World Alliance of Reformed Churches News Release 7 July 2006
FOURTEEN WOMEN AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) announced today scholarship awards worth more than 50,000 Swiss Francs for 14 women as part of its ongoing support for women in the South studying for ordination.
The women receiving the 2006 awards for WARC's Theological Education Scholarship Fund for Women in the South are from Argentina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guyana, Uganda and Venezuela.
Since launching the fund in 2001 the Alliance has supported 42 women from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific with a total of 267,000 Swiss Francs. The fund is supported by a number of European churches and agencies and by individuals from around the world.
"Women and men are called to the ministry of the church to be instruments to carry out Christ's works and purposes for the world," said Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, executive secretary for WARC's Office for Justice, Church Renewal and Partnership, in making the announcement.
"Women play equally significant roles in the life and witness of the church and share in the church's ministry and mission. However the church has constructed barriers resulting in the denial of women their full participation in the church's ministry.
"Today women testify about their call to the ordained ministry of the church. Women speak of their commitment to share in Christ's ministry, giving of themselves to be used by God in God's mission in the church and the world," Sheerattan-Bisnauth said.
Three of this year's recipients talked about the call to ministry:
Zaida Lara Mejías of the Iglesia Presbiteriana de Venezuela said, "I would like to continue my work in the church side by side with the Onova congregation which is situated in a rural area and whose members have scarce economic resources. My wish is to have sufficient time to help them to improve their quality of life besides contributing spiritual and numerical growth of the congregation. I want to serve God by serving others." Ingrid Peters of the Guyana Congregational Union said that she is studying theology because "it's a call from God to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ*Therefore I need to continue my close walk with God to enhance my knowledge to serve humanity." Jeanne Atelo Mafila of the Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, said, "I would like to strengthen my knowledge to serve the church in teaching and in the ministry. I also want to be involved in the women's ministry as there are fewer women in leadership positions in the church."
Sheerattan-Bisnauth said the Alliance is committed to listen to the testimonies of women and to encourage churches to be empowered by hearing their testimonies. Churches are challenged to adopt models of ministry that celebrate fullness of life for all people, regardless of gender, age, race, class, tribe or caste.
She is encouraging churches with smaller numbers of ordained women to support the women in the churches who are applying for scholarships. Applications must be submitted through a member church of the Alliance and be accompanied by a letter of commitment stating that the applicant is being considered for the ordained ministry.
The deadline for submission for the 2007 scholarships is 15 March 2007.
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The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together 75 million Reformed Christians in 218 churches in 107 countries * united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled world. The WARC general secretary is Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana. WARC's secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Contact: John P. Asling Executive Secretary, Communications World Alliance of Reformed Churches 150 Route de Ferney P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva, Switzerland tel. +41.22 791 6243 fax: +41.22 791 6505 web: www.warc.ch