “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right; you shall indeed
let them possess an inheritance...” (v.7). It is a challenge to the
leaders of our churches not to strengthen the wall that ensure
injustice, but to take time to seek God’s guidance and to listen to his
voice affirming life.
There were women like Deborah a prophet who judged
Israel at that time and led Barak to victory (Judges 4:1-24).
Abigail, the wife of Nabal, saved David from “shedding blood” because
of the foolish attitude of Nabal (1 Sam. 25:1-38). Huldah, the
prophet, was fearless to deliver God’s message to King Josiah through
his messengers, “Tell the man that sent you to me ..... I will bring
disaster upon this place ....” (2 Kgs. 22:15-16). Many more women
can be listed as examples who deliberately chose to break the
structures, who did not compromise at any cost, but served as God’s
instruments. Structures are created by human beings but rights
are given to people by God as a birth right.
Distorted Record versus Truth:
There are also Biblical records which show
how only women were punished for the mistake of men or the mistake of
both. At the fall, in the garden of Eden, though both disobeyed
God’s word, the woman is blamed more by St. Paul, a male Jew.
This we do not see in the life of Jesus. At the birth of a female
child, double time must be spent for purification, a discriminatory
action (Lev. 12), though science reveals that it is the man’s sperm
that determines the sex of the baby (an action of man). When
Aaron and Miriam spoke against Moses, though both committed the same
sin, it is the woman who is punished and not both (Num. 12). Is
God partial? Are records deliberately distorted? These are
but a few examples to show how the Biblical text is influenced by
patriarchy and male chauvinism. Such is the results of patriarchy
when people are blind to justice and humanhood.
The Church and Women:
The church is a community of people who
commit themselves to live in communion with God and with each other
according to the message of the Gospel as exemplified by Jesus Christ
during his earthly life. Needless to say that the message and
mission of the church is drawn from the message of `Nazareth Manifesto’
where Jesus says that the purpose of His ministry is
to bring good news to the poor,
to proclaim release to the captives
recovery of the sight to the blind
to let the oppressed go free
and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
(Lk. 4:18,19)
The church is called upon to commit herself to
practice and proclaim this message. A church, is one that
practices and promotes such a liberative message where the identity and
freedom of all people is ensured. This is to live up to the
Gospel values of which she proudly preaches.
No one can deny the fact that women outnumber men in
all activities of the church as passive participants. It is not
an exaggeration to say that without women, no program of the church can
be successful. Even in such a context, the church has managed to keep
women silent, powerless, discriminated, and with no opportunities to
use their talents and abilities. The Church has managed to
silence women over the centuries and promotes their secondary position
in the name of the Scriptures, church tradition and socio-cultural
context. Is today’s church willing to make a difference?
Are women willing to take risks to ensure life by challenging the
structures of death? It is easy to enjoy our comforts, avail
church benefits, and remain silent. It is difficult to walk the
way of the cross, challenging the unjust structures as Christ
did. But that is the only way for life eternal.
Church Context:
The status of women in the church is no
exception to the reality of society around it. As a matter of
fact, in reality, the church has been lagging far behind the secular
movements and achievements in redressing gender inequalities. It
is because the question of the role of women in the church looks rather
biased. Does it not reflect a church dominated by men?
Don’t women have any role, apart from their passive participation, in
the life and mission of the church in India?
Gifts, abilities and visions are unmerited gifts of
God to individuals according to God’s will and purpose, and not on the
basis of their sex or merit. What is important to the
individual-man or woman, is to have the ability to recognize any gift
as more important than the other, but what is to be recognized is the
commitment with which they use their gifts, whether it is for the
edification of the entire community or for their selfish
benefits. Christian, (the follower of Christ) is called to be
leaven in the dough, light in darkness, and salt in the food. In
other words, the character of a person is to be seen in the result and
not in the visible appearance of a person. If so, women cannot be
denied their place, participation and contribution to the life and
ministries of the church and society because of their God given
appearance. The task of building a more humane world is
unquestionably the task of every human being, both male and
female. Love, freedom, dignity and justice are the qualities of a
community that God created. Any one can strive to sustain
and share such gifts for the common good. As structures are
created to promote community, men and women need to participate in them
together, to plan and promote programs that witness to Gospel values.
