wfn.org | Safety of Taiwan's Women Ministers in Question

["pctpress" <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2724, 10 through 16 May 2004
Reported by: Chen Yi-shiuan.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

Last month at a church in an aboriginal village that shall remain nameless,
the female pastor of the local Presbyterian Church was somewhat taken aback.
It began when she received an anonymous phone call followed by an outdoor
encounter with a church member who had consumed too much alcohol and gave
vent
to his opposition to her parish work. The combination caused her great
discomfort which led to inability to sleep that night. She got up time after
time to check whether her doors and windows were secure.  Her anxiety level
rose.

Incidents like this raise again the issue of safety for women in ministry.

The Rev. Eleng (Kao Tian-huei), pastor of Paiwan Presbyterian Church, says
that Aboriginal women in ministry upon arriving in a new parish must quickly
establish good relationships with the members of their congregations. This
helps develop respect for the pastor among the members, and heads off some
situations before they can be given a chance to develop.

Because of gender differences, she says, when the minister must spend time
with her church's members she must be a proper understanding of "distance."
Women in ministry are "different" from the men to whom parishioners may have
become accustomed.

Eleng urges her sisters to bring different aspects of their own character
into
ministerial practice.  She urges "living room" or "book room" ministry with
inquirers so that the space can be more public.

Lawa Micyo (You Li-shiang) is the pastor of Ulay (Wulai) Presbyterian Church.
She says that because her parish is a tourist district there are many people
who travel through it.	She is at ease living alone in the church but
believes
that women in ministry must be aware of personal safety at all times. Insofar
as possible they must have good and deep relationships with the members of
their churches.  When she makes visitation rounds during normal office hours
she tends to go to the mature women of the church for conversation.

She recommends discussing frightening episodes with the church's elders and
deacons, and even arranging for a member of the church board to visit the
church each evening to see that all is in order.  But she also knows that a
single woman in ministry "opening up" about fears to the church elders may be
subject to criticism for "speculation" or "thinking too much."

Lawa says, "Only a woman herself can understand these things." So she looks
to
the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) to convene a
seminar where Aboriginal women in ministry can discuss the problem and share
insights. This, she believes, will clarify matters and put all people on
notice about the issue of single women's safety.

Regarding the question of the safety of single women in ministry, the Rev.
Sing Olamu,
The PCT's program secretary for Aboriginal mission, said, "The quickest way
to
deal with the issue is to talk with the elders, deacons and the women's
fellowship group members."  He believes that the elders have influence over
matters in Aboriginal villages and that through them a single woman in
ministry can communicate her unwillingness to visit male church members in
the
evening. If there's anything crucial, he suggests, a female pastor can bring
a
companion from among the women of the congregation.  This avoids
misunderstandings.

He advanced the argument a step by saying that if a woman in ministry becomes
upset by anything that happens she should broadcast the matter clearly to the
membership. But if a woman finds herself truly unable to live at ease without
companionship in the house, she should invite a woman from the congregation
to
be her housemate.

For More Information: Eleng TEL: +886 8 7990183
		      Lawa Micyo  wulaichurch@so-net.net.tw
		      Sing Olamu  sing@mail.pct.org.tw
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
Visit our web site: www.pctpress.com.tw