Problems:
However, the mission to promote genuine human
community among equals is not an easy task, especially when it is
related to gender justice in religious affairs. Though
spirituality may be between the individual and her/his God, with which
no one can interfere, such a spirituality should lead people to
contribute to the community, out of the individual’s spiritual
experiences. When structures hinder such a commitment to enrich
the community, then the problem arise. Women are hindered in many
ways. It is painful to say that it is easier for a person of
questionable character to enter the decision making bodies of the
church than for it is women with genuine commitment to serve God.
Do we believe that God can work only through men? Is God’s
mission based only on human sexual identity? In other words is
the religion we practice a `religion’ of sex’ (men)? No one will
say so. God cannot be limited by sexual identity, individual
features, colour, merit, language or nationality. God is beyond
and above all human understanding. We women listen more to men
than to God. Hence the problem is intensified.
Often people tend to forget that the human mind is
limited, and what we know of God and God’s work is, is only a little
speak in God’s eternal purpose. But unfortunately human beings
claim that what they say is the only ultimate truth. If only
people can recognize their limitations, humble themselves and allow God
to be God, there can be greater contributions of the church to
the world and the true mission of the church fulfilled.
God is no respecter of persons, leave alone
respecter of sex. Human made barriers should not stand in the way
of God’s plan of salvation. In Christ there is neither male nor
female, neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free (Gal.
3:28). All according to their God given talents and abilities,
are expected to respond to God, and to participate in God’s
mission. No one has the right to hinder the other brother or
sister from contributing to the life of the church from their God given
gifts and talents.
Personal Experience:
Though as a woman, I studied theology
just like men in all sincerity with commitment to serve God and God’s
people, the church tradition did not encourage me at all.
Realizing the reality of the church and responding to God’s call, I
took up the responsibility to educate women and men to know God’s
greater truths and to go beyond human made barriers, challenging and
breaking the patriarchal and other systems that oppress and
discriminate against people in the name of God.
Initially I had to face a lot of problems, mockery,
anger, insults etc. Very difficult indeed. But over several
years of perseverance, educating people through Bible studies,
re-reading the Biblical passages that were quoted against women to
silence them and other various programs, we opened up the understanding
of people to see the oppression, discrimination and gender inequalities
and the need to redress it. Though it cannot be said that `all is
well with women in the churches today,’ it can confidently be said that
there is openness to listen and to some extent willingness to
change. The doors to ordination are open in several
denominations, and structures of decision making bodies loosened to
some extent. Hence the task of educating congregations has had a
deep and lasting impact, but much remains still to be done. A few
churches need to amend their constitutions to give visible
participation to women in the decision-making bodies of their
churches. At national level justice for women is one of the top
priorities of the Indian church. It is not an exaggeration to say
that the movement of women has begun and is well on its way. It
must continue.
Challenges:
When one looks of the life of the church
today, I do not know whether it is the church we women want to be
involved in. The number of conflicts, parties, caste groups,
court cases, misappropriation of funds and properties, election
struggle to certain positions for ulterior motives etc. The above
mentioned realities often hinder the life of the church and negatively
affect the witness and service of the church. The central
administration of the churches has set aside God’s agenda and
introduced their own agenda. The message of the Gospel is seldom
seen as a priority but individual and/or group and/or money is seen as
the priority.
Into this church, women are challenged to enter,
breaking barriers. In other words, women have to face double
challenges - one, entry into church structures which are dominated,
misogynist and patriarchal; second, they have to enter into an
unchurchly church, to recover Gospel values and to reclaim the
ministries of the church to witness and service. The task is not
easy. But when God calls us, God will fill us and empower us with
the Holy Spirit and strengthen us to be God’s voices.
It is easy to choose not to enter into such a
ministry, blaming others and the structures. But we must be aware
that God will ask us also about our silent contribution to the
corruption in the church and our irresponsible lukewarm spiritual life
in the midst of such a context. Esther was challenged by God
through Mordecai to act, even with her limitations, and she
responded. Abigal acted on time, and averted blood shed.
Midwives acted on time and saved life. God’s still small voice is
calling women to be God’s instruments to serve God and the
church. Women throughout history have heard the voice of God and
responded with commitment and humility, and have been blessed.
The same voice is inviting us women today to be God’s messengers of
justice and peace. It is blessed to join the women who, with
courage and humility, have accepted God’s invitation, and are on the
move. God’s faithful workers throughout history were the faithful
few. Are there such a faithful new among women today? It is
blessed to be among the faithful few